The growing burden of end-stage renal disease in Egypt

End-stage renal disease (ESRD) has significantly increased in developing countries such as Egypt. Diabetes mellitus is still the leading cause of ESRD, while numbers of hypertensive patients among that population have significantly risen.

The data presented in this article were obtained from various nephrology centers in response to the specific questionnaires distributed by the researchers.

Hemodialysis is available in most parts of the country. Continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis and renal transplantation programs have been performed in few nephrology centers. Costs for dialysis and renal transplantation are still unaffordable for most patients with ESRD. Since the cost burden has significantly increased, nephrology services should be changed from curative medicine to preventive medicine. Currently, the Egyptian Ministry of Health plans to have a detection and prevention program for chronic kidney disease.

These data give the impression that both incidence and prevalence rates of ESRD in various areas of Egypt are increasing over time, although the rates presented here are far lower than expected.