Scottish Renal Registry
Annual report 2022

About this release

This release by Public Health Scotland (PHS) presents the Scottish Renal Registry (SRR) 2022 annual national report. The SRR aims to improve the care of patients with kidney failure who are treated with kidney replacement therapy (KRT). KRT comprises all patients who are on dialysis or who have a kidney transplant in Scotland. This year the report presents information about the incidence, prevalence, distribution, modality and outcomes of patients receiving KRT for kidney failure in Scotland between 1960 and 31 December 2021. It also includes data relating to COVID-19 and vaccinations in people receiving KRT treatment during the pandemic.

Main points

• In 2021, 602 people (11.0 per 100,000 population) started KRT for kidney failure.
• On 31 December 2021, there were 5,488 prevalent patients receiving KRT, 61% of whom had a functioning kidney transplant, 35% were being treated with haemodialysis and 4% were being treated with peritoneal dialysis.
• A total of 267 patients who were living in Scotland received a kidney transplant in Scotland in 2021. Of these transplants, 19.5% were pre-emptive (performed before the patient needed any other form of KRT) compared with 18% in 2020.
• Since 1960, survival of patients receiving KRT has improved, as has the average length of time that a transplant kidney will function.
• As of 27 March 2022, 4,815 patients, which amounts to 90% of the prevalent KRT population in Scotland, had received at least three doses of a COVID-19 vaccine (88% of dialysis patients and 91% of transplant patients) and 46% had received a fourth dose.
• Patient outcomes following infection with COVID-19 have improved for patients
  receiving KRT.

Chart showing the increasing numbers of kidney transplants undertaken in Scotland from 1960-2021. Also shows the type of donor whether it deceased or living donor. The number of living donors has increased.

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Figure 1: Frequency and donor type, kidney transplants performed in Scotland 1960–2021

Background

The SRR is within the Scottish National Audit Programme which is part of PHS. The aim of the SRR 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

The next release of this publication will be October 2023.