About this release

This release by Public Health Scotland presents the Scottish Renal Registry (SRR) 2021 annual national report. The SRR aims to improve the care of patients with kidney failure who are treated with kidney replacement therapy (KRT).

This year the report includes data relating to COVID-19 and vaccination data in relation to people receiving KRT treatment during the pandemic. The report includes COVID-19 and vaccination data from March 2020 until July 2021. It also presents information about the incidence, prevalence, distribution, modality and outcomes of patients receiving KRT for kidney failure in Scotland between 2016 and 31 December 2020.

Main points

  • In 2020, 543 people (9.93 per 100,000 population) started KRT for kidney failure.
  • On 31 December 2020, there were 5,470 prevalent patients receiving KRT, 61% of whom had a functioning kidney transplant, 35% were being treated with haemodialysis (HD) and 4% were being treated with peritoneal dialysis (PD).
  • A total of 236 patients who were living in Scotland received a kidney transplant in Scotland in 2020. Of these transplants, 18% were pre-emptive (performed before the patient had required any other form of KRT) compared with 20% in 2019.
  • Between 1 March 2020 and 31 July 2021, 528 KRT patients had tested positive for COVID-19. Of these patients, 54% were receiving dialysis (HD or PD) at the time of the positive result. The remainder were patients with a functioning kidney transplant.
  • As of 30 June 2021, 93% of people receiving KRT had received two doses of a COVID-19 vaccine, with a further 3% awaiting their second dose.
Percentage of patients on renal replacement therapy who have received first and second doses of covid-19 vaccine from Dec 2020 until end July 2021.

Background

SRR is within the Scottish National Audit Programme which is part of Public Health Scotland. SRR’s aim is to improve the care of patients with kidney failure treated with KRT by systematic and comprehensive analysis, including audits of service provision, clinical management and outcomes. National clinical standards were ratified by the Scottish Renal Association and implemented in 2021 to improve patient care.

Further information

Please visit the Scottish Renal Registry website (external website) for more information.

The next release of this publication will be July 2022.

General enquiries

If you have an enquiry relating to this publication, please email phs.srr@phs.scot.

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If you have a media enquiry relating to this publication, please contact the Communications and Engagement team.

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Older versions of this publication

Versions of this publication released before 16 March 2020 may be found on the Data and Intelligence, Health Protection Scotland or Improving Health websites.

Last updated: 21 March 2024
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