Haemodialysis

Considerable research and investment have focused on the use of electronic patient-reported outcomes (ePROs) in nephrology. However, systematic collection of ePROs to inform the care of patients with chronic kidney disease remains sporadic. A change in culture is needed to encourage their wider adoption in clinical practice.

Living with chronic kidney disease (CKD) is not easy, and patients must adopt lifestyle changes that can be difficult. Owing to the complexities of the disease, patients must be supported to improve their understanding of CKD and to enable them to make informed decisions about the management of their disease.

Patients receiving dialysis are at high risk of contracting SARS-CoV-2 and developing severe COVID-19. Established SARS-CoV-2 vaccination schemes might lack efficacy in these patients and a personalized approach is therefore necessary. Importantly, given the enhanced infection risks associated with dialysis, current vaccines do not replace non-pharmacological measures to prevent infection.

Venezuela is going through a humanitarian crisis that has severely impacted all programmes of kidney replacement therapy — dialysis coverage has decreased markedly, particularly in small towns and rural areas, and almost all peritoneal dialysis and deceased donor organ procurement for kidney transplantation have been discontinued.