Dialysis for end stage renal disease: a descriptive study in Penang Hospital.

This research was carried out to study the characteristics of ESRD patients and the resources consumed with dialysis treatment as well as to assess the clinical outcomes of ESRD treatment in Penang Hospital. A total of 117 ESRD patients were studied over 30 months. 56.4% of the patients were male and the median age was 40. Diabetic nephropathy was the commonest cause of ESRD (29.9%). Hypertension was the predominant comorbidity (60.6%). A larger proportion started treatment with Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis (59.0%). At the end of the study period, 49.6% of the patients continued their treatment in the same modality and 27.4% died. Average Dialysis Adequacy (Kt/V) achieved was satisfactory, 2.29 in CAPD and 1.50 in Haemodialysis.