The experiences of suffering of end-stage renal failure patients in Malaysia: a thematic analysis

The prevalence of end-stage renal failure (ESRF) has been increasing over the past two decades (1). ESRF is a chronic debilitating disease with significant associated morbidity and mortality. Renal replacement therapy (RRT) is costly, and places an enormous burden on national healthcare systems as well as the global economy. In Malaysia, the dialysis prevalence rate increased from 440 per million population (pmp) in 2004 to 1,235 pmp in 2013. This increase in prevalence was largely contributed by the growing numbers of patients with diabetic kidney disease, accounting for 61% of new patients accepted for dialysis (2)