Longevity & AgingDiabetes Dramatically Raises Death Risk in Organ Transplant Recipients
A large national study of over 732,000 organ transplant recipients found that diabetes — whether present before surgery or developing afterward — significantly raises the risk of death over a decade. New-onset diabetes after transplantation (NODAT) increased mortality risk across all four major organs studied: heart, liver, kidney, and lung. Pre-existing diabetes carried even higher risks, particularly for kidney transplant recipients, who faced nearly 90% greater mortality. Up to one in four thoracic transplant recipients developed diabetes post-surgery. Immunosuppressive drugs like steroids and calcineurin inhibitors are key drivers. Researchers call the first five years post-transplant a critical window for intervention, emphasizing that early diabetes screening and management in transplant patients could meaningfully extend survival.
