[Epidemiology of chronic nephropathies in the referring population of a nephrology out-patient department].
BACKGROUND
Data on chronic nephropathies at the starting of the dialysis (Renal Regitries) don't show the real frequency of these diseases, because they refer to a population, which has been previously selected by the course of the illness; there are a few and fragmentary data referred to the general population, observed in primary care or outpatients' departments. The aim of the present study is to measure the frequency of the chronic nephropathies observed in a nephrology outpatients'department and compare it with the frequency reported by other studies on local epidemiology.


METHODS
We deal with the population referring to the nephrology outpatient's department in the Barletta Hospital during 2003 for 159.803 residents in all. The personal data have been analyzed, as well as the frequency of Chronic Renal Failure (CRF, 2 degrees -5 degrees stage MDRD), Hypertension and Diabetes. Our data have been compared to data reported by a local multicentric study performed in Basilicata in 2001.


RESULTS
The main features of the analyzed population were: mean age 64.9 years and mean GFR 50,4 mL/m'/1,73 m2; there where more women than men, and 89.8% of patients had CRF, 67.2% Hypertension, 12.7% diabetes. The total referral to nephrologist was 242.8/100.000 residents. Our incident population significantly differs from the one of the Lucania, due to the inverted ratio of men to women, the higher degree and the earlier referral of CRF, with no significant difference in mean age. The percentage of patients with CRF and Hypertension was alike, whereas that of the diabetic patients was significantly lower.


CONCLUSIONS
Although the outpatients' populations are neighbouring, they may significantly differ in features and frequency of chronic nephropathies. This phenomenon is the expression of referral factors, and demonstrates the importance of local epidemiology in appropriate care planning.
Russo
D
D
U.O. di Nefrologia e Dialisi, Ospedale 'Umberto I', Barletta, Bari - Italy. russodm@tiscali.it
Virgilio
M
M
D000368:Aged; D000553:Ambulatory Care; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012017:Referral and Consultation