[Dialysis and kidney transplantation in Switzerland in 1973]

A separate computer print-out for Switzerland of the EDTA registry concerning all patients on dialysis or carrying a renal transplant has been analysed. Of a total number of 857 registered patients, 584 or 91 per million inhabitants were alive on 31 December 1973; 306 patients were on hospital hemodialysis, 68 on home hemodialysis and 2 on peritoneal dialysis. 353 patients had received 385 renal transplants, 208 of which were still functioning at the end of 1973. No major change was noted in cumulative survival rates of Swiss patients, who, as expected, showed lower survival with increasing age. Graft survival in a group of 148 first cadaver transplants with poor tissue match (2 or fewer HL-A identities) was better with 66+/-4% at one year than the 53+/-7% survival in the 63 grafts with at least 3 HL-A identities. The number of patients alive on home dialysis increased by 74% through 1973; one year survival equalled the European average at 93+/-4%. Rehabilitation was rather poor in dialysed patients, 21% of whom were reported to be working full time in the hospital-dialysed group and 42% in the home-dialysed group. Patients with functioning transplants, on the other hand, showed very satisfactory rehabilitation (75% working full time). Hepatitis among staff appeared be on the decrease, with only 9 cases in 1973 despite the fact that some 20% of dialysed and transplanted patients were still reported as hepatitis B antigen carriers. The number of new patients accepted for treatment in Switzerland has stabilized at 25-27 per million population per year since 1971. Average mortality was 15.3% in 1973. At the beginning of 1980 we can thus expect to be treating some 135 patients per million population with dialysis and renal transplantation.