Journal of internal medicine
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The aim of the present retrospective single centre study of patients entering renal replacement therapy (RRT), was to evaluate the effects of different referral patterns on morbidity, choice of therapy, and duration of hospitalization in patients with chronic renal failure. ⋯ We conclude that in our centre, early referral to nephrologist is associated with lower age, a higher likelihood of predialytic transplantation, better metabolic status at start of RRT, a higher proportion starting haemodialysis on a functioning arteriovenous fistula, and a shorter duration of the initial hospital stay. Further research on health care delivery is warranted.