The ERA-EDTA Registry Annual Report 2018: a summary.

Area of Science:

• Nephrology
• Epidemiology
• Public Health

Background:

• The European Renal Association - European Dialysis and Transplant Association (ERA-EDTA) Registry collects data on kidney replacement therapy (KRT) across Europe and Mediterranean regions.
• This report summarizes the 2018 ERA-EDTA Registry Annual Report, detailing KRT epidemiology in 34 countries.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the epidemiology of kidney replacement therapy (KRT) for kidney failure in 34 European and Mediterranean countries based on 2018 data.
• To analyze incidence, prevalence, transplantation activity, and survival probabilities of KRT patients.

Main Methods:

• Data collected from 34 national/regional renal registries and aggregated data from 17 registries for the year 2018.
• Calculated incidence and prevalence of KRT, kidney transplantation rates, and patient survival probabilities.

Main Results:

• In 2018, KRT incidence was 129 per million population (p.m.p.), with 62% male, 51% aged ≥65, and 20% with diabetes as the cause.
• Haemodialysis (HD) was the primary treatment (84%), followed by peritoneal dialysis (PD) (11%) and pre-emptive transplantation (5%).
• Prevalence of KRT was 897 p.m.p. by end of 2018 (57% HD, 5% PD, 38% transplanted). 5-year survival was 42.6% for dialysis patients vs. 86.6% (deceased donor) and 93.9% (living donor) for transplant recipients (2009-13 cohort).

Conclusions:

• The 2018 ERA-EDTA Registry data highlight the significant burden of kidney failure and KRT use across the covered regions.
• Kidney transplantation offers substantially better long-term survival compared to dialysis, underscoring its importance in KRT management.
• Diabetes remains a major contributor to kidney failure, emphasizing the need for preventative strategies.