Employed kidney transplant recipients report that they function very well at work, according to a study published in the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology. Stephan Bakker, MD, PhD, and colleagues examined work-functioning trajectories before and after kidney transplantation. The analysis included 668 kidney transplant recipients of working age at a median of 3 years after transplantation, 246 potential kidney donors of working age, and 553 community-dwelling employed adults. The proportion of employed kidney transplant recipients was lower than that of potential kidney donors (56% vs 79%). The work functioning score of employed kidney transplant recipients was slightly lower than that of employed potential kidney donors but higher than community-dwelling employed adults. Lower educational level, receipt of a kidney from a deceased donor, tingling or numbness in the hands or feet, concentration/memory problems, anxiety, and severe fatigue were independently associated with lower work functioning among kidney transplant recipients. Work-functioning scores were lower before transplantation than at 12 months after transplantation. “This study is a clear message to employers that kidney transplant recipients can function very well at work, which can help to reduce any stigma regarding work and work functioning after kidney transplantation,” a coauthor said in a statement.
