title: Diabetics on dialysis in the Republic of Macedonia: A nationwide epidemiological study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Incidence increase of diabetes mellitus (DM) has taken epidemic proportions in the world. Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is a most serious complication, taking a leading place as a factor in the progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD). Dialysis treatment of these patients is complex, expensive, and exerts an excessive burden on the health budgets of the affected countries.
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed a nationwide precise observational study with the aim of analysing diabetics on dialysis in dialysis centres throughout the Republic of Macedonia (RM) in 2002 and in 2006; to compare the results from patients records; and to gather data on the epidemiology, clinical characteristics and complications of diabetes type 1 (DM1) and diabetes type 2 (DM2).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of HD patients in RM was 1114 vs 1074 in 2002 and 2006, respectively. Of these, 109 (9.78%) vs. 115 (10.71%) had DM in 2002 and 2006, respectively. The percentage of diabetics on dialysis between different centers varied between 3% to 21% vs. 2.4% to 22.07% in 2002 and 2006, respectively. The mean age of the patients was 58+/-10.29 vs. 56.5+/-10.71 in 2002 and 2006, respectively. Patients with DM1 were 19 (17.43%) vs. 15 (13.04%) and with DM2 were 90 (82.57%) vs. 100 (86.96%) in 2002 and 2006, respectively. 28 (25.68%) vs. 31 (26.96%) patients were on oral anti-diabetic drugs and 62 (57.21%) vs. 69 (60%) patients were on insulin in 2002 and 2006, respectively. Mean age of DM1 patients was 47+/-11.6 y. vs. 45+/-7.32 y. respectively and of DM2 was 60.37+/-8.33 y. vs. 61.14+/-10.23 y., in 2002 and 2006, respectively. Mean time of insulin treatment was 9.5+/-6.63 y. vs. 10.85+/-9.29 y. in 2002 and 2006. Mean Body Mass Index (BMI) was 26.4 vs. 23.49+/-4.74 kg/m2 in DM1 and 25.5 vs. 24.77+/-3.70 kg/m2 in DM2 patients in 2002 and 2006, respectively. Thrombosis of first arteriovenous fistulae (AVF) occurred in 41% vs. 25.22% in 2002 and 2006, respecttitvely. Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection was confirmed in 57% vs. 44% of DM patients in 2002 and 2006, respectively. Most common co-morbidity in patients was hypertension, 91% vs. 80.87% in 2002 and 2006, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The number of diabetics on dialysis in the Republic of Macedonia did not increase in the period from 2002 to 2006. In DM2 diabetics on dialysis the frequency of complications is higher and time on dialysis is shorter than in DM1 patients. Early detection of diabetic nephropathy by primary care physicians as well as collaborative treatment by diabetologists, nephrologists, cardiologists and ophthalmologists before and during dialysis are important for improvement of treatment and survival of diabetic patients on dialysis.
authors.affiliation: Macedonian Academy of Sciences and Arts, Skopje, R. Macedonia.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Polenakovic
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sikole
authors.forename: I G
authors.initials: IG
authors.lastname: Nikolov
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Georgiev
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Selim
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dzekova-Vidimliski
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gelev
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Amitov
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Oncevski
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Severova
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pavleska
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Poposki
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Kovaceska
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Alceva
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Zdravkovska
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Antararov
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dimitrov
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Janakievska
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Damjanovski
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Karceva Sarajlija
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Velinova
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ivanovski
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Panova
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Neskovski
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Jovcevski
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zafiroska
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mat
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Filipovik
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sela
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lamova
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000554:Ambulatory Care Facilities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003928:Diabetic Nephropathies / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D006435:Renal Dialysis / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D018843:Republic of North Macedonia / Q000453:epidemiology