Donating a kidney is safer than ever, new research finds

There's never been a safer time to donate a kidney.

There's never been a safer time to give a kidney. 

The risk of death for people who donated a kidney has dropped by more than half in the last decade, according to a study published Wednesday. 

“It’s just becoming safer and safer for people to donate,” said Dr. Dorry Segev, a transplant surgeon at NYU Langone Health and senior author of the study. 

The overall risk of death for a kidney donor has always been low, but advances in surgery and medical care, along with more careful donor selection, have improved the odds even more. 

The kidneys play a vital role in health, responsible for filtering harmful toxins out of our blood and regulating blood pressure. As rates of chronic conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure — both may contribute to renal disease — have increased, the need for kidney donors has become more urgent.

https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/donating-kidney-safer-ever-new-research-finds-rcna168524

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