This report examines the characteristics and trends of dialysis and renal transplant patients among the resident population of Hong Kong who were managed by hospitals or dialysis centers of the Hospital Authority of Hong Kong, and who accounted for approximately 95% of all patients who received renal replacement therapy (RRT) in the territory. Patients who received RRT solely in the private sector were not included in this report. Data trends from 1996 to 2009 are presented. In 2009, 930 new

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... ients were accepted into RRT programs and the incident rate was 132.4 patients per million population (pmp). This is lower than the incident rate in 2008, which was 148.2 pmp. The point prevalence as of December 31, 2009 was 7,580, with a prevalence rate of 1,078.8 pmp. There were 3,401 patients on peritoneal dialysis (PD, 44.9%), 945 patients on hemodialysis (HD, 12.5%), and 3,234 patients living with a functioning renal transplant. The PD to HD ratio was 81.5:18.5 for patients on dialysis treatment at Hospital Authority centers. PD-first policy continued. The overall mortality rate among RRT patients was 10.7 patients per 100 patient-years exposed. There was a decreasing trend in mortality among PD patients. Infection and cardiovascular complications were the most common causes of death. Renal transplant was the modality with the best survival. The 5-year cumulative patient survival rate for patients on transplant treatment was 88%, whereas the corresponding patient survival rates for PD and HD patients were 37% and 34.2%, respectively. More than 80% of RRT patients with reports on rehabilitation were active and had normal activities. [Hong Kong J Nephrol 2010;12(2):81-98]