[Survival time and causes of death in dialysis patients]

Renal dialysis was performed, between 1973 and 1983, in 431 patients in terminal renal failure. Of these, 223 (51.7%) are still in treatment, 21 (4.9%) have a functioning transplant. 22 patients (5.1%) have changed to another treatment centre. Three (0.7%) are in uraemia not requiring dialysis. The cumulative survival time for the whole group was 91% at the end of one year, 84% after the second, 78% after the third, 73% after the fourth and 69% after the fifth year. In those over 65 years and those with hypertension or diabetes survival chances were least favourable. Among this group, 5-year survival time was 51, 55 and 46%, respectively. The most frequent cause of death among 162 patients were cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases (35 and 23%, respectively).