Prevalence of Musculoskeletal and Metabolic Disorders in Kidney Transplant Recipients: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Transpl Int. 2024 Apr 24:37:12312. doi: 10.3389/ti.2024.12312. eCollection 2024.

Abstract

Introduction: Musculoskeletal disorders could be associated with metabolic disorders that are common after kidney transplantation, which could reduce the quality of life of patients. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of both musculoskeletal and metabolic disorders in kidney transplant patients.

Methods: MEDLINE, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, EMBASE and Web of Science were searched from their inception up to June 2023. DerSimonian and Laird random-effects method was used to calculate pooled prevalence estimates and their 95% confidence intervals (CIs).

Results: 21,879 kidney transplant recipients from 38 studies were analysed. The overall proportion of kidney transplant patients with musculoskeletal disorders was 27.2% (95% CI: 18.4-36.0), with low muscle strength (64.5%; 95% CI: 43.1-81.3) being the most common disorder. Otherwise, the overall proportion of kidney transplant patients with metabolic disorders was 37.6% (95% CI: 21.9-53.2), with hypovitaminosis D (81.8%; 95% CI: 67.2-90.8) being the most prevalent disorder.

Conclusion: The most common musculoskeletal disorders were low muscle strength, femoral osteopenia, and low muscle mass. Hypovitaminosis D, hyperparathyroidism, and hyperuricemia were also the most common metabolic disorders. These disorders could be associated with poorer quality of life in kidney transplant recipients.

Systematic review registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/, identifier [CRD42023449171].

Keywords: meta-analysis; metabolic; musculoskeletal; proportion; renal transplant.

Publication types

  • Systematic Review
  • Meta-Analysis
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Bone Diseases, Metabolic / epidemiology
  • Bone Diseases, Metabolic / etiology
  • Humans
  • Kidney Transplantation* / adverse effects
  • Metabolic Diseases* / epidemiology
  • Muscle Strength
  • Musculoskeletal Diseases* / epidemiology
  • Musculoskeletal Diseases* / etiology
  • Postoperative Complications / epidemiology
  • Postoperative Complications / etiology
  • Prevalence
  • Quality of Life
  • Transplant Recipients
  • Vitamin D Deficiency / complications
  • Vitamin D Deficiency / epidemiology

Grants and funding

The project received a research grant from the Carlos III Institute of Health, Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (Spain), awarded on the call for the creation of Health Outcomes-Oriented Cooperative Research Networks (RICORS), with reference RD21/0016/0025, co-funded with European Union—NextGenerationEU funds. Additional funding was obtained from the Research Network on Preventative Activities and Health Promotion (RD12/0005/0009) to VM-V Likewise, this study was funded by European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and by the Carvascare Research Group (2022-GRIN-34459 Carvascare Research Group).