Characteristics of Haemodialysis Patients at the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital During the First Year of Operation

Abstract

The Recent upsurge in the global incidence and prevalence of kidney failure especially in the developing countries such as Nigeria has led to the emergence of haemodialysis units in the country. In 2007 a new four- machine haemodialysis unit came into operation at the University of Port Harcourt teaching hospital. This communication is a preliminary analysis of the clinical and epidemiologic characteristics of patients treated at the centre in the first year of operation. During the period under study, a total of 76 patients received haemodialysis treatment in the unit. They were 43 males and 33 females,(M/F=1.3:1) with a mean age of 43.01 + 19.14 ( range 10 to 79 ) years. The patients were mostly of the low-income groups constituting 70.2%.Ethnographic distribution reflected the local catchments population of the hospital. The indications for haemodialysis were End stage kidney failure (72.4%), Acute renal failure (14.5%), and acute-on-chronic renal failure(13.1%). Clinical status of the patients at first presentation was generally poor. Forty-two patients (55.3%) presented in advanced uremia with severe haemodynamic instability. Fifteen (patients (19.7%) presented in uraemic encephalopathy while 19(25%) presented in stable azotaemia state. Patients presenting for haemodialysis in this unit derive mostly from the low socio-economic groups. End stage kidney failure was the commonest indication for haemodialysis treatment. Most patients presented for the first time in very unstable clinical state. The findings are consistent with previous studies in other centres in Nigeria.