Researcher finds gender gap in kidney transplant referrals

Article excerpt

Female patients with kidney failure face a significant barrier: they're substantially less likely to be referred for transplant center assessment than male counterparts, with the gap widening as women age. A new study from researchers at ICES, London Health Sciences Center Research Institute, and Western University discovered the disparity while examining referral patterns. The findings, published in the Canadian Journal of Kidney Health and Disease, suggest systemic factors may be steering women away from potentially life-saving transplants, a kidney transplant typically offers better outcomes and longer survival than dialysis alone.