Peritoneal Dialysis: From Marginality to Opportunity

Authors

  • Roberto Corciulo Azienda Ospedaliere-Consorziale Policlinico, Divisione di Nefrologia, Dialisi e Trapianto, Università di Bari, Bari Coordinatore GdS Dialisi Peritoneale della Società Italiana di Nefrologia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.33393/gcnd.2014.983

Keywords:

Cost, Economic analysis, Hemodialysis, Peritoneal dialysis, Health policy

Abstract

Although several studies have demonstrated the clinical and economic benefits of peritoneal dialysis (PD) compared to hemodialysis (HD), PD as the initial modality is offered at much less than HD patients, causing in Italy the current annual prevalence rate of less than 10%. Making PD the default transition to dialysis therapy not only has clinical benefits for patients, but also for healthcare systems and society. This approach requires a cultural shift in the nephrologist and national and regional health systems, but it is time to make this shift. This article summarizes the views on how to increase the utilization of PD to improve on clinical and economic management of patients with ESRD.