Kidney Transplant Rejection Epidemiology

Key Highlights

• As per DelveInsight’s estimate, in 2024, approximately 45 thousand new cases of kidney transplant were reported in the 7MM, highlighting a considerable clinical burden. This substantial incidence emphasizes the urgent need for novel therapeutic approaches to mitigate the growing strain on healthcare systems and improve patient outcomes.
• In 2024, the EU4 and the UK accounted for approximately 35% of the total incident kidney transplant cases across the 7MM. DelveInsight’s analysis suggests that this proportion is likely to grow in the coming years, reflecting a rising trend in transplant procedures and an increasing demand for effective rejection management strategies in the region.
• According to DelveInsight’s analysis, the UK recorded the highest number of living cases of kidney transplant in 2024, with approximately 47 thousand individuals living with a transplant. This number is projected to increase significantly during the forecast period, indicating a steady growth in the transplant population and the ongoing need for sustained post-transplant care.
• In 2024, an estimated 180 cases of acute kidney transplant rejection and 540 cases of chronic rejection were reported in Japan. These figures are anticipated to increase by 2034, highlighting the importance of continued advancements in rejection prevention and long-term graft management.

DelveInsight’s “Kidney Transplant Rejection Epidemiology Forecast – 2034” report delivers an in-depth understanding of kidney transplant rejection, historical and forecasted epidemiology of kidney transplant rejection in the United States, EU4 (Germany, France, Italy, and Spain) and the United Kingdom, and Japan.

Geography Covered

• The United States
• EU4 (Germany, France, Italy, and Spain) and the United Kingdom
• Japan

Study Period: 2021-2034

Kidney Transplant Rejection Understanding 

Kidney Transplant Rejection Overview

Kidney transplantation is the preferred treatment option for individuals with End-stage Renal Disease (ESRD) or advanced Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD), offering better survival rates and improved quality of life compared to dialysis. However, transplant rejection remains a serious concern, necessitating lifelong monitoring and ongoing medical care to preserve graft function. Common signs of rejection include reduced urine output, swelling in the legs or feet, elevated blood pressure, and persistent fatigue. Additional symptoms may involve fever, flu-like sensations such as chills, nausea, body aches, and tenderness around the transplant area. Blood tests showing elevated creatinine levels can indicate declining kidney function. Without timely intervention, these symptoms can lead to graft dysfunction or failure, worsening the patient’s condition and increasing reliance on dialysis or intensive medical support.

Kidney Transplant Rejection Diagnosis

Diagnosing kidney transplant rejection is a crucial component of post-transplant care, as early identification can greatly enhance treatment outcomes. The gold standard for confirming rejection is a kidney (renal) biopsy, which involves examining kidney tissue under a microscope to detect signs of rejection, such as inflammation or cellular damage. In addition, routine blood tests are used to monitor kidney function by measuring creatinine and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) levels elevations in these markers may signal possible rejection. Imaging techniques such as ultrasound, MRI, and PET scans also play a supportive role in identifying structural or functional changes associated with rejection. 

Further details related to diagnosis are provided in the report…

Kidney Transplant Rejection Epidemiology

For the purpose of designing the patient-based model for kidney transplant rejection, the report provides historical as well as forecasted epidemiology segmented by total incident cases of kidney transplants, total living cases of kidney transplants, type-specific cases of kidney transplant rejection in the 7MM covering the United States, EU4 countries (Germany, France, Italy, and Spain) and the United Kingdom, and Japan, from 2021 to 2034. 

• In 2024, the total number of newly reported kidney transplant cases across the 7MM is estimated to be approximately 45 thousand reflecting the continued reliance on transplantation as a key therapeutic approach for managing end-stage renal disease and advanced chronic kidney conditions.
• According to DelveInsight's analysis, in 2024, the US accounted for approximately 270 thousand cases of individuals living with a kidney transplant. This figure highlights the growing population of transplant recipients requiring long-term post-transplant care and monitoring, underscoring the sustained clinical burden and the need for effective graft preservation strategies.
• In 2024, EU4 and the UK collectively accounted for a significant proportion of kidney transplant rejection cases within the 7MM, contributing to approximately 52% of all acute rejection cases and 48% of chronic rejection cases. This distribution underscores the substantial burden of both acute and chronic graft rejection in the European region. 
• According to DelveInsight's analysis, Spain reported the highest number of total incident cases of kidney transplant rejection in 2024 among EU4 and the UK, with approximately 4,000 incident cases, followed closely by France with around 3,700 cases. 
• In 2024, Japan recorded approximately 23 thousand living cases of kidney transplant. This number is anticipated to increase over the forecast period, indicating a growing need for enhanced long-term transplant care and more effective strategies to prevent graft rejection.
• Kidney Transplant Rejection Cases in the EU4 and the UK

KOL Views

To gaze into the epidemiology insights of the real world, we take KOLs and SMEs’ opinions working in the domain through primary research to fill the data gaps and validate our secondary research on disease prevalence. 

DelveInsight’s analysts connected with 20+ KOLs to gather insights; however, interviews were conducted with 10+ KOLs in the 7MM. Centers such as the University of California, US; Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Germany; Paris Cité University, France; Sapienza University, Italy; University of Valencia, Spain; University of Cambridge, UK; University of Tokyo, Japan and others were contacted. Their opinion helps understand and validate current disease prevalence, gender involved with the disease, diagnosis rate, and diagnostic criteria.

Scope of the Kidney Transplant Rejection Epidemiology Report

• The report covers a segment of executive summary, descriptive overview of kidney transplant rejection, explaining its causes, signs and symptoms, and currently available diagnostic algorithms and guidelines.
• Comprehensive insight has been provided into the epidemiology segments and forecasts, the future growth potential of diagnosis rate, disease progression, and diagnosis guidelines.
• The report provides an edge for understanding trends, expert insights/KOL views, and patient journeys in the 7MM.
• A detailed review of current challenges in establishing the diagnosis.

Kidney Transplant Rejection Report Insights

• Kidney Transplant Rejection Patient Population
• Country-wise Epidemiology Distribution
• Total Incident Cases of Kidney Transplants 
• Total Living Cases of Kidney Transplants
• Type-Specific Cases of Kidney Transplant Rejection

Kidney Transplant Rejection Report Key Strengths

• 10 years Forecast
• The 7MM Coverage 
• Alzheimer’s Disease Epidemiology Segmentation 

Kidney Transplant Rejection Report Assessment

• Current Diagnostic Practices Patient Segmentation

Kidney Transplant Rejection Epidemiology Insights

• What are the disease risk, burdens, and unmet needs of kidney transplant rejection? What will be the growth opportunities across the 7MM concerning the patient population of kidney transplant rejection? 
• What is the historical and forecasted kidney transplant rejection patient pool in the United States, EU4 (Germany, France, Italy, and Spain) and the United Kingdom, and Japan?
• Why is the diagnosed incident cases of kidney transplant rejection in Japan lower than the US?
• Which country has a high patient share for kidney transplant rejection?

Reasons to Buy Kidney Transplant Rejection Report

• Insights on patient burden/disease, evolution in diagnosis, and factors contributing to the change in the epidemiology of the disease during the forecast years.
• To understand the kidney transplant rejection incident cases in varying geographies over the coming years.
• A detailed overview of total incident cases kidney transplant, total living cases of kidney transplant and type-specific cases of kidney transplant rejection.
• To understand the perspective of key opinion leaders around the current challenges with establishing the diagnosis options.
• Detailed insights on various factors hampering disease diagnosis and other existing diagnostic challenges.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the forecast period covered in the report?

The kidney transplant rejection Epidemiology report for the 7MM covers the forecast period from 2025 to 2034, providing a projection of epidemiology dynamics and trends during this timeframe.

2. Out of all EU4 countries and the UK, which country had the highest population of kidney transplant rejection cases in 2024?

The highest cases of kidney transplant rejection was found in the Spain among EU4 and the UK in 2024.

3. How is epidemiological data collected and analyzed for forecasting purposes?

Epidemiological data is collected through surveys, clinical studies, health records, and other sources. It is then analyzed to calculate disease rates, identify trends, and project future disease burdens using mathematical models.

4. Out of all 7MM countries, which country had the highest population of kidney transplant rejection cases in 2024?

The highest cases of kidney transplant rejection were found in the US among the 7MM in 2024.