Hemodialysis patients doubled in 10 years

Between 2001 through 2011, the number of hemodialysis patients in the Commonwealth have doubled, proof that more and more islanders are contracting chronic diseases that lead to kidney failures.

Based on the latest records of the Commonwealth Health Center, from just 80 hemobialysis patients 10 years ago, the number now stands at 159—and these are just the documented ones.

Karlo Reyes, unit manager of the CHC hemodialysis unit, said yesterday that these documented patients are being treated either at the hospital or at a private clinic on island.

Saipan has two hemodialysis facilities: one at the Commonwealth Health Center and the privately-run St. Jude Renal Care Facility at the Saipan Health Clinic.

Of the 159 dialysis patients in the Commonwealth, Reyes disclosed that 107 are being treated at CHC while St. Jude accommodates the remaining 52 patients. CHC, as a public health center, accommodates patients with or without insurance.

Reyes believes that more and more people in the community have chronic kidney diseases that are still undiagnosed, based on the emergency cases being brought to the hospital. He said an undiagnosed kidney failure usually leads to emergency treatment.

“I can’t say if the documented figure is alarming but I do believe that we still have a significant number of individuals in our community who have chronic kidney conditions but are still undiagnosed to date. Based on the 10-year period of documented patients, however, we’ve seen a continuous increase in the number. The figure doubled from 2001 to 2011,” said Reyes.

Because of the limited resources and equipment at the hospital’s old dialysis center, the opening of the St. Jude facility and its expansion has helped accommodate the increasing number of patients who need dialysis treatment. Saipan Tribune learned that CHC’s old dialysis center could only accommodate 19 patients per shift.

Reyes said the expected opening of the new hemodialysis center will allow them to increase that number to 27 patients per shift every day.

Hemodialysis is a method for removing waste products such as creatinine and urea, as well as free water, from the blood when the kidneys fail. Hemodialysis is one of three renal replacement therapies, the other two being renal transplant and peritoneal dialysis. It can be an outpatient or inpatient therapy.