Since 2003, more than 100,000 US patients have begun chronic dialysis each year. New dialysis patients typically experience multiple comorbid conditions and poverty is widespread among them. Despite these challenges, the work of dialysis providers and other health care professionals is bearing fruit.

In analyzing data from the United States Renal Data System, Peer researchers have found:

• One-year survival after dialysis initiation has increased every year, from 74% in 2003 to 78% in 2011. Three-year and five-year survival have also increased.
• Improved survival in successive waves of new patients translated to 103,970 years of life gained, relative to survival among new patients in 2003.
• Life expectancy after starting dialysis has increased across all age brackets. For adults aged 20 to 39 years, life expectancy has increased by more than 2.5 years.

"The impressive improvement in survival has received little attention, but has truly changed patients' lives. Increases in life expectancy among younger adults are especially impressive," says Allan Collins, MD, FACP, the Executive Director of Peer. "Advances in dialysis technique, medication therapy, vaccination, and vascular access care are all likely contributors to improving survival."

Brigitte Schiller, MD, Chief Medical Officer of Satellite Healthcare, adds, "These results are promising and reflect the dedicated efforts of all stakeholders in the kidney care community. Continuous quality improvement in many aspects of dialysis therapy has moved outcomes in the right direction."

About Peer Kidney Care Initiative
Peer is a collaborative initiative that leverages data to inform patients, physicians, dialysis providers, payers, and governments about the state of dialysis patient care. The mission of Peer is to improve the quality of care in the US.

Financial support for Peer is provided by American Renal Associates, Atlantic Dialysis Management Services, Centers for Dialysis Care, DaVita HealthCare Partners, DCI, DSI Renal, Fresenius Medical Care, Independent Dialysis Foundation, Northwest Kidney Centers, Renal Ventures Management, Satellite Healthcare, The Rogosin Institute, and U.S. Renal Care. In collaboration with Chief Medical Officers of these organizations, Peer is operated by the Chronic Disease Research Group (www.cdrg.org), in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Media Contact
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SOURCE Peer Kidney Care Initiative

RELATED LINKS
http://peerkidney.org

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