Against expectations, patients with kidney failure who live far away from transplant centers were more likely to undergo transplants than those living close to one, researchers said.
The lowest rates of transplant were found among patients living within 15 miles of a U.S. kidney transplant center,while the highest rates were seen in patients living more than 200 miles away, according to Marcello Tonelli, M.D., of the University of Alberta in Edmonton, and colleagues.
The time between first dialysis and transplant wait-listing was also shorter for patients living relatively far away from transplant centers.