Spouses Who Donate Seem to Be the Winners – A Questionnaire Study of Kidney Donors Long-Term

Abstract

Background: Living donor kidney transplantations have been performed at Sahlgrenska University Hospital in Gothenburg, Sweden since 1965. In this study we wanted to explore the living kidney donor’s long-term experiences of the donation. Methods: Of 1110 consecutive living donors throughout 1965-2005, 823 were available for our questionnaire study. Results: Totally 692 replied to the questionnaire, 65% were females. The most common relation to the recipients was siblings (284), parents (262) and spouses (96). Time since donation was median 15 years (2 - 43). The initiative to donate came from the donors themselves in 69%. The dominating motives for donation were a wish to help, worries about the recipient not receiving a transplant and the knowledge that one could live a normal life with one kidney. The majority of the donors, felt well informed about potential risks both short-term and long-term. Depression post donation was reported by few donors, 2.3% and persisting pain by 4.3%. Comparisons between sibling donors and spouse donors show a significant difference (p < 0.0001) in the statements; If I donate a kidney “My quality of life will be better” and “The quality of life for the family will be better” more so for spouses. Also spouses seemed to be better informed about risks both for themselves and the recipients (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Our study shows that the donor population is in good psychosocial health. It is a positive progress that spouses can be living kidney donors - they seem to be the winners.