Hong Kong Journal of Nephrology
Volume 9, Issue 2 , Pages 82-85, October 2007

Demographic Analysis of Renal Failure Patients Presenting to the Emergency Unit

  • Rumeyza Kazancioglu

      Affiliations

    • Department of Nephrology, Haseki Training and Research Hospital, Haseki, Istanbul, Turkey
    • Corresponding Author InformationAddress correspondence and reprint requests to: Dr. Rumeyza Kazancioglu, Nefroloji Klinigi Haseki Egitim ve Arastirma Hastanesi, Haseki cad. No 29 34304, Haseki Fatih Istanbul, Turkey. Fax: (+90) 212-3431000
    • ,
  • Cigdem Kutlu

      Affiliations

    • Department of Nephrology, Haseki Training and Research Hospital, Haseki, Istanbul, Turkey
    • Department of Internal Medicine, Haseki Training and Research Hospital, Haseki, Istanbul, Turkey
    • ,
  • Muazzez Sezer Caymaz

      Affiliations

    • Department of Nephrology, Haseki Training and Research Hospital, Haseki, Istanbul, Turkey
    • Department of Internal Medicine, Haseki Training and Research Hospital, Haseki, Istanbul, Turkey
    • ,
  • Emel Tatli

      Affiliations

    • Department of Nephrology, Haseki Training and Research Hospital, Haseki, Istanbul, Turkey
    • Department of Internal Medicine, Haseki Training and Research Hospital, Haseki, Istanbul, Turkey
    • ,
  • Fuat Sar

      Affiliations

    • Department of Nephrology, Haseki Training and Research Hospital, Haseki, Istanbul, Turkey
    • Department of Internal Medicine, Haseki Training and Research Hospital, Haseki, Istanbul, Turkey

Article Outline

Background

The incidence and mortality of renal failure remain high. Dialysis continues to be a major supportive intervention in renal failure, but late referral is associated with the risk of higher morbidity and mortality.

Methods

We investigated the demographic data of renal failure patients requiring dialysis who presented to our emergency unit between August 2003 and June 2005. Demographic characteristics, presentation complaints, current treatment, initial laboratory values and vascular access type were determined.

Results

Ninety patients (52 male, 38 female; mean age, 56.63 ± 17.33 years) were included in the study. The most common presenting complaints were dyspnea, weakness and edema. Twenty (22.2%) patients had acute renal failure and the other 70 patients had chronic renal failure. Only seven (7.7%) patients had the necessary documents for dialysis treatment, and only six patients had available radial arteriovenous fistula. During follow-up, eight (8.8%) patients died. We found inadequate hemodialysis readiness in our end-stage renal disease patients.

Conclusion

Improving the quality of pre-dialysis care might improve long-term survival, so appropriate timing for nephrology referral is important in patients with end-stage renal disease. [Hong Kong J Nephrol 2007;9(2): 82–5]

Key words:  demography , dialysis unit , late referral

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PII: S1561-5413(08)60005-8

doi:10.1016/S1561-5413(08)60005-8

Hong Kong Journal of Nephrology
Volume 9, Issue 2 , Pages 82-85, October 2007

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