title: [Chronic renal disease in Puerto Rico: incidence, prevalence, and mortality in 2000-2008].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) is a global public health problem. Although there are strategies for its prevention, the number of cases has increased. In order to understand current situation in Puerto Rico (PR) we review available data, which is presented in a descriptive report of the incidence, prevalence and mortality of ESRD during the period 2000-2008. In addition, we compare the incidence and prevalence rates with regard to other countries.
  
  
  METHODS
  We used 2000-2008 USRDS statistics and the QIRN3 for patients on dialysis. Transplanted patients were excluded. Crude rates of incidence and prevalence in PR were calculated for comparison with the United States and other countries. Percentages were calculated to describe the demographic characteristics and primary diagnosis in 2008.
  
  
  RESULTS
  During the period 2000-2008 the incidence rate increased by 21.6 percent; from 286.8 to 348.7 pmp. The prevalence rate increased by 27.3 percent; from 861.2 to 1096.2 pmp. The average annual growth in the incidence and prevalence was 2.4 percent and 3.0 percent respectively. During the same period, diabetes mellitus was the leading cause of ESRD reaching 67.4 percent of total new cases in 2008, while in the U.S. was 44.4 percent. Unadjusted mortality decreased slightly in 2008 to 18.5 percent. PR is the fifth country with the highest incidence of patient on dialysis and the first with ESRD due to diabetes mellitus.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  ESRD is becoming more common and prevalent in PR. We should be more aggressive in establishing public health strategies to reduce ESRD.
authors.affiliation: PR Renal Health and Research, Inc., PO Box 1350, St. Just Station, Trujillo Alto, PR 00978. ylene.rodriguez@prrenalhealth.org
authors.forename: Ylene D
authors.initials: YD
authors.lastname: Rodríguez Ortiz
authors.forename: Glenda
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Miranda
authors.forename: Rafael
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Burgos Calderón
authors.forename: Santos
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Depine
authors.forename: Otegbola
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Ojo
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011647:Puerto Rico / Q000453:epidemiology; D051436:Renal Insufficiency, Chronic / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality; D013997:Time Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult