Characteristics of the incident hemodialysis population in chronic hemodialysis in Argentina

Abstract

Introduction: We evaluated the characteristics of incident chronic dialysis population (CD) in Argentina from 2004 to 2008. The total incidence rate in 2008 was 143.1 patients per million population per year (ppm), with significant changes between the years 2006, 2007 and 2008. There is a wide dispersion of rates across Argentina provinces with a range of 71 to 201 ppm. Methods: The age of the population was significantly older in 2008 reaching 59.8 years on average and significantly increasing the population over 64 years, especially in males, with rates twice that of women from age 70. Diabetic nephropathy is the leading cause of Incident CD representing 35.5% of the total in 2008, with permanent increase since 2004. Cardiovascular comorbidities decreased over time, however it continues at high percentages. Results: 67% of patients had hematocrit less than 30%. 52% of patients start CD with serum albumin less than 3.5 grams/deciliter. The 1.4-2.0% of the population admitted with presence of antibody to Hepatitis C. There was no vaccination against hepatitis B in 61% of patients with significant increase in the intervening years. There was an increase in the population starting chronic hemodialysis (HD) with a transitory catheter, reaching 66% of the total in 2008. Conclusion: The population that declares having no income decreased to 22% in 2008. We conclude that it is critical the annual monitoring of these initial variables in incidents CD patients because many of them have proved to be directly related to worse prognosis.