title: [Epidemiology of kidney diseases in Poland--pilot study (PolNef)].
abstract: Systematic increase of dialysis patient number in the world places an enormous responsibility upon the nephrological society in analyzing the epidemiological situation concerning renal diseases. Early diagnosis of renal disease permits treatment of not only the damaging effects of nephropathy on the kidney but also facilitates introduction of therapy that slows progression of complications due to renal insufficiency. Consequences of such strategy may allow for avoidance of terminal renal failure and to a significant degree may slow down for many years the further progression of chronic renal failure and its' impending results. The aim of the initiated pilot study is an attempt to evaluate the epidemiology of renal diseases in Poland on the basis of screening tests performed on a selected patient city in population numbering 60 thousand. In the first stages of the program, questionnaires will be distributed in order to select the patients that will require more detailed diagnostic procedures and nephrological care. Patient identification in the early stages of disease should bring not only better patient quality of life through adequate treatment but also substantial economic benefits, such as decrease in percentage of patients that will progress to terminal renal failure requiring expensive dialysis treatment.
authors.affiliation: Klinika Nefrologii, Transplantologii, i Chorób Wewnetrznych Akademii Medycznej w Gdańsku.
authors.forename: Bolesław
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Rutkowski
authors.forename: Stanisław
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Czekalski
authors.forename: Władysław
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Sułowicz
authors.forename: Andrzej
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wiecek
authors.forename: Ewa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Król
authors.forename: Radosław
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Szubert
authors.forename: Ewa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kraszewska
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011044:Poland / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires