Organ donation is a critical component of healthcare, yet donation rates in Kazakhstan remain low. Understanding the socio-demographic factors, knowledge levels, and perceived barriers influencing individuals’ willingness to consent to organ donation is essential for developing effective interventions. This cross-sectional study surveyed 1,294 participants across Kazakhstan. The sample was predominantly female (78.3%), urban (79.4%), and well-educated, with a significant proportion having medical backgrounds. Data were collected on socio-demographic characteristics, knowledge about organ donation, and perceived barriers. Comparison methods and binomial logistic regression analysis was used to identify significant predictors of willingness to express consent for organ donation. Age, ethnicity, family status, and knowledge about organ donation were significant predictors of willingness to donate. Older participants and Russian ethnic group members were less likely to consent, while widowed individuals and those with higher knowledge levels were more likely to express consent. Although several factors did not have significant prediction with willingness to donate in the regression analysis, chi-square and U-tests revealed significant associations for residence, occupation, educational level, and religious affiliation. Key barriers to donation included distrust in the medical system, fears of organ trafficking, and insufficient awareness, particularly among non-medical participants. These barriers were significant deterrents and correlated with lower willingness to donate. However, due to the overrepresentation of urban, educated, and medical-affiliated participants in the sample, findings may not fully reflect the general population of Kazakhstan. The findings highlight the need for targeted educational campaigns to increase public awareness and address misconceptions about organ donation. Building trust in the medical system and dispelling fears of unethical practices are essential for improving donation rates. The study underscores the complex interplay of socio-demographic factors, knowledge, and perceived barriers in shaping organ donation decisions in Kazakhstan, while also emphasizing the need for future research with a more representative sample.

Background: Kidney transplantation (KTx) significantly improves survival and quality of life in patients with end-stage renal disease. However, post-transplant well-being is influenced by multiple factors, including healthcare accessibility, satisfaction with medical care, and psychological health. This study aimed to assess the well-being of post-KTx patients in Kazakhstan and examine its associations with healthcare access, satisfaction, and anxiety. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 223 post-KTx patients in Kazakhstan. Participants were recruited through online surveys and telephone interviews. Only patients who had undergone transplantation within Kazakhstan were included. The WHO-5 Well-Being Index was used to measure well-being, and additional surveys assessed healthcare access, satisfaction with post-KTx care, and treatment-related anxiety. Multiple linear regression was performed to identify predictors of well-being. Results: The mean WHO-5 well-being score was 66.1 (SD = 24.6), indicating moderate well-being. Satisfaction with post-transplant information (β = 0.287, p = 0.015) and educational level (β = 0.172, p = 0.019) were significant positive predictors of well-being. In contrast, post-KTx anxiety (β = −0.154, p = 0.024) and difficulties in accessing medical care (β = −0.216, p = 0.014) negatively affected well-being. Patients residing in rural areas reported greater barriers to post-transplant care compared to those in urban settings (χ² = 31.6, p = 0.002). Conclusions: Post-KTx well-being in Kazakhstan is influenced by educational level, access to healthcare, satisfaction with medical information, and anxiety levels. Targeted interventions to improve access to post-transplant care, enhance patient education, and address psychological distress may help improve outcomes for post-KTx patients.

Introduction: Kidney transplantation is recognized as the most effective treatment for children with end-stage renal disease (ESRD), providing significant improvements in quality of life and long-term survival. Traditional methods to detect involve after allograft rejection AR primarily invasive biopsy procedures that, while diagnostic, carry significant risks, especially in pediatric patients. Therefore, there is an urgent need for safer, less invasive, and more patient-friendly methods to monitor graft health. Metabolomics, the comprehensive analysis of small-molecule metabolites within a biological sample, offers a promising solution. Materials and Methods: This paper is a non-systematic review. PubMed and Scopus-indexed journals were used to collect articles for research. In general, 6 papers were included. Results: Our findings indicate that specific urinary metabolites can serve as sensitive and specific indicators of AR, offering a safer alternative to biopsies. Metabolomic profiling not only provides real-time insights into graft health, but also supports personalized management strategies to improve patient outcomes. This study contributes to the evolving field of transplant diagnostics, demonstrating how non-invasive methods such as metabolomics could revolutionize the monitoring and treatment of pediatric kidney transplant recipients.

Introduction: There is no consensus on the optimal concentration of lipoprotein(a) (Lp(a)) for the risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases (ASCVD) and aortic valve stenosis. In various clinical guidelines and agreed documents, the threshold level of Lp (a) is 30 mg/dl or 50 mg/dl. We estimated the cut-off value of Lp (a) associated with the risk of developing various localizations of atherosclerosis for the Central Asia, including Kazakhstani population.Methods: This study was conducted at National Research Cardiac Surgery Center, Kazakhstan. 487 patients were included, of which 61.3% were men. The mean age of all participants was 57.3 ± 12.6 years. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to study the relationship between risk factors and plasma lipoprotein (a) levels. The threshold value of lipoprotein (a) was predicted using the Youden index.Results: For Kazakhstani population the lipoprotein (a) cut offs for the risk of developing atherosclerotic CVD and aortic valve calcification was 21.1 mg/dl (p < 0.05). There was no relationship with the level of lipoprotein (a) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), which suggests that lipoprotein (a) is an independent risk factor for the development of ASCVD.Discussion: This study offers new insights into the threshold value of lipoprotein (a) in Kazakhstan, highlighting its role as a risk factor for atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases and aortic valve calcification. The findings suggest that the internationally recommended Lp(a) cutoffs may not be suitable for Central Asian populations, as the threshold in our study is significantly lower at 21.2 mg/dL. These results emphasize the need for further research with larger sample sizes to establish more region-specific cutoffs.

Background: Apolipoprotein B (ApoB), a key component of atherogenic lipoproteins, has been increasingly implicated in cardiometabolic disorders beyond dyslipidemia. However, its role in glycemic dysregulation remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the association between ApoB levels and glycemic parameters, including fasting glucose, insulin resistance, and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), in individuals without diagnosed diabetes. Methods: This study was conducted at the National Research Cardiac Surgery Center (Kazakhstan) over the period between 2023 and 2024 as a cross-sectional analysis. Adults aged ≥ 20 years without diagnosed diabetes and with complete data on their ApoB and glycemic markers were included. Associations between ApoB and fasting plasma glucose (FPG), HbA1c, and HOMA-IR were assessed using multivariable linear and logistic regression models adjusted for demographic, lifestyle, and metabolic covariates. Results: Higher ApoB levels were significantly associated with increased fasting glucose (β = 2.07 mg/dL per 1-SD increase in ApoB, p < 0.001), higher HbA1c (β = 0.06%, p < 0.001), and elevated HOMA-IR (β = 0.54, p < 0.001). Participants in the highest ApoB quartile had 53% higher odds of prediabetes (adjusted OR = 1.53; 95% CI: 1.22–1.91; p < 0.001) compared to the lowest quartile. These associations remained significant after adjusting for BMI, lipid levels, and other confounders. Conclusions: Elevated ApoB is independently associated with adverse glycemic profiles in nondiabetic individuals, suggesting its potential role in early glucose metabolism disturbances.

Background: The willingness to donate organs after death remains low in many populations, often due to informational and psychological barriers. This study assessed the impact of an educational lecture on knowledge and attitudes toward postmortem organ donation among university students in Kazakhstan. Methods: A total of 129 students completed a pre-lecture questionnaire on donation attitudes, knowledge, and barriers; 97 also completed the post-lecture assessment. Changes were analyzed using paired t-tests, repeated-measures ANOVA, and logistic regression. Participants were grouped by attitudinal changes to identify predictors of consent. Results: Knowledge about organ donation increased significantly after the lecture (p < 0.001), with larger gains among females and non-medical students. The number of participants who were willing to donate rose from 27 to 56 (p < 0.001). About 37% showed a positive shift, while 3% shifted toward refusal. In the initially ambivalent group (n = 49), female gender (AOR = 35.6), greater knowledge gain (AOR = 3.03), and lower perceived barriers (AOR = 0.05) predicted a change towards consent. Uncertainty about how to express consent was the only significantly differing barrier (p = 0.036). Conclusion: A brief educational lecture effectively increased knowledge and willingness to donate. Targeted information on procedural aspects may reduce indecision and promote informed donor registration.