Sex differences in renal transplantation in Canada

To determine if a patient's sex influences access to renal transplantation in Canada, transplant recipient data for first cadaveric unrelated renal tr ansplants were obtained from the Canadian Organ Replacement Register (CORR) for the period 1985-1992. There were 4683 first unrelated cadaveric transp lant recipients during this time. Differences in the proportion of men and women registered with CORR who received a renal transplant were analyzed. I n Canada between 1985 and 1992, 25% of males 40 years and older on dialysis received renal transplants compared with 18% of females (p < 0.0001, RR 1. 54, 95% CI 1.40-1.67). There was no difference in the rates of transplants in males and females who were under 40 years of age. Adjusting for panel-re active antibody data did not change the significance of the difference in t ransplant rates between the sexes. In Canada from 1985 to 1992, male patien ts with end-stage renal disease received proportionately more transplants t han females.