Frailty Prevalence and Characterization Among Kidney Transplant Candidates in Spain: A Multicenter Study

Frailty is a frequent condition among kidney transplant candidates (KTc) that confers poor outcomes after transplantation. We aimed to establish frailty prevalence in a representative sample of KTc in Spain. We conducted a multicenter cross-sectional study including 1194 KTc ≥50 years. Frailty was assessed by the FRAIL scale. Mean age was 64.2 years; 38.4% were female. Median Charlson comorbidity index (CCI) was 6 [4-7] and the total number of medications was 9 [7-12]. We found that 8.2% of patients were frail and 41.5% were pre-frail. Frailty was more frequent among females (60.2% of frail vs. 32.8% of robust; p < 0.001), hemodialysis patients (74.5% of frail vs. 67.1% of robust; p = 0.02), and those with a high burden of disease (54.6% of frail patients with CCI >6 vs. 29.3% of robust; p < 0.001). The multivariable analysis confirmed that frailty was associated with the female sex (OR 3.9 [2.5-6.2]); higher CCI (>6 OR 2.9 [1.6-54]); and the number of medications (OR -per medication- 1.13 [1.07-1.2]). Almost 50% of KTc in Spain are pre-frail or frail. Frailty is more prevalent between women and patients with high comorbidity burden. Identifying those candidates at risk is essential to establish risks and implement strategies to minimize them.

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Journal
Transplant International
Published
2025-06-24
DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/ti.2025.14098
Citations
1
Primary Topic
Dialysis and Renal Disease Management
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article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
1.43
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article

Frailty Prevalence and Characterization Among Kidney Transplant Candidates in Spain: A Multicenter Study

Sheila Cabello, Leocadio Rodríguez‐Mañas, Manuel J. Macía, Teresa García Falcón et al.
1 citations
Transplant International
Dialysis and Renal Disease Management
1.43
article

Frailty Prevalence and Characterization Among Kidney Transplant Candidates in Spain: A Multicenter Study

Sheila Cabello, Leocadio Rodríguez‐Mañas, Manuel J. Macía, Teresa García Falcón, Blanca Gascó, Elena González, Álex Gutiérrez-Dalmau, María Luisa Rodríguez-Ferrero, María Molina, Marta Artamendi, Marta Arias‐Guillén, C. Galéano, Alicia Mendiluce, Marta Calvo, Ana Ramos, José María Portolés, Javier de Teresa, Lourdes de la Vara, Edoardo Melilli, Auxiliadora Mazuecos, Juan Carlos Ruiz, Mirta Santana, Jordi Espí, Antonio Franco, Rocío Martínez, María José Pérez‐Sáez, Enrique Montero de Espinosa, María Lourdes Pérez-Tamajón, Asunción Sancho, Natalia Polanco, Nisrine Arhda, Paloma Leticia Martín-Moreno, Verónica López, Francesc Moreso, Carme Facundo, Julio Pascual, María Luisa Suárez Alonso, Ingrid Auyanet, Rafael Martínez, Sagrario Soriano, Guadalupe Tabernero, José Luis Zalve
article en
1 citations

Abstract

Frailty is a frequent condition among kidney transplant candidates (KTc) that confers poor outcomes after transplantation. We aimed to establish frailty prevalence in a representative sample of KTc in Spain. We conducted a multicenter cross-sectional study including 1194 KTc ≥50 years. Frailty was assessed by the FRAIL scale. Mean age was 64.2 years; 38.4% were female. Median Charlson comorbidity index (CCI) was 6 [4-7] and the total number of medications was 9 [7-12]. We found that 8.2% of patients were frail and 41.5% were pre-frail. Frailty was more frequent among females (60.2% of frail vs. 32.8% of robust; p < 0.001), hemodialysis patients (74.5% of frail vs. 67.1% of robust; p = 0.02), and those with a high burden of disease (54.6% of frail patients with CCI >6 vs. 29.3% of robust; p < 0.001). The multivariable analysis confirmed that frailty was associated with the female sex (OR 3.9 [2.5-6.2]); higher CCI (>6 OR 2.9 [1.6-54]); and the number of medications (OR -per medication- 1.13 [1.07-1.2]). Almost 50% of KTc in Spain are pre-frail or frail. Frailty is more prevalent between women and patients with high comorbidity burden. Identifying those candidates at risk is essential to establish risks and implement strategies to minimize them.

Transplant InternationalVol. 38
Hospital Universitario de Canarias (ES), Hospital Universitario La Paz (ES), Bellvitge University Hospital (ES), Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón (ES), Hospital Clínico San Carlos (ES), Research Institute Hospital 12 de Octubre (ES), Hospital Universitario de Getafe (ES), Hospital Universitario Puerta de Hierro Majadahonda (ES), Hospital Regional Universitario de Málaga (ES), Hospital Universitario Miguel Servet (ES), Hospital Clínic de Barcelona (ES), Hospital Universitario Virgen de las Nieves (ES), Hospital Universitario Reina Sofía (ES), Hospital Universitario Doctor Peset (ES), Hospital Universitario Fundación Jiménez Díaz (ES), Hospital Del Mar (ES), Hospital Universitario Central de Asturias (ES), Hospital Universitario Puerta del Mar (ES), Hospital Universitario Virgen del Rocío (ES), Hospital Clínico Universitario de Valladolid (ES)
No poverty
Openalex Percentile: Top 19%
Dialysis and Renal Disease Management
1.43
DOIOpen Access PDFOpenAlex
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