Renal replacement therapy options from an Indian perspective: dialysis versus transplantation

In developing countries such as India, the management of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) is largely guided by economic considerations. In the absence of health insurance plans, fewer than 10% of all patients receive renal replacement therapy (RRT). Hemodialysis (HD) is mainly a short-term measure to support ESRD patients prior to transplant. Infections are common in dialysis patients. The majority of patients starting HD die or are forced to abandon treatment because of cost constraints within the first 3 months. The cost of peritoneal dialysis (PD) is two times higher than that of HD, fewer than 2% of patients are started on PD. Among the three RRT options available, renal transplant is the preferred mode, as it is most cost-effective and provides a better quality of life. But due to financial constraints and nonavailability of organs, only about 5% of ESRD patients undergo transplant surgery. Though the removal of organs from brain-dead patients has been legalized, the concept of donation of organs from deceased donors has not received adequate social sanction. Only 2% of all transplants are performed from deceased donors. Due to limited access to RRT, the ideal approach should be to reduce the incidence of ESRD and attempt preventive measures. Preemptive transplant, reducing the duration of dialysis prior to transplant, use of immunosuppression for only up to 1 year, and availability of more deceased donor organs may be helpful to make RRT options within the reach of the common man.     

Current incidence, treatment patterns and outcome of end-stage renal disease among indigenous groups in Australia and New Zealand

SUMMARY: The changes in rates of treated end-stage renal disease (ESRD) among indigenous populations have profound consequences for those individuals affected and for health-care providers. By using data from the Australia and New Zealand Dialysis and Transplant (ANZDATA) Registry, we examined the current incidence, treatment and outcomes of ESRD among indigenous groups in Australia and New Zealand. All patients who began renal replacement therapy (RRT) in Australia or New Zealand between October 1991 and September 2000 were included. Rates of ESRD, RRT modalities, renal transplantation and mortality were the outcomes examined. End-stage renal disease rates among indigenous groups in Australia and New Zealand exceeded non-indigenous rates up to eightfold. The median age of indigenous ESRD patients was younger (51 vs 60 years, P  < 0.0001), and there was an excess of comorbidities, particularly diabetes. For Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, and New Zealand Maori patients, mortality rates across all modalities of RRT were 70% higher than non-indigenous rates. Indigenous people were less likely to receive a renal transplant prior to dialysis treatment, less likely to be accepted onto the cadaveric transplant waiting list, and less likely to receive a well-matched transplant. The poorer outcomes among Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, and New Zealand Maori patients did not appear to be explained by the different comorbid conditions or age. Whether the outcomes reflect unmeasured differences in disease burden or treatment differences is not known. Tackling this problem will involve a spectrum of people and approaches, from tertiary care providers and RRT to local staff and preventative programs.     

End-stage renal failure and national resources: the Brazilian experience

Brazil is the fifth largest and the fifth most populous nation in the world. Its economy rivals Mexico as the strongest in Latin America and ranks among the 15 largest economies in the world. Despite these achievements, a substantial fraction of the Brazilian population still lives in poverty, and many still have limited access to medical assistance. There are currently about 380 patients on hemodialysis per million populations (pmp), approximately one third of the U.S. prevalence, suggesting that a large fraction of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients are not diagnosed and treated properly. In Brazil, access to renal replacement therapy (RRT), including renal transplantation, is universal, and the corresponding costs, including those of medications (immunosuppressors and treatment of ESRD complications), are covered by the Brazilian government. However, given the continuous growth of the ESRD population and of the costs incurred by RRT, the efficacy and reach of this system may be severely limited in years to come. In the current struggle against the ESRD epidemics, the Brazilian medical community and health authorities face a triple challenge: to limit the incidence of renal disease, slow or detain the progression of established chronic nephropathies, and ensure that access to quality RRT remains granted to all those who, despite all efforts, reach ESRD.     

End-stage renal disease in Brazil: epidemiology, prevention, and treatment

Brazil is one of the largest and most populous nations in the world, ranking among the 5 largest economies in the Americas and among the 15 largest economies in the world. However, Brazil is still plagued by social problems such as the persistence of poverty and immense deficiencies in its health system. Currently, there are approximately 390 patients on chronic renal replacement therapy (RRT) per million population, about one third the US prevalence, which suggests that end-stage renal disease is either underdiagnosed or undertreated. The epidemiology of renal disease in the small remaining native Brazilian population is largely unknown. However, it is likely that the prevalence of renal disease is low among at least 2 tribes: the Yanomamis in northern Brazil and the Xingu Indians in central Brazil. Sodium intake is very low, physical activity is intense, and the prevalence of hypertension and cardiovascular disease is negligible among these people, which stresses the potential pathogenic importance of so-called civilized habits. There is currently no conclusive evidence that African descendants or any other Brazilian ethnic minorities are especially vulnerable to renal disease. Access to RRT in Brazil is universal. However, because both the end-stage renal disease population and operational RRT costs are steadily increasing, the system may face severe limitations in the near future. Much effort is needed to limit the prevalence of renal disease, to detain or retard the progression of chronic nephropathies, and to ensure that high-quality RRT will remain available to all those who need it.     

Nephrology in Latin America,with special emphasis on Brazil

Latin America constitutes a complex universe that shows extreme variation regarding socioeconomic and human development. Brazil is the largest and most populous Latin American country, and combines characteristics encountered in developed countries with problems typically associated with the poorest regions of the world. These disparities condition the profile of renal disease in Brazil, with glomerulonephritis still the leading cause of ESRD. Little is known about the epidemiology of renal disease in the Brazilian (or Latin American) native population, which is numerous in some Central and South American countries, but constitute a very small minority in Brazil. However, interesting information has been obtained from the Yanomamis, a tribe living in Northern Brazil and Southern Venezuela. Hypertension is virtually absent among these people, who ingest very little sodium, lending strong support to the concept that sodium retention, a "civilization" factor, plays a role in the pathogenesis of arterial hypertension. Despite Brazil's striking socioeconomic disparities, access to RRT is in principle accessible to all those in need of it. The dialysis units have been modernized in recent years, whereas the Government covers most expenses related to RRT. However, the prevalence of RRT in Brazil is currently approximately 320 per million population, less than one third as high as in the US, suggesting that ESRD may be underdiagnosed in the country. Much effort is still needed to limit the prevalence of renal disease and to improve the quality and the reach of RRT in Brazil and in Latin America.     

Association Between Attributed Cause of End-Stage Renal Disease and Risk of Death in Brazilian Patients Receiving Renal Replacement Therapy

Background. Studies conducted in several countries have indicated that the survival of patients undergoing renal replacement therapy (RRT) depends on the attributed cause of end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Objectives. This study was conducted to evaluate the association between attributed cause of ESRD and mortality risk in RRT patients in Brazil. Methods. We analyzed 88,881 patients from the Brazilian Ministry of Health Registry who were undergoing RRT between April 1997 and July 2000. Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate the relative risk (RR) of death in patients with ESRD secondary to diabetes mellitus (DM), polycystic kidney disease (PKD), and primary glomerulopathies (GN) compared with a reference group comprised of patients with ESRD caused by hypertensive nephropathy. Patient's age, gender, and length of time (years) in RRT before inclusion in the registry (vintage) were included in the adjusted Cox model. Results. Compared with the reference group, the mortality risk was 27% lower in patients with PKD (RR = 0.73, 95% CI: 0.65–0.83, p< 0.0001); 29% lower in patients with GN (RR = 0.71, 95% CI: 0.68–0.74, p< 0.0001); and 100% greater in DM patients (RR = 2.00, 95% CI: 1.92–2.10, p< 0.0001). These relative risks remained statistically significant after adjustment for age, gender, and length of time in RRT before inclusion in the registry. Conclusions. Our data indicate that compared with the patients with hypertensive nephrosclerosis as attributed cause of ESRD, patients undergoing RRT in Brazil with idiopathic glomerulopathy and polycystic kidney disease have a lower risk of mortality, and patients with diabetes mellitus have a greater risk of mortality.     

Disparities in end-stage renal disease care in South America

South America is one of the most heterogeneous regions in the world regarding ethnical composition and socioeconomic development level. Our aim was to analyze the status of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) management in the Portuguese-speaking and Spanish-speaking countries of South America. Data were collected using a survey sent to the Society of Nephrology of each country, and complemented with data available in the Latin American Dialysis and Transplant Registry or personal communication with collaborators within the nephrology societies. Most of South America countries have a hybrid of public and private healthcare system. Universal access to renal replacement therapy (RRT) is provided in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Uruguay and Venezuela which comprise nearly 73% of South America population. The expenditure on health per capita varies from nearly US$ 200 per year in Bolivia to more than US$ 1,600 per year in Argentina. The prevalence of patients on RRT varies from 95 pmp. in Paraguay and 924 pmp in Chile. There is an important association between the prevalence of diabetes and the number of patients on RRT. Older people also are at a higher risk of developing ESRD. The rapid aging of the population and a higher prevalence of diabetes will probably translate into a burden of ESRD in the future. It is to be hoped that political and economical stability in the region can ease the adoption of universal access to ESRD treatment in all South American countries.     

Renal replacement therapy in patients with diabetes and end-stage renal disease

The number of patients who have diabetes and ESRD and are being admitted to renal replacement treatment (RRT) is increasing dramatically worldwide, and in many countries, diabetes has become the single most frequent cause of ESRD. Although the prognosis of patients who have diabetes and are receiving RRT has greatly improved, survival and medical rehabilitation rates continue to be significantly worse than those of nondiabetic patients, mainly because of preexisting severely compromised cardiovascular conditions. The most common RRT modality in patients with diabetes is still hemodialysis, but it gives rise to a number of clinical problems, in particular difficulties in the management of the vascular access and high frequency of intradialytic hypotension. However, patients who have diabetes and are on peritoneal dialysis have to face a progressive increase in peritoneal permeability, loss of ultrafiltration, and peritoneal fibrosis, all phenomena being accelerated in patients with diabetes and ultimately leading to an increased technique failure. The results of observational studies and national registries, although conflicting, suggest that these two dialytic modalities are somehow comparable in terms of outcomes, whereas accumulating evidence shows that both survival and medical rehabilitation of patients with diabetes are significantly better after renal transplantation, which should be the first-choice option for patients who have diabetes and reach ESRD but unfortunately still accounts for only a limited proportion of RRT treatments in these patients.     

Association between attributed cause of end-stage renal disease and risk of death in Brazilian patients receiving renal replacement therapy

BACKGROUND: Studies conducted in several countries have indicated that the survival of patients undergoing renal replacement therapy (RRT) depends on the attributed cause of end-stage renal disease (ESRD). OBJECTIVES: This study was conducted to evaluate the association between attributed cause of ESRD and mortality risk in RRT patients in Brazil. METHODS: We analyzed 88,881 patients from the Brazilian Ministry of Health Registry who were undergoing RRT between April 1997 and July 2000. Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate the relative risk (RR) of death in patients with ESRD secondary to diabetes mellitus (DM), polycystic kidney disease (PKD), and primary glomerulopathies (GN) compared with a reference group comprised of patients with ESRD caused by hypertensive nephropathy. Patient's age, gender, and length of time (years) in RRT before inclusion in the registry (vintage) were included in the adjusted Cox model. RESULTS: Compared with the reference group, the mortality risk was 27% lower in patients with PKD (RR=0.73, 95% CI: 0.65-0.83, p<0.0001); 29% lower in patients with GN (RR=0.71, 95% CI: 0.68-0.74, p<0.0001); and 100% greater in DM patients (RR=2.00, 95% CI: 1.92-2.10, p<0.0001). These relative risks remained statistically significant after adjustment for age, gender, and length of time in RRT before inclusion in the registry. CONCLUSIONS: Our data indicate that compared with the patients with hypertensive nephrosclerosis as attributed cause of ESRD, patients undergoing RRT in Brazil with idiopathic glomerulopathy and polycystic kidney disease have a lower risk of mortality, and patients with diabetes mellitus have a greater risk of mortality.     

Surgical Interventions for Renal Replacement Therapy from the View of Nephrologists

Summary BACKGROUND: The number of patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) is increasing worldwide at a rate of approximately 5 % per year. In Austria, 6049 patients were suffering from ESRD in the year 2001, an annual rate of 1093 patients. Higher age of patients and co-morbidities are forcing nephrologists to find the optimal renal replacement therapy (RRT) and access modality for the individual patient. METHODS: For patients with ESRD needing RRT, both nephrologist and surgeon should be consulted to ensure optimal management and treatment including vascular access surgery. Patients planned for peritoneal dialysis (PD) are treated with the cooperation of a visceral surgeon. A catheter is inserted into the pelvic area to enable solution exchange. In patients who are to undergo hemodialysis (HD), nephrologists have to decide whether the cardiac condition is suitable for surgical access creation such as fistula or graft. Otherwise alternative hemodialysis devices such as a central venous catheter (CVC), or subcutaneously implantable ports (Dialock^®), have to be discussed. Access function is routinely monitored during dialysis treatment, but still remains the weak component of extracorporeal RRT responsible for 40 % of hospitalization of HD patients. RESULTS: At the dialysis unit of the University Hospital of Graz, 107 patients were under RRT (70 HD and 37 PD), and 235 patients were hemodialyzed in private units in Graz in 2001. 81 ESRD patients were newly enrolled in the chronic HD program. 131 HD accesses were created in new HD patients and patients under treatment for chronic HD. 36 patients developed HD access complications and in these patients, 181 surgical and/or radiological interventions were performed. CONCLUSIONS: In 12 % of the HD patients in Graz, access problems occurred. These patients have a high frequency of surgical and radiological interventions. Access monitoring and measurement of recirculation may help to reduce the complication rate by 38 %. Before onset of RRT, patients need special management to ensure the best dialysis modality. ESRD patients who are suffering from cardiac diseases, diabetes mellitus, or bad peripheral vascular status need a multidisciplinary approach with nephrologists, cardiologists, surgeons and radiologists working together to find the optimal access for dialysis treatment.     

End stage renal disease in Brunei Darussalam – report from the first Brunei Dialysis Transplant Registry (BDTR)

Abstract

The Brunei Dialysis and Transplant Registry (BDTR) was established in 2011 to collect data from patients undergoing renal replacement therapy (RRT) in Brunei Darussalam. The chief aims of the registry are to obtain general demographic data for RRT patients and to determine disease burden attributable to End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD). The registry population comprises of all ESRD patients treated in Brunei Darussalam. Data domains include general demographic data, medical history, ESRD etiological causes, laboratory investigations, dialysis treatment and outcomes. There were 545 prevalent RRT patients in Brunei at the end of 2011. The incidence and prevalence of ESRD were 265 and 1250 per million population. Hemodialysis (HD), Peritoneal Dialysis (PD) and Transplant comprised of 83%, 11% and 6% of the RRT population, respectively. Diabetes mellitus accounted for 57% of all new incident cases. The mean serum hemoglobin, phosphate, calcium and iPTH were 11.0?±?1.6?g/dL, 1.9?±?0.5?mmol/L, 2.3?±?0.2?mmol/L and 202.5?±?323.4?ng/mL. Dialysis adequacy for HD and PD were 65.1 (urea reduction ratio) and 2.0?±?0.3 (Kt/v). 71 % of all prevalent HD had functioning AV fistulae and the peritonitis incidence was one in 24.5 patient-month/episode. The first BDTR has identified some deficiencies in the renal services in Brunei. However, it signals an important milestone for the establishment of benchmarked renal practice in the country. We hoped to maintain and improve our registry for years to come and will strive to align our standards to acceptable international practice.     

Access to and coverage of renal replacement therapy in minorities and ethnic groups in Venezuela

Access to and coverage of renal replacement therapy in minorities and ethnic groups in Venezuela. Numerous studies have documented the presence of racial and minority disparities regarding the impact of renal disease and access to renal replacement therapy (RRT). This problem is less well documented in Latin America. Venezuela, like most countries in the region, is subject to severe constraints in the allocation of resources for high-cost chronic diseases, which limits the access of patients with chronic kidney disease to RRT. Although access to health care is universal, there is both a deficit in coverage and disparity in the access to RRT, largely as a result of socioeconomic limitations and budget constrains. With current rising trends of the incidence of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) and costs of medical technology, the long-term goal of complete RRT coverage will become increasingly out of reach. Current evidence suggests that prevention of progression of renal disease is possible at relatively low cost and broad coverage. Based on this evidence, the Ministry of Health has redesigned its policy with respect to renal disease based on 4 elements: 1. Prevention by means of early detection and referral to multidisciplinary health teams, as well as promotion of health habits in the community. 2. Prevention of progression of renal disease by pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic means. 3. An increase in the rate of coverage and reduction of disparities in the access to dialysis. 4. An increase in the rates of renal transplantation through better organ procurement programs and reinforcement of transplant centers. However, the projected increase in the number of patients with ESKD receiving RRT will represent a serious burden to the health care system. Therefore, implementation of these policies will require the involvement of international agencies as well as an adequate partnership between nephrologists and health care planners, so that meeting the increasing demands of ESKD programs may be balanced with other priorities of our national health system.     

Risk Factors and Prevention of End Stage Renal Disease in Uruguay

Uruguay is a developing country with a privileged established program for renal replacement therapy (RRT) for all patients with end stage renal disease (ESRD) since 1981. In December 2004, the RRT prevalence reached 916 patients per million population. The ESRD incidence has not changed significantly in the last eight years, differing with what is observed in other countries. In contrast, the ESRD incidence secondary to diabetic nephropathy has shown a permanent increase. The prevention of chronic kidney disease (CKD) began in 1989 with the Program of Prevention and Treatment of Glomerulonephritis (PPTG), being extended in 2002 to all CKD and canalized through the National Program of Renal Healthcare (NPRH) since 2004. The registry of glomerulonephritis has been demonstrated in recent years: patients are referral to nephrologists earlier, there is an increase of the frequency of patients with “clinical remission,” and thus there is a decrease of the frequency of ESRD in the first three months after referral. The NPRH has been developed in a progressive way with the involvement of government authorities and the active participation of the nephrologists. A global prevention program, integrating the prevention of CKD, cardiovascular diseases, hypertension, and diabetes was developed. The first steps of the program have had important achievements: a rational reorientation of nephrologic care in the first level of attention, patient access to renoprotective medications without cost; a registration system of patients, the creation of a formal multidisciplinary team, and the instauration of a continuous medical education program.     

Overview: end-stage renal disease in the developing world

Although the vast majority of patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) worldwide live in what is called the developing world, little is known about its epidemiology and management. With the current paucity of credible and adequately representative registries, it is justified to resort to innovative means of obtaining information. In this attempt, world-renowned leading nephrologists in 10 developing countries collaborated in filling a 103-item questionnaire addressing epidemiology, etiology, and management of ESRD in their respective countries on the basis of integrating available data from different sources. Through this joint effort, it was possible to identify a number of important trends. These include the expected high prevalence of ESRD, despite the limited access to renal replacement therapy, and the dependence of prevalence on wealth. Glomerulonephritis, rather than diabetes, remains as the main cause of ESRD with significant geographical variations in the prevailing histopathological types. The implementation of different modalities of renal replacement therapy (RRT) is inhibited by the lack of funding, although governments, insurance companies, and donations usually constitute the major sponsors. Hemodialysis is the preferred modality in most countries with the exception of Mexico where chronic ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) takes the lead. In several other countries, dialysis is available only for those on the transplant waiting list. Dialysis is associated with a high frequency of complications particularly HBV and HCV infections. Data on HIV are lacking. Aluminum intoxication remains as a major problem in a number of countries. Treatment withdrawal is common for socioeconomic reasons. Transplantation is offered to an average of 4 per million population (pmp). Recipient exclusion criteria are minimal. Donor selection criteria are generally loose regarding tissue typing, remote viral infection, and, in some countries, blood-relation to the recipient in live-donor transplants. Cadaver donors are accepted in many countries participating in this survey. Treatment outcomes with different RRT modalities are, on the average, inferior to the internationally acknowledged standards largely due to infective and cardiovascular complications.     

Epidemiology of chronic kidney disease in children

In the past 30 years there have been major improvements in the care of children with chronic kidney disease (CKD). However, most of the available epidemiological data stem from end-stage renal disease (ESRD) registries and information on the earlier stages of pediatric CKD is still limited. The median reported incidence of renal replacement therapy (RRT) in children aged 0–19 years across the world in 2008 was 9 per million of the age-related population (4–18 years). The prevalence of RRT in 2008 ranged from 18 to 100 per million of the age-related population. Congenital disorders, including congenital anomalies of the kidney and urinary tract (CAKUT) and hereditary nephropathies, are responsible for about two thirds of all cases of CKD in developed countries, while acquired causes predominate in developing countries. Children with congenital disorders experience a slower progression of CKD than those with glomerulonephritis, resulting in a lower proportion of CAKUT in the ESRD population compared with less advanced stages of CKD. Most children with ESRD start on dialysis and then receive a transplant. While the survival rate of children with ERSD has improved, it remains about 30 times lower than that of healthy peers. Children now mainly die of cardiovascular causes and infection rather than from renal failure.     

The impact of severe acute kidney injury requiring renal replacement therapy on survival and renal function of heart transplant recipients – a UK cohort study

Severe acute kidney injury (AKI), defined as requiring renal replacement therapy (RRT), is associated with higher mortality postheart transplantation, but its long-term renal consequences are not known. Anonymized data of 3365 patients, who underwent heart transplantation between 1995 and 2017, were retrieved from the UK Transplant Registry. Multivariable binary logistic regression was performed to identify risk factors for severe AKI requiring RRT, Kaplan–Meier analysis to compare survival and renal function deterioration of the RRT and non-RRT groups, and multivariable Cox regression model to identify predicting factors of mortality and end-stage renal disease (ESRD). 26.0% of heart recipients received RRT post-transplant. The RRT group has lower survival rates at all time points, especially in the immediate post-transplant period. However, conditional on 3 months survival, older age, diabetes and coronary heart disease, but not post-transplant RRT, were the risk factors for long-term survival. The predicting factors for ESRD were insulin-dependent diabetes, renal function at transplantation, eGFR decline in the first 3 months post-transplant, post-transplant severe AKI and transplantation era. Severe AKI requiring RRT post-transplant is associated with worse short-term survival, but has no impact on long-term mortality. It also accelerates recipients’ renal function deterioration in the long term.     

Outcome of renal replacement therapy in the very elderly.

BACKGROUND: In a retrospective case-note and computer database analysis we assessed the outcome of very elderly patients (> or = 75 years old) with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) on renal replacement therapy (RRT). METHODS: Fifty-eight individuals aged 75 or over (group 1) commenced RRT between 1 January 1991 and 31 December 1995. Comparisons were made with other patients commencing RRT who were divided into two groups: group 2 (201 individuals 65-74 years old) and group 3 (379 patients <65 years old). All subjects were followed up until the point of assessment (30 June 1998), the time of death, or withdrawal from dialysis. Survival rates in the three groups were compared using Kaplan-Meier method. The number of hospital admissions, length of in-patient stay, and complications rate on RRT were assessed for group 1. RESULTS: One-year survival rates in groups 1, 2 and 3 were 53.5, 72.6, and 90.6% respectively and the 5-year survival rates were 2.4, 18.8, and 61.4% respectively. The very elderly spent 20% of their time in hospital, 46% had two co-morbid factors at the outset, and 26% developed multiple complications while on RRT. Withdrawal from dialysis remained the most common cause of death in this group of individuals (38%), followed by cardiovascular causes (24%) and infections (22%). CONCLUSION: Very elderly ESRD patients on RRT have a very poor outcome and, since they are the largest growing group of RRT patients, this has important implications for future health policies.     

Strategies for national health care systems in emerging countries: the case of screening and prevention of renal disease progression in Bolivia

There are close to 1 million people in the world who are alive simply because they have access to one form or another of renal replacement therapy (RRT). Ninety percent live in high-income countries. Little is known of prevalence and incidence of chronic kidney disease and of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) in middle-income and low-income countries, where the use of RRT is scarce or nonexistent. However, no intervention is undertaken, these people will experience progression to ESRD and death from uremia, because RRT is out of reach for them. These are the individuals for whom efforts should be focused to prevent or delay progression toward ESRD. In 1992, the Mario Negri Institute for Pharmacological Research in Bergamo, Italy, with the cooperation of the young doctors of the Ospedale Giovanni XXIII in La Paz (Bolivia), activated a specific project titled "El Proyecto de Enfermedades Renales en Bolivia" (The Project for Renal Diseases in Bolivia). The project sought to demonstrate that in emerging countries the best strategies against renal disease are prevention and early detection. After proper training of local personnel at the Clinical Research Center "Aldo e Cele Dacco" of the Mario Negri Institute in Bergamo, Italy, an educational campaign titled "First Clinical and Epidemiological Program of Renal Diseases"-under the auspices of the Renal Sister Center Program of the International Society of Nephrology-was conducted in 3 selected areas of Bolivia, including tropical, valley, and plains areas. The goal was to define the frequency of asymptomatic renal disease in these areas by screening a large population of patients at relatively low costs. The screening was formally performed at first-level health centers (Unidad de Salud). Participants were instructed to void a clean urine specimen, and a dipstick test was performed. Patients with positive urinalysis were enrolled in a follow-up program with subsequent laboratory and clinical checks. The study was conducted by 21 clinical centers. Apparently healthy patients (14,082) were enrolled over a period of 7 months. Urinary abnormalities were found on first screening in 4261 patients, but only 1019 patients (23.9%) were available for follow-up. At second urinalysis, 35% of patients had no abnormalities. In the remaining positive group of patients, further investigations disclosed the following abnormalities: urinary tract infection (48.4%), isolated hematuria (43.9%), chronic renal failure (1.6%), renal tuberculosis (1.6%), and other diagnoses 4.3% (kidney stones, 1.3%; diabetic nephropathy, 1%; polycystic kidney diseases, 1.9%). The experience gained from this initial screening program formed the basis for a second study aimed to prevent renal disease progression in a selected Bolivian population with high altitude polycythemia. In conclusion, our studies show that mass screening of the population for renal disease is feasible in developing countries and can provide useful information on frequency of renal diseases. Also, in patients with altitude polycythemia, long-term treatment with low doses of enalapril safely prevents increase in arterial blood pressure and progressively reduces hematocrit and proteinuria. Aside from its scientific value, this last study can be taken as an example of how, by rationalizing resources and investing in research programs, renal disease progression and cardiovascular risk may eventually improve, which ultimately should translate into less demand for dialysis, and thus provide alternatives to costly RRT. The transformation of the Bolivian pilot model into a systematic program applicable to most emerging countries may be seen as a task of national nephrology societies, along with methodologic and economic support of international bodies.     

Dialysis in Israel, 1989-2005--time trends and international comparisons.

BACKGROUND: A universal increase in the incidence of renal replacement therapy (RRT) was reported in developed countries during the 1990s, especially among the elderly and diabetic patients. We studied trends in RRT incidence and mortality in Israel between 1989 and 2001-2005. METHODS: The end-stage renal disease (ESRD) registry holds data on all RRT patients in Israel. Age-adjusted incidence rate ratios (RRs) were estimated comparing 2001-2005 with 1989. We compared incidence data between Israel and elsewhere using standardized incidence ratios (SIRs). Survival analysis was conducted by the Kaplan-Meier method and Cox's proportional hazards regression was used to compare survival of diabetic with non-diabetic ESRD patients. RESULTS: The mean incidence rates per million population increased from 99 in 1989-1991 to 179 in 2003-2005. In 2000, Israel was the second leading country for incidence of RRT. Age-adjusted incidence rates increased by 67% [95% confidence interval (CI): 49-87%], from 1989 to 2001, but the trend was attenuated between 2002 and 2005. The increase in incidence was positively associated with age, the largest increase being among the elderly aged > or = 75 years (RR: 3.18, 95%CI: 2.72-3.70). Diabetes accounted for 41% of RRT in 2001 vs only 19% in 1989. There was no increase in 1-year survival between the beginning and the end of the study period. Patients with diabetes-associated RRT had 57% increased risk of 1-year mortality (adjusted HR: 1.57 95% CI: 1.51-1.63). CONCLUSIONS: Despite a similar proportion of RRT attributed to diabetes in Israel and other countries, the age-adjusted incidence in Israel is considerably higher than most countries.