2025 Volume 13 Issue 2 Pages 114-120
Reflecting the aging population in Japan, the age of living kidney donors has also been increasing. For elderly donor candidates, a comprehensive assessment that considers the unique characteristics of older individuals is essential. While there is no evidence that kidney donation increases the risk of mortality in elderly donors, they are more prone to post-donation decline in renal function compared to younger donors. This risk is further elevated in the presence of comorbidities such as obesity and hypertension. Evaluating the donor’s decision-making capacity is also critical in confirming voluntary consent, and a multidisciplinary approach, including collaboration with psychiatric professionals, is recommended. Furthermore, in the postoperative follow-up, it is important to develop a system that facilitates continued outpatient visits tailored to the individual donor’s circumstances.
