Survival Rates for Patients on Dialysis

The survival rate among patients receiving dialysis is much lower in comparison to the general population. The adjusted 3-year survival rate is 57% in Hemodialysis (HD) and 68% in peritoneal dialysis (PD). Survival at 5 years is 42% in HD and 52% in PD. In contrast, the survival with a deceased donor kidney transplant for 3 years is 85% while overall survival in the population matched for age and sex ranges from 92% to 94%. Survival factors include patient demographics, duration of time since initiation of dialysis and burden of cardiovascular disease. General mortality for patients who are undergoing dialysis is 10-20 times the mortality rate of the general populace, and the highest risk occurs in the first three months of therapy. 

Complications from Dialysis

Major complications for patients requiring dialysis include cardiovascular disease, infection, fluid overload, hypertension, anemia, bone disease, and access site-related complications. Such complications result from the failure of the kidneys as well as from the process of dialysis and significantly add to negative effects on the health and quality of life for those patients.

Patient Requirements for a Kidney Transplant

 Patients wanting to undergo a kidney transplant must be assessed and qualified properly.

This stage reviews the overall health of the recipient and assesses the presence of diseases that will affect the transplantation outcome, and the patient is assessed to ensure it is possible to tolerate the surgery and the post-operative care. The major considerations encompass the recipient's heart health, lack of active infections or cancer, and a stable mental state. The recipients must also commit to medication and periodic medical check-ups for life in order to ensure a successful transplant and good health long-term.