The ERA Registry Annual Report 2020: a summary

Area of Science:

• Nephrology
• Epidemiology
• Public Health

Background:

• The European Renal Association (ERA) Registry collects comprehensive data on kidney replacement therapy (KRT) for patients with end-stage kidney disease (ESKD).
• This report summarizes the ERA Registry Annual Report 2020, including comparative analyses across different primary renal disease (PRD) groups.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present key statistics on KRT incidence, prevalence, and transplantation rates in Europe and Mediterranean countries for 2020.
• To analyze patient demographics, primary renal diseases, and treatment modalities.
• To compare survival probabilities and remaining lifetimes based on KRT type and PRD.

Main Methods:

• Data were aggregated from 52 national and regional registries across 34 countries, encompassing both individual and aggregated data submissions.
• Calculations included KRT incidence and prevalence per million population, kidney transplantation rates, and survival probabilities.
• Statistical analyses were performed to compare outcomes across various primary renal disease groups.

Main Results:

• In 2020, KRT incidence was 128 p.m.p. and prevalence was 931 p.m.p. Diabetes mellitus was the most common PRD in incident patients (21%), while glomerulonephritis was most common in prevalent patients (18%).
• Haemodialysis (HD) was the predominant initial treatment (85%), with 37% of prevalent patients living with a kidney transplant.
• The kidney transplantation rate was 28 p.m.p. Five-year survival was 41.8% for dialysis patients and significantly higher for kidney transplant recipients (86.2% for deceased donor, 94.4% for living donor).

Conclusions:

• Significant variations in age, sex, and treatment modalities were observed among different primary renal disease groups.
• The ERA Registry provides crucial data for understanding and managing kidney replacement therapy across a broad European and Mediterranean population.
• Transplantation remains associated with substantially better long-term survival compared to dialysis for end-stage kidney disease.