Kidney and Blood Pressure Research
Volume 44, Issue 1, 2019, Pages 43-51

Hemodialysis experience of a large group of Syrian refugees in Turkey: All patients deserve effective treatment (Article) (Open Access)

Gursu M. , Arici M. , Ates K. , Kazancioglu R. , Yavas P.G. , Ozturk M. , Altun B. , Arinsoy T.
  • a Bezmialem Vakif University, Faculty of Medicine, Division of Nephrology, Istanbul, Turkey
  • b Hacettepe University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Nephrology, Ankara, Sihhiye, 06100, Turkey
  • c Ankara University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Nephrology, Ankara, Turkey
  • d Bezmialem Vakif University, Faculty of Medicine, Division of Nephrology, Istanbul, Turkey
  • e Ministry of Health, General Directorate of Health Services, Dialysis Unit, Ankara, Turkey
  • f Ministry of Health, General Directorate of Health Services, Department of Organ, Tissue Transplantation and Dialysis, Ankara, Turkey
  • g Hacettepe University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Nephrology, Ankara, Sihhiye, 06100, Turkey
  • h Gazi University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Nephrology, Ankara, Turkey

Abstract

Background/Aims: Refugee dialysis is a worldwide growing dilemma with limited experience. This report presents the largest hemodialysis (HD) patient registry data of Syrian refugees in Turkey. Methods: Demographic, clinical, laboratory, and dialysis practice data of 345 Syrian HD patients during one year were collected and analyzed. Results: There were 345 prevalent Syrian HD patients at the end of 2016. Majority of the patients were placed in the Southeast Anatolian Region. The majority of the patients (74.8%) are in the age range of 20-64 years. Dialysis vintage in Turkey is less than 12 months in 20.8% and less than one month in 29.3% of patients. The vascular access was arteriovenous fistula in the majority of patients (72.5%). Kt/V is over 1.7 in 57%, serum albumin is above 35 g/L in 65.8% and hemoglobin level is more than 100 g/L in %65.2 of the patients. The ratio of patients with serum phosphorus level of 1.13-1.77 mmol/L was 56.2%. Twenty Syrian HD patients (14 male, 6 female) died within the year 2016 and annual mortality rate was 5.7%. Conclusion: This study with the largest number of Syrian refugees undergoing maintenance hemodialysis showed good dialysis practices, acceptable values for dialysis adequacy and biochemical parameters along with lower mortality compared to native HD population of Turkey. Longer follow up will enrich the knowledge related to care of refugee population in all over the world. © 2019 The Author(s). Published by S. Karger AG, Basel.

Author Keywords

Vascular access Refugee hemodialysis Dialysis adequacy

Index Keywords

personal experience refugee Registries demography hemoglobin blood level phosphorus Syrian Arab Republic register clinical feature human Refugees middle aged controlled study Turkey (republic) priority journal Aged patient right vascular access albumin blood level maintenance therapy arteriovenous fistula phosphate blood level Young Adult laboratory test school child Humans geography Adolescent male preschool child female hemodialysis Infant Renal Dialysis standards Article blood major clinical study Syrian adult mortality rate age Syria Turkey Hemoglobins hemoglobin turkey (bird) Delivery of Health Care serum albumin mortality health care delivery Child
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85062398625&doi=10.1159%2f000498832&partnerID=40&md5=4e55c729f344b5d4b12288264fc1ead0
DOI: 10.1159/000498832
ISSN: 14204096
Original Language: English