Creating a Globally Distributed Multinational Dialysis Database - The ApolloDialDb Initiative

Area of Science:

• Nephrology
• Data Science
• Public Health

Background:

• Multinational dialysis datasets are scarce due to data harmonization and privacy challenges.
• Fresenius Medical Care developed ApolloDialDb (Apollo), an anonymized global dialysis database.
• This database addresses the need for harmonized, worldwide clinical data in nephrology.

Purpose of the Study:

• To report the approach used for creating a multinational anonymized dialysis database.
• To detail the characteristics of dialysis patients globally within this new database.
• To establish a resource for real-world research and data analytics in kidney care.

Main Methods:

• Extracted and harmonized routinely collected clinical data from dialysis clinics worldwide.
• Anonymized data following a rigorous reidentification risk assessment by an external company.
• Consolidated and stored data in a central cloud environment for periodic updates.

Main Results:

• Apollo database covers 543,169 patients across 40 countries from January 2018 to March 2021.
• Includes extensive demographic, laboratory, treatment, medication, and clinical outcome data.
• Reveals regional variations in patient age, treatment modality, and treatment duration.

Conclusions:

• The Apollo database provides a robust resource for real-world research and AI model development in nephrology.
• Facilitates a deeper understanding of kidney disease and dialysis therapies.
• Serves as a valuable comparative resource for the global nephrology community.