Background:

Kidney transplantation is the treatment of choice for end-stage renal disease. An adequate post-transplant follow-up improves the graft and patient’s long-term survival.

Objective:

The aim of this study was to compare the outcomes of kidney transplant patients who live in the Medellin metropolitan area with those who live outside this area, to propose a model for follow-up care through telemedicine.

Methods:

Descriptive, retrospective and one-center study. Kaplan-Meier method was used to determine the survival rate.

Results:

Between 2005 and 2015, 742 patients were transplanted, 42% of whom lived outside the metropolitan area. The survival rates after 1, 3 and 5 years of treatment in patients in the metropolitan area of Medellín compared to those outside were 96.8%, 93.7% y 91.8% and 94.4%, 90.3% y 85.2% respectively, with statistically significant differences (Log-rank test p=0.048, Hazard ratio 1.68, IC 95% 0.99-2.84, p=0.052).

Conclusion:

The survival rate was lower in kidney transplant patients living outside the urban area. These findings motivate the development of a telemedicine project to facilitate the follow-up of these patients after a kidney transplantation.

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