RESUMO
The pattern and outcome of patients with chronic renal failure (CRF) in Kelantan, the northeastern state of Malaysia was determined. A total of 60 patients with CRF managed at the Hospital Universiti Sains Malaysia between January 1991 and June 1993 were reviewed retrospectively. The prevalence of CRF was 24.8 patients per year. The ratio of male to female patients was 1.5 : 1.0. Their mean age at presentation was 51.4 +/- 13.7 years. The cause of CRF in majority of our patients was unknown. Their mean blood urea and serum creatinine were 38.9 +/- 9.8 mmol/l and 1,154.9 +/- 458.7 mumol/l respectively. Sixty-five percent of our patients were already in end-stage renal failure (ESRF) at the time of presentation and only 53.8% of them could afford a definitive renal replacement therapy. Their mortality rate was 21.7% and majority of the death occurred in patients who were not receiving definitive renal replacement therapy. This debilitating course will continue unless the cost of renal replacement therapy is subsidised or a renal transplantation program is activated. Hence public education to encourage organ donation in this part of Malysia is necessary.