Factors of consequence for graft survival: a statistical analysis

The background for the statistical analysis was 149 consecutive cadaver transplantations performed on 126 patients in the period September 1970 to March 1977 with a minimum period of observation of 3 1/2 years. The time of admittance into the material was onset of function of the graft, i.e. the verified urine production. Thus 19 never-functioning grafts were excluded. The exit of the material’ was rejection with cessation of function. Death of a patient with preserved graft function was not considered as cessation of function. The material is analysed with regard to risk factors for the first 3 months and for the following period separately. The Kaplan-Meyer estimation1 of survival distribution is used for comparison of the time to rejection for the subgroups. A stepwise analysis based on the regression model proposed by Cox2 is used to determine the influence on prognosis from more than one variable. The independent variables included in the analysis are shown in Table 45.1.