A KidneyBuzz.com viewer and Dialysis patient said, "My friends share horror stories with me of how they knew people or read about people who only lasted five years or less after being diagnosed with Kidney Failure and beginning Dialysis. That causes the most emotional stress for me usually. Are they right?"
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While short life expectancies among Chronic Kidney Disease patients have been noted in the past, currently those who are conducting Dialysis are living longer. The American Clinical and Climatological Association said in 2011, "The average life expectancy of a person on Hemodialysis is less than 3 years and hasn't changed in 20 years." Similarly, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center previously noted that "the average life expectancy for a patient on Dialysis is generally five years." However, new figures are suggesting that this is no longer the case. In a recent study, The United States Renal Data System and University of Michigan found, "Dialysis and Kidney Transplant patients are surviving longer."
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Also, the National Kidney Foundation openly acknowledged that "Life expectancy on Dialysis can vary depending on your other medical conditions and how well you follow your treatment plan. Average life expectancy on Dialysis is 5-10 years, however, many patients have lived well on Dialysis for 20 or even 30 years." The recent report was more specific, noting that "fewer deaths were reported among Dialysis and Kidney Transplant patients in 2013." More stunning, deaths dropped by twenty-eight percent (28%) in Dialysis patients and a whopping forty percent (40%) in Kidney Transplant recipients since 1996.
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Dr. Rajiv Saran (Director of the United States Renal Data System Coordinating Center) said, "Patients on Dialysis are living longer and equally positive, survival rates have steadily improved among recipients of both living and deceased donor Kidney Transplants.” What is a bit more alarming is the increased number of people who are suffering Kidney Failure which is increasing the wait time on the Kidney Transplant List.
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While there were 17,600 Kidney Transplants performed in 2013, there are still over 2.7 times more people in need of a kidney than kidneys available. This means for every one (1) kidney available, there are currently almost three (3) patients who need it. What is even more concerning, is that this trend may get worse as more and more people are suffering Kidney Failure, initiating Dialysis, and being placed on the Kidney Transplant Waiting List.
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Overall, the results from this recent United States Renal Data System study are good and highlight the important fact that patients are living longer on Dialysis. Also, the study underscores the importance of not just waiting on the very crowded Kidney Transplant List. If you have not done so already, and you want a Kidney Transplant then click here to sign up for a Find A Kidney Donor Campaign with KidneyBuzz.com so that our team may share your story to help improve your chances of connecting with potential altruistic donors. Also, you maybe creative by sharing your need for a kidney transplant on a car bumper sticker or by asking loved ones to let others know of your need for a Kidney Transplant.
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