[Dialysis and transplant. Spain in 2005].

In 2005, renal replace treatment (dialysis and transplant) was necessary for about 40,000 people, without being known the number accurate and either their basic characteristics, such as: time in treatment, modality or treatment changes. The presented data cover the 76% of the Spanish population and are the result of the cooperation among technicians of registries, nephrologists and transplant coordinations. 4,125 people started RRT in 2005, the total estimated acceptance rate for renal replacement therapy in adults in Spain was 126 pmp and regarding other European countries it locates us in an intermediate area.

Health-related quality of life of family caregivers of dialysis patients.

Background: This study aimed to evaluate the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and burden on family caregivers of chronic dialysis patients and to analyze which factors were associated with it.

Methods: A cross-sectional multicentric study was carried out with 221 patient/caregiver pairs. General population Short Form 36 (SF-36) norms were used to estimate gender and age standardized physical component summary (PCS) and mental component summary (MCS) scores.

Different evaluations of the health related quality of life in dialysis patients.

Background: Sometimes patients on dialysis treatment cannot express their health-related quality of life (HRQoL); and therefore, it is necessary to use the assessment made by their carers. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the agreement between dialysis patients' HRQoL and the assessment made by their carers, and to investigate which variables were associated with the differences found.

Methods: Two hundred and twenty-two pairs of patients and carers were selected from 14 dialysis units.