How long can someone generally live after a kidney transplant?

Kidney transplantation is one of the effective treatments for end-stage renal disease, significantly improving patients' quality of life and life expectancy. However, there is no uniform answer to how long a person can live after receiving a kidney transplant, as this primarily depends on multiple factors. Generally speaking, the average survival time for patients after kidney transplantation is around 10 years. If the kidney comes from a healthy living donor, its function is usually better than that from a brain-dead or multi-organ failure deceased donor, so the post-transplant survival time may be longer. In addition, the degree of tissue compatibility matching between donor and recipient also affects the long-term survival rate of the transplanted kidney.

Chronic loss of transplanted kidney function is a major factor affecting patients' long-term survival rates and quality of life. This process may be influenced by various factors, including immunological factors, non-immunological factors such as age, infection, medication, hyperlipidemia, diabetes, hypertension, and the original cause of native kidney failure.

Regular medical check-ups, following medical advice, maintaining a balanced diet, engaging in appropriate exercise, avoiding infection risks, quitting smoking, and limiting alcohol consumption can all help prolong the lifespan of the transplanted kidney and improve the overall survival of the patient.