Investigation of Weight Gain and Affecting Factors in Kidney Transplant Recipients in the First 2 Years After Transplant.

Objectives: It is necessary to examine weight gain and affecting factors after kidney transplant. This study was performed to examine weight gain and affecting factors in kidney transplant recipients in the first 2 years after transplant.

Materials and methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study included 139 kidney transplant recipients who were regularly followed by 2 university hospitals in the first 2 years after transplant. Data were collected with the use of a sociodemographic and clinical features' form and the General Self-Efficacy Scale. Weight and body mass index at 3, 6, 12, and 24 months after transplant were evaluated. Differences between weight (in kilograms) and body mass index (in kilograms divided by height in meters squared) at the first outpatient clinic visit and weight and body mass index at 24 months after transplant were calculated.

Results: The mean age of patients was 46.32 ± 12.39 years. Differences in mean weight and body mass index between the first posttransplant outpatient clinic visit and at month 24 posttransplant were 7.07 ± 7.57 and 2.6 ± 2.37, respectively. Statistically significant differences were found in weight and body mass index at 2 years posttransplant. As age increased, weight gain decreased. Differences in weight gain and body mass index were not significantly associated with sex, presence of chronic diseases, donor type, steroid dose, and self-efficacy.

Conclusions: Kidney transplant recipients in our study population had increased weight and body mass index at 2 years after transplant. Younger kidney transplant recipients had higher weight gains. Therefore, kidney transplant recipients, especially younger ones, should be closely followed in terms of weight gain after transplant.