Application of dialysis and transplant registries to clinical practice: the Lombardy Registry

Background. Data collected from registries provide a useful source of information for clinical practice. Therefore, several regional and national registries of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients have been established. The Lombardy Registry of Dialysis and Transplantation (RLDT) was established in 1982, with participation of all 44 dialysis units that were present at that time within the region. Methods. Demographic and clinical data on ESRD patients are collected yearly. We present here the results of some of the analyses that have been performed on RLDT data since it was started. Results. Briefly, data on epidemiology of ESRD, cardiovascular disease, patterns of care and patients' outcomes have been considered. Comparisons with international registries have also been performed. Conclusions. This analysis shows how data collected from a homogeneous patient population receiving similar patterns of care provide precise information on that population. A clear example is provided by the similar results obtained in the comparison of high-flux vs low-flux membranes in a randomized control trial, the HEMO study, and in an analysis of RLDT data. Therefore, analysis of data collected by registries represents an important tool to improve clinical practice and possibly patients' outcomes.