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Pre end-stage renal disease care in Saudi Arabia


End-stage renal disease (ESRD) has emerged as an important public health issue worldwide, because of the marked increase in its incidence and prevalence. In a study published in the journal Diabetes Research & Clinical Metabolism, Amal Hassanien and colleagues examined pre-ESRC care in the Al-Noor Kidney Centre and Jeddah Kidney Centre in the western region of Saudi Arabia. Participants were patients with ESRD on regular haemodialysis during 2011. Main outcome measures were pre-ESRD care including: reason of referral to nephrology care, source of referral to nephrology care, duration of pre-ESRD care, and vascular access at the first dialysis; and primary causes of ESRD.

Preliminary indicators of pre-ESRD care showed that endocrine, nutritional and metabolic diseases, and immune disorders were the principal reason for patient referral. The predominant causes of ESRD were hypertension and diabetes. Hassanien and colleagues concluded that pre-ESRD care needs to be improved in Saudi Arabia. Potential strategies could involve: regular screening of high risk people, encouraging communication between healthcare practitioners, and education on the need to refer patients with CKD to nephrology care in earlier disease stages; and increasing patients' awareness about their health conditions and potential consequences of their kidney disease.

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