Studies from Mayo Clinic Yield New Data on Kidney Transplants (Health insurance and kidney transplantation outcomes in the United States: a systematic review and AI-driven analysis of disparities in access and survival): Transplant Medicine – Kidney Transplants

2025 DEC 09 (NewsRx) -- By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at Health Policy and Law Daily -- Research findings on kidney transplants are discussed in a new report. According to news reporting from Rochester, Minnesota, by NewsRx journalists, research stated, “Kidney transplantation is the preferred treatment for end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) in the United States, yet access and outcomes vary by insurance type, race, and socioeconomic status. This systematic review synthesizes U.S.-based evidence on how insurance coverage influences transplant waitlisting, access, and outcomes.”

Our news journalists obtained a quote from the research from Mayo Clinic: “AI-assisted analysis was used to quantify disparities and propose policy recommendations. A systematic review of MEDLINE, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Database (through November 2024) was conducted to identify studies on insurance-related disparities in U.S. kidney transplantation (PROSPERO: CRD42023484733). AI-assisted synthesis using o3-mini-high (2025) was employed to identify patterns and guide policy development. Among 2,163 records, 14 studies met inclusion criteria. Patients with Medicare or Medicaid-particularly racial and ethnic minorities-had lower referral rates and higher transplant waitlist rejection compared to those with private insurance. Socioeconomic barriers such as low income and limited education further impaired access and worsened post-transplant outcomes. Publicly insured recipients had higher post-transplant mortality and graft failure rates. Loss of Medicare after 36 months was associated with reduced immunosuppressant adherence and increased rejection. Disparities were amplified by Medicaid expansion variability and inconsistent transplant center policies. AI-assisted analysis confirmed these disparities and generated policy proposals including standardized referral guidelines, lifelong immunosuppressant coverage, targeted financial aid, equity-linked incentives for transplant centers, and scalable digital health solutions.”

According to the news reporters, the research concluded: “Insurance type, race, and socioeconomic status significantly influence kidney transplant access and outcomes. AI-assisted analysis identified structural inequities and informed targeted policy strategies to advance transplant equity and support broader healthcare reform.”

For more information on this research see: Health insurance and kidney transplantation outcomes in the United States: a systematic review and AI-driven analysis of disparities in access and survival. Renal Failure, 2025,47(1). (Renal Failure - http://www.tandfonline.com/IRNF). The publisher for Renal Failure is Taylor & Francis Group.

A free version of this journal article is available at https://doi.org/10.1080/0886022X.2025.2513007.

Our news editors report that additional information may be obtained by contacting Oscar A. Garcia Valencia, Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, Department of Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, United States. Additional authors for this research include Supawadee Suppadungsuk, Charat Thongprayoon, Yuh-Shan Ho, Noppachai Siranart, Wannasit Wathanavasin, Caroline C. Jadlowiec, Shennen A. Mao, Napat Leeaphorn, Karim M. Soliman, Hatem Ali, Pooja Budhiraja, Jing Miao, Wisit Cheungpasitporn.

(Our reports deliver fact-based news of research and discoveries from around the world.)