Financial Burden Borne by Laparoscopic Living Kidney Donors.

Introduction: Living kidney donors have donation-related, out-of-pocket costs (direct costs) and/or ongoing daily expenses while losing income (indirect costs) associated with donation. Yet there is little information about how much of a subjective burden these constitute for the donors. Methods: From 12/2003-1/2015, we surveyed donors 6 months postdonation to determine financial burden related to donation (on a scale of 1-10) and what resources were used to cover expenses. Results: Of 1136 surveyed, 796 (70%) responded. Among respondents, mean age at donation was 43.6+/-10.6 years, 64% were female, 96% white, and 53% related by blood to their recipient. Overall, 26% scored their financial burden as >=5; 8% scored it as >=8. Increased expenses were associated with a higher reported burden; however, significant burden was reported by some with no out-of-pocket expenses (presumably due to lost wages and continuing expenses). The burden was scored as >=5 by 27% of those employed outside the home (n=660), 15% homemakers, 13% retirees, 40% students; 28% unemployed; and by 26% whose occupation was unknown. Over half (51%) of those receiving a local or (means-tested) national grant still reported moderate to severe burden. Besides grants, donors used a variety of sources to help offset expenses: dipped into savings, borrowed from friends or family, took out a loan, and/or had a fundraiser. Those with the highest burden reported using the most additional sources. Conclusions: Donors should not have to incur costs or a financial burden to donate; the transplant community should strive to make donation financially neutral. Copyright (C) 2016 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.

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