[Actuarial survival analysis of patients in dialysis]

The survival rate of our end stage renal disease (ESRD) population was calculated by means of actuarial survival curves. A total of 167 patients undergoing hemodialysis or CAPD during the 1977-1991 period were studied. They had been treated and closely followed for at least three months. Mean age for starting dialysis was 40.6 +/- 17 years; 107 (64%) were males and 60 (36%) females. Glomerulonephritis (25%), diabetes (14%) and nephroangiosclerosis (12%) were the primary causes of ESRD. Survival rates were analysed by actuarial curves as designed by Kaplan and Meier. Statistical significance between curves was calculated with the Log Rank test. The level of significance considered was below 0.05. Multivariate analysis of survival was performed using the Cox proportional hazards regression model. Survival rates were in all cases expressed for the 1 degree, 5 degree and 10 degree year. They were for the whole group of 89%, 63%, and 38% respectively. When analysed according to their age: those under 30 years; between 30 and 50 and over 50 years old (at time to start dialysis); survival rates were of 97%, 86%, and 81% for the first group; 89%, 66% and 29% for the second group, and 85%, 44%, and 10% for the third group. Significant differences were found between the first and second group (p < 0.025); the first and the third group (p < 0.001) and second and third group (p < 0.001) (Fig. 4).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)