A prospective national study of acute renal failure treated with RRT: incidence, aetiology and outcomes.

Background: Acute renal failure (ARF) is a diverse condition with no standardized definition and is managed in several sub-specialty areas within hospitals. Its incidence and aetiology are unknown and studies show a wide range of incidences. ARF is becoming more common as the population ages leading to the hypothesis that the incidence is much higher than previous estimates.

A primer on survival analysis.

Survival analysis is the statistical method for studying the time between entry to a study and a subsequent event. Survival is often the most important outcome in both observational and intervention studies. The analysis of survival, however, is not simple because of a number of factors.

End-stage renal disease in Scotland: outcomes and standards of care.

Background: The number of patients starting renal replacement therapy (RRT) for end-stage renal disease (ESRD) in the United Kingdom rises annually. Patients are increasingly elderly with a greater prevalence of comorbid illness. Unadjusted survival, from the time of starting RRT, is not improving.

Early referral and planned initiation of dialysis: what impact on quality of life?

Background: Early patient referral correlates with improved patient survival on dialysis. We examine whether early referral and a planned first dialysis affect quality of life (QoL).

Methods: All patients commencing dialysis in nine centres in seven European countries between 1 July 1998 and 31 October 1999 were recruited.