Northern Ireland Vascular Access Database for Chronic Kidney Disease
Research type
Research Database
IRAS ID
144162
Contact name
Peter Maxwell
Contact email
Research summary
Northern Ireland Vascular Access Database for Chronic Kidney Disease
REC name
HSC REC B
REC reference
14/NI/1105
Date of REC Opinion
22 Oct 2014
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion
Data collection arrangements
Vascular access is necessary for haemodialysis to facilitate transfer of blood from the patient to the dialysis machine and back to the patient. The three types of vascular access used are:
• Arteriovenous fistulas (AVF)- a connection between a vein and an artery in the arm or leg
• Central venous catheters (CVC)-a plastic tube inserted into a large vein in the neck
• Arteriovenous grafts (AVG)- a plastic tube connecting an artery and a vein in the arm or leg
AVFs are associated with the best survival outcomes in dialysis patients and the lowest rates of complications. National guidelines recommend that 65% of new dialysis patients start haemodialysis with a functioning AVF, and 85% of existing haemodialysis patients dialyse with an AVF. In the 2012 NHS and Renal Registry Vascular Access Report, Northern Ireland reported one of the lowest rates of incident AVF usage (less than 10%) in the United Kingdom.
To date, there have been no studies in the Northern Ireland dialysis population exploring vascular access related outcomes, morbidity and survival.The Northern Ireland Vascular Access Database is a population based database incorporating clinical data, laboratory results and mortality data retrieved from the regional renal electronic care record.
Research programme
All patients in Northern Ireland with chronic kidney disease and/or end-stage kidney failure. The research team hope that the vascular access database will support a wide spectrum of research in order to further advance our understanding of vascular access and modality choice in chronic kidney disease.
Research database title
Northern Ireland Vascular Access Database for Chronic Kidney Disease
Establishment organisation
Regional Nephrology Unit
Establishment organisation address
Belfast City Hospital
Lisburn Road
Belfast
BT9 7AB