Profit facility status linked to longer wait times for kidney transplants

Care of adults at profit versus nonprofit dialysis facilities has been associated with lower access to kidney transplants.

In a study published in JAMA, Celina Brunson, M.D., nephrologist and medical director of dialysis at Children’s National Hospital, and a cohort of researchers, found that profit facility status was associated with longer wait-listing times and kidney transplants. Whether there was a correlation in profit status was unknown before this study.

Researchers reviewed the United States (US) Renal Data System records of 13,333 pediatric patients under the age of 18 who started dialysis from the year 2000 through 2018 in U.S. dialysis facilities. This was followed up through June 30, 2019. Results showed that among U.S. pediatric patients undergoing dialysis, profit dialysis facility status was significantly associated with increased time to wait-listing and kidney transplants.

The full study can be viewed here.