Economic Impact of Donating a Kidney on Living Donors: A Korean Cohort Study

Abstract Rationale & objective Although existing studies have reported adverse health outcomes following kidney donation, its socioeconomic impact on living donors requires further study. Study design A retrospective observational cohort study including a matched comparison group. Setting & participants 1,285 living kidney donors from seven tertiary hospitals between 2003 and 2016, and a matched comparison group consisting of the same number of health screening examinees with similar baseline clinical characteristics and socioeconomic status. All participants were receiving Korean national health insurance. Exposures Kidney donation as reflected in the Korean National Health Insurance System (NHIS) database. Outcomes Changes in household economic status estimated by Korean national health insurance fees and changes in employment status reflected in the NHIS database. Analytical approach The outcomes of the donor group and matched control group were compared annually using multivariable logistic regression analyses adjusted for clinical and demographic characteristics. Results The median ages of the donors and matched controls were 45 and 46 years, respectively; 44.6% of both groups were male. Compared to the comparison group, living donors were at higher risk of being unemployed or losing employment during the first two years after donation [e.g., first-year loss of employment, odds ratio (OR) 2.27 (1.55–3.33)]; however, this association did not persist. Donors also had a significantly lower odds of improvement in economic status [OR 0.57 (0.47–0.71)] and a higher odds of deterioration in financial status [OR 1.54 (1.23–1.93)] in the first year following transplantation and subsequently. Limitations Unmeasured differences between donors and matched controls creating residual selection bias and confounding. Conclusions Living kidney donors may suffer loss of employment and poor economic status after their voluntary donation. The socioeconomic impact on these donors should be considered in conjunction with the potential long-term adverse health outcomes following donation.