Introduction: This chapter describes the characteristics of adult patients on renal replacement therapy (RRT) in the UK in 2013.
Methods: Data were electronically collected from all 71 renal centres within the UK. A series of cross sectional and longitudinal analyses were performed to describe the demographics of prevalent RRT patients in 2013 at centre and national level.
Results: There were 56,940 adult patients receiving RRT in the UK on 31st December 2013. The UK adult prevalence of RRT was 888 pmp which represented an annual increase of 4%,with transplantation the most common treatment modality(52%). There was variation between centres, Clinical Commissioning Groups and Health Boards. The number of patients increased by 1.2% for haemodialysis (HD) and 7.1% for functioning transplant but decreased 3.3% for peritoneal dialysis (PD). The number of patients receiving home HD has increased by 3% since 2012. Median RRT vintage for patients on HD was 3.4 years, PD 1.7 years and for transplant, 10.1 years. The median age of prevalent patients was 58 years (HD 67 years, PD 64 years, transplant 53 years)compared to 55 years in 2000. For all ages the prevalence rate in men exceeded that in women. The most common recorded renal diagnosis was glomerulonephritis (biopsy proven/not biopsy proven) (19%).
Conclusions: The HD and transplant population continued to expand; but the prevalent PD population continues to decline. There were national, regional and centre level variations in prevalence rates. This has continued implications for service planning and ensuring equity of care for RRT patients.