Background

The epidemiology of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) is changing all over the world.

Particularly dramatic changes of the epidemiology of ESRD have occurred in central and eastern Europe (CEE).

The aim of the present study was (i) to document the further expansion of renal replacement therapy (RRT) noted in recent years in CEE and (ii) to analyse in some detail treatmcnt modalities and underlying renal conditions.

Methods

Three independent surveys were performed in 1995,1997 and 1998.

Fifteen CEE countries participated.

The data were mainly obtained from national registries which are based on centre and patient questionnaires.

Results

The data collected from 15 CEE countries document further expansion of RRT in this region.

The report includes data on the availability of RRT in Byelorussia, Estonia, and Russia which have become available for the first time.

The epidemiology of dialysed patients has changed remarkably.

In the majority of countries the number of diabetic patients has increased, most dramatically so in the Czech Republic (31% of all dialysed patients), in the majority of the other countries 10-14%. The number of ESRD patients with the diagnosis of hypertensive nephropathy has also increased and this was accompanied by an increase in proportion of elderly (>65 years) patients, i.e. 46% in the Czech Republic and 12-25% in most other countries. (...)