Dialysis status in China: a report from the Shanghai Dialysis Registry (2000-2005)

As economic development continues in China, it is important to evaluate recent changes in dialysis status. However, China lacks a national dialysis registry. This elevates the need to use local registry systems like the Shanghai Dialysis Registry to gain an overview of dialysis status in developed cities in China.

Data were collected from the Shanghai Dialysis Registry from the beginning of 2000 to the end of 2005. All dialysis centers (n = 58) in Shanghai are included in the registry system.

Point prevalence of dialysis on December 31, 2005, was 5496, compared with 4842 in 2000. In 2005, 3746 patients began dialysis, yielding a treatment rate of 275.4 patients per million population. The percentage of peritoneal dialysis patients was 18% in 2005, compared with 14% in 2000. The main cause for end-stage renal disease was chronic glomerulonephritis. However, the incidence of diabetic nephropathy increased from 9.9% in 2000 to 17.2% in 2005 and counts as the second major cause of end-stage renal disease. The death rate of patients on dialysis decreased from 9.2% in 2000 to 7.5% in 2005. Cerebrovascular disease was still the leading cause of death and decreased significantly from 2.4% in 2000 to 1.5% in 2005. Dialysis adequacy, hepatitis infection control, and anemia treatment improved.

The Shanghai dialysis population grew continuously during the period covered by this study (2000 to 2005). Clinical outcomes improved because of prompt treatment for co-morbidities.