Perspective of 20 Years Hemodialysis Registry in Iran, on the Road to Progress

Abstract

End-stage renal disease (ESRD) is a foremost health issue with major consequences in various parts of the world. In Iran, the prevalence/incidence of ESRD has increased during the past decades. The economic burden of ESRD treatment on patients, their families, and the whole healthcare system is huge as well. Hence ESRD is considered emerging public health problem in developing countries, including Iran, requiring short- and longterm changes in healthcare policies. Developing a national registry system for dialysis patients in Iran now enables us to summarize certain clinical characteristics of these patients and compares the present situation with the late 1990s when dialysis services just began to expand in the country. In this paper, the authors provide information regarding the process of establishing dialysis registry in Iran along with the report of the output of such a registry. Focusing on such an important measure in the whole country of around along with the data that it has produced is a gateway to further progress.