Exploring quality of life and social impacts in living kidney donors: Insights from tertiary hospitals Saudi Arabia: A 2-year cross-sectional study from 2022 to 2024.

Abstract

Introduction: Chronic kidney disease is a global health challenge, often progressing to end-stage renal disease requiring renal replacement therapies such as dialysis or transplantation. Kidney transplantation is the preferred treatment due to its superior effectiveness in improving survival and quality of life compared to dialysis. In addition, living kidney donation, while generally safe, may impact the donor's psychological and social well-being. The present study investigates the quality of life and social outcomes of living kidney donors, offering important insights into donor experiences in Saudi Arabia.

Methodology: This cross-sectional study was conducted at King Abdulaziz Medical City, Riyadh, and Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, between 2022 and 2024. A total of 224 kidney donors participated, with data collected through telephone interviews using the validated Perceived Donation Consequences Scale to assess psychosocial outcomes, including physical health, quality of life, and social relationships. Demographic data were extracted from electronic medical records.

Results: A total of 224 kidney donors participated in the study. The majority of donors were male (72.8%) and married (66.1%), with 79.9% donating to immediate family members. The study showed that 48.2% reported improved quality of life. Moreover, 90.2% of donors would choose to donate again, and 86.6% would recommend donation to others. While 75.4% of donors reported that the surgery met their expectations, 29% experienced ongoing physical symptoms such as pain and fatigue. Psychosocial outcomes were generally positive, with 78.6% reporting no negative impact on family relationships and 70.1% indicating that their job prospects were unaffected.

Conclusion: This study demonstrates that kidney donation generally leads to high levels of satisfaction and positive psychosocial outcomes for donors. While most donors reported improved quality of life and strong motivation to donate again, a subset experienced ongoing physical symptoms such as pain and fatigue.