Abstract: TH-PO1037
Suicide After Transplantation: Can a Simple Score Help?
Session Information
- Transplantation: Clinical - Outcomes, Malignancy, and Pathology
October 22, 2026 | Location: Exhibit Hall A, Convention Center
Abstract Time: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Category: Transplantation
- 2002 Transplantation: Clinical
Authors
- Sari, Gökalp, Gazi Universitesi Tip Fakultesi, Ankara, Turkey
- Cetin, Taha Enes, Gazi Universitesi Tip Fakultesi, Ankara, Turkey
- Sahin, Betül, Gazi Universitesi Tip Fakultesi, Ankara, Turkey
- Aksu, Muhammed Hakan, Gazi Universitesi Tip Fakultesi, Ankara, Turkey
- Helvaci, Ozant, Gazi Universitesi Tip Fakultesi, Ankara, Turkey
- Guz, Galip, Gazi Universitesi Tip Fakultesi, Ankara, Turkey
Background
Kidney transplant recipients (KTRs) remain vulnerable to suicide-related behaviors despite improved survival and quality of life after transplantation. Kim et al. recently developed and validated a suicide risk score for patients with end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) using demographic, psychiatric and clinical parameters. We applied this instrument in a Turkish KTR cohort to assess its association with suicide-related outcomes.
Methods
We conducted a cross-sectional study of 194 adult KTRs followed at a tertiary nephrology center. The ESKD suicide risk score was administered to all patients (Table 1).
Results
Patients were stratified into low-, intermediate-, and high-risk categories using the original cut-offs. Mean age was 44.4 ± 13.1 years, 66.5% were male, and mean follow-up was 140.6 ± 85.3 months. Rejection history was present in 28.9% of patients. Suicide attempts occurred in 4 patients (2.1%). Depression (p = 0.001), insomnia (p = 0.027), and rejection history (p = 0.006) were associated with suicide attempts, while anxiety showed a non-significant trend (p = 0.094). Risk scores are shown in Figure 1.
Conclusion
In this independent KTR cohort, the ESKD-derived suicide risk score identified all patients with suicide attempts as high risk. The 2.1% prevalence observed in our cohort appeared higher than previous transplant series, possibly reflecting the high suicide burden in Turkey. Routine use of this brief score may help identify KTRs requiring psychiatric evaluation and multidisciplinary follow-up.
Characteristics of KTRs According to Suicide Attempts
| Variable | Suicide Attempt (-) (n=190) | Suicide Attempt (+) (n=4) | p value |
| Age, years | 44.4 ± 13.2 | 43.5 ± 9.8 | 0.895 |
| Male sex, n(%) | 127 (66.8) | 2 (50) | 0.603 |
| Urban residence, n(%) | 185 (97.4) | 3 (75) | 0.119 |
| Follow-up duration, months | 140.4 ± 84.6 | 147.3 ± 131.4 | 0.875 |
| Body mass index, kg/m2 | 25.8 ± 4.4 | 27.5 ± 4.2 | 0.453 |
| Hemoglobin, g/dL | 12.1 ± 2.5 | 11.7 ± 1.4 | 0.793 |
| Rejection history, n (%) | 52 (27.4) | 4 (100) | 0.006 |
| Depression, n (%) | 31 (16.3) | 4 (100) | 0.001 |
| Insomnia, n (%) | 12 (6.3) | 2 (50) | 0.027 |
| Anxiety, n (%) | 25 (13.2) | 2 (50) | 0.094 |