Epidemiology of end-stage renal disease in the countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council

End-stage renal disease (ESRD) is an irreversible decline in kidney function, when renal replacement therapy (RRT) is needed for survival. The countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), which consist of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, and Oman have an increasing burden of non-communicable diseases, including ESRD.

In a paper published recently in JRSM Short Reports, Amal Hassanien and colleagues reviewed the epidemiological studies of ESRD in the countries of the GCC. The studies included in this review showed that the incidence of ESRD has increased while the prevalence and mortality rate of ESRD in the GCC has not been well reported. The leading primary cause of ESRD is diabetes and the most common co-morbid conditions are Hypertension and Hepatitis C Virus infection. The most common causes of death were cardiovascular disease and sepsis.

The study highlighted that the lack of national renal registries data is a critical issue in the countries of the GCC. The available data also do not provide an accurate and updated estimate for relevant outcomes. The findings also reinforce the importance of implementing effective preventive strategies for ESRD and higher quality studies to on the epidemiology of ESRD.

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