title: The epidemiology of end stage renal disease at a centre in Trinidad.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study is to estimate the trends in prevalence of end stage renal disease (ESRD) during the period 1999-2007 at one site in Trinidad, the Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex (EWMSC), and to describe the epidemiological features, age, gender, ethnicity and comorbidities associated with ESRD.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective cohort study design was used. There was a count of patients on haemodialysis at the EWMSC centre from 1999-2007 in order to demonstrate trends in prevalence but more detailed data were collected and analysed for patients with ESRD attending the nephrology clinic between January 2002 and December 2007. The data that were collected from the patients' records included: demographic data (age, gender and ethnicity), medical history (diabetes mellitus, hypertension, end stage renal disease and autoimmune disorders), history of dialysis (type of vascular access, frequency of dialysis), mortality and its cause.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Records of 81 patients were retrieved. Their age range was 10-79 years. The survey showed that patients most affected in the study population were: males, aged 50-59 years, who were hypertensive and/or diabetic and of African descent.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In conclusion, we provide epidemiological evidence of ESRD and the associated contributing factors at one hospital in Trinidad.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medical Sciences, Paraclinical Department, The University of the West Indies, Eric Williams Medical Sciences Complex, Mount Hope, Trinidad and Tobago, West Indies. kmungrue@fms.uwi.tt
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mungrue
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ramdial
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Barran
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Lorinda
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bridgelal
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gildharie
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Leeloy
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Mohammed
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ragbir
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rampersad
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ramtahal
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Suratsingh
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D048909:Diabetes Complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000208:ethnology; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000208:ethnology / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D006435:Renal Dialysis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014300:Trinidad and Tobago / Q000453:epidemiology