Public health aspects of renal diseases in the Republic of Macedonia 1983-2007.

OBJECTIVE To present the situation and burden of renal diseases and dialysis in the Republic of Macedonia in the period 1983-2007. METHODOLOGY A descriptive-statistical method has been applied with retrospective analysis of data for the period 1983-2007. Data from standard reports from ambulatory, dispensary and hospital services in the Republic of Macedonia, mortality statistics for the Republic of Macedonia, data from the World Health Organization and other professional literature and materials have been used. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Morbidity data from ambulatory and dispensary services in the period 1997-2007 show that renal diseases have increased by 64.7%, with rates rising from 319.5/10,000 population in 1997 to 514.5/10,000 in 2007. There has also been a rise in hospital health care for renal diseases, which is mainly due to the increase of chronic renal failure patients. Renal failure in-patient morbidity has increased from 3.5/10,000 in 1983 to 8.2/10,000 in 2006. Mortality from urinary system diseases in the period 1983-2007 also increased from 8.2/100,000 in 1983 to 14.0/100,000 in 2007. The vast majority of all mortality cases are due to renal failure. At the same time, chronic renal failure represents a significant economic burden to the society. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS The treatment of urinary system diseases, and especially of chronic renal failure, requires costly diagnostic procedures and treatment and long-term rehabilitation and these cause negative economic effects, long-term absenteeism, disability and premature death. It is necessary to stress the measures for health protection and promotion, as well as all levels of prevention of renal diseases.