title: Geography of peritoneal dialysis in Brazil: analysis of a cohort of 5,819 patients (BRAZPD).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Brazil is a continental country with great diversity of population, social and cultural. This factor may determine different demographic, clinical and outcome presented by patients with chronic kidney disease on peritoneal dialysis (PD).
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the clinical characteristics and outcomes presented by PD patients in different regions of Brazil, analyzing a cohort of patients (BRAZPD) in the period 12/2004 to 10/2007.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were collected monthly and patients were followed until the outcome (death, renal transplantation, renal function recovery, transfer to hemodialysis or loss of follow-up).
  
  
  RESULTS
  We evaluated 5.819 patients incident and prevalent. Most patients performed renal replacement therapy (RRT) in the Southeast, where the average follow up time was longer (12.3 months) and there is a higher percentage of elderly (36.4%). The prevalence of diabetes is higher in Southeast and South (38.1% and 37%, respectively). Most patients in the North region had previously hemodialysis (66.2%). The mortality was higher in the Northern region (30.1%), as well as failure of the technique (22.3%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The data shows different demographic, clinical, mortality and technique failure of PD reflecting the demographic and social peculiarities of Brazil. The geography of the DP in Brazil proves to be a mirror of the geography of Brazil. So health policies should take into account the characteristics of each region so we can improve patient survival and technique on peritoneal dialysis.
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais, Brazil. nataliafernandes02@gmail.com
authors.forename: Natália Maria da Silva
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Fernandes
authors.forename: Alfredo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chaoubah
authors.forename: Kleyton
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bastos
authors.forename: Antônio Alberto
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Lopes
authors.forename: José Carolino
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Divino-Filho
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pecoits-Filho
authors.forename: Marcus Gomes
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Bastos
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010530:Peritoneal Dialysis / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011446:Prospective Studies