Dr Ben Talbot1,2, Dr Yogeshni Chandra3, Dr Angus Ritchie4,5, Dr Amrish Krishnan6, Dr Joji Malani7,8, Dr Jasmial Nand3, A/Professor Sradha Kotwal1,9, Professor Martin Gallagher1,10, Professor Shilpa Jesudason11,12, Dr Anis Ta’eed3
1The George Institute For Global Health, , Australia, 2University of New South Wales, , Australia, 3The Ministry of Health & Medical Services, Government of Fiji, , Fiji, 4Renal Unit, Concord Repatriation General Hospital, , Australia, 5Concord Clinical School, The University of Sydney, , Australia, 6The Kidney Hub Dialysis Centre, , Fiji, 7Fiji National University, , Fiji, 8Kidney Foundation of Fiji Dialysis Centre, , Fiji, 9Prince of Wales Hospital, University of New South Wales, , Australia, 10South Western Sydney Clinical School, University of New South Wales, , Australia, 11Central Adelaide Renal and Transplantation Service, Central Adelaide Local Health Network, , Australia, 12Adelaide Medical School, University of Adelaide, , Australia
Biography:
Ben Talbot is a nephrologist and researcher based in the Cardiovascular Division of The George Institute for Global Health. His research includes cardiovascular and kidney disease and environmental sustainability within healthcare and research. He has worked clinically in both Australia and the UK and completed a PhD at University of New South Wales focusing on improving outcomes in global chronic kidney disease.
Aim:
To describe the characteristics and outcomes of the contemporary haemodialysis population in Fiji.
Background:
In 2019, The Fijian Dialysis Collaboration (consisting of local and international Investigators, with Fijian Ministry of Health approval) implemented the Fijian Dialysis Registry, collecting data on all patients over 18 years of age receiving chronic dialysis treatment in Fiji.
Methods:
Following written informed consent, patients are entered into the registry at dialysis commencement and data, including: demographics, comorbidities, aetiology of kidney failure and dialysis access is collected. Follow-up data is recorded at 6- and 12-months after dialysis commencement and then at 12-monthly intervals thereafter. Data is stored in a secure, dedicated, web-based database and local champions have been identified and trained from among the nursing staff at each dialysis centre to support data collection. Here we report the characteristics and outcomes of all patients commencing dialysis in Fiji from 2020 onward.
Results:
Between January 2020 and February 2025, 453 patients commenced haemodialysis at 9 centres in Fiji. Median age at dialysis commencement was 52 years (Interquartile range (IQR) 42-59) with male predominance (276/453, 61%). Diabetes (257/448, 57%) and hypertension (121/448, 27%) were the commonest causes of chronic kidney disease, but less than 10% of patients had undergone a kidney biopsy. 93% of patients (420/453) commenced dialysis using a central venous catheter for dialysis access. Cardiovascular disease was the most common cause of death, with 6- and 12-month survival following dialysis commencement 91% and 79% respectively.
Conclusion:
This data represents the first description of the contemporary dialysis population in Fiji and demonstrates the feasibility of implementing a dialysis registry in an expanding renal program.
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