Over 600 Guyanese now rely on dialysis – study reveals

…shows patients surge from 63 in 2020

As non-communicable diseases (NCD) continue to increase among Guyanese, a recent study revealed that Guyana suffering from kidney failure and needing dialysis has increased from 63 patients in 2020 to more than 600 patients in 2025.

The study was conducted by the Human Organ and Tissue Transplant Agency (HOATTA) and was presented and discussed at a Research Study Dissemination Event held by the Ministry of Health on Thursday at the Pegasus Suites and Corporate Centre.

The study was conducted by a team led by Dr Shanti Singh-Anthony and also included HOATTA Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Dr Sonia Gordon, nephrologist Dr Baldeo Singh, biostatistician Dr Olly Perreira, and Mel Echigoya from Midway Speciality Care Centre.

Speaking at the event, Dr Singh highlighted that the study marked an important point in gaining an understanding of issues among patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), who are on dialysis and in need of kidney transplants.

“We don’t have a lot of solid, robust evidence on Guyana’s dialysis and transplant patients. So this is important because this is the first time we’re doing a study like this. We know a lot of anecdotal evidence exists, but in terms of very robust scientific research, this is the first time we’re doing it,” Dr Singh noted.

“The study is key in terms of giving us information on what our patients know and what they don’t know. We are able to generate from the findings what the additional questions are that we need to ask. Here is where we will get ideas.”

The study recommended stronger screening programmes, improved primary care management of NCDs, structured patient and public education, better referral pathways to nephrologists, and the implementation of a comprehensive National CKD Prevention Strategy.

According to the study, over the years Guyana’s dialysis patients have seen continuous increases, moving from 63 patients in 2020 to 129 patients in 2021, 326 patients in 2022, 428 patients in 2023, and 556 patients in 2024 before reaching above 600 in 2025.

This hike in patients comes as the Government continues to increase investment in healthcare assistance to dialysis patients. In 2023 the Government announced an annual subsidy of $600,000 to each dialysis patient to expand access and reduce financial strain.

Singh highlighted that data from the study will be key in creating better outcomes for the patients.

“From this research we will be able to generate further research questions that are more narrow and more specific. This research gives us a wider understanding of what’s happening and paves the way for us to ask even more specific questions and gives us a more intentional and deliberate way to ask other questions. Ultimately, all of this will lead us to improvements in the system at the patient level, at the programme level and at the policy level so that this can help improve outcomes,” she said.

The study aimed to identify informational gaps, misconceptions, behavioural challenges, and support needs that may affect the quality of care and health outcomes for persons with CKD and on haemodialysis.

The study focused on assessing the knowledge, attitudes, and practices of patients on haemodialysis and their caregivers in all outpatient dialysis clinics in Guyana, with a specific focus on understanding barriers to adequate dialysis treatment and perceptions of kidney transplantation.

The study surveyed 213 dialysis patients 18 to 69 years old who were patients at dialysis centres in Regions Two, Three, Four, Six and 10. Of those interviewed, 59 per cent of the patients were male, while 60.5 per cent were from Region Four. The majority of the patients, amounting to 37.4 per cent, were on dialysis for over a year.

The study also included a survey of the carers of the dialysis patients. A total of 74 carers participated, of which 75.7 per cent were females and 55.4 per cent were from Region Four.

Of the carers, 41.9 per cent were spouses, 32 per cent were parents, and 13.5 per cent were children of the patient.

Work on the research began in June, with patients being interviewed for three weeks across July and August. The study also included consultation with a number of nephrologists, internal medicine specialists, primary care physicians, transplant surgeons, dialysis centre personnel and others.

The study aims to identify informational gaps, misconceptions, behavioural challenges, and support needs that may affect the quality of care and health outcomes for persons with CKD and on haemodialysis.

In terms of contributing NCDs among the patients, a whopping 66.8 per cent had one to two risk factors, and another 31.9 per cent had three to five risk factors. A mere 1.3 per cent of the study sample had zero risk factors. NCDs include illnesses such as hypertension, heart disease, cancer, diabetes, and chronic respiratory conditions and continue to be a growing crisis globally, being responsible for roughly three-quarters of all deaths worldwide.

The study revealed that a large per centage of the patients who showed high blood pressure (BP) were also unaware of this condition, with the per centage being higher among men.

Overall, some 45.5 per cent of the patients who had high BP were not aware of their condition, another 15.5 per cent were aware but were not being treated, and 21.9 per cent were aware and receiving treatment, but the condition was not under control. Just 17.1 per cent were aware, treated and controlled.

Along gender lines, some 58.2 per cent of the men were unaware, while 31.8 per cent of the women were unaware. However, among those aware and untreated, the statistics showed 12.1 per cent for the men and 19.1 per cent for the women.

Looking at the Body Mass Index (BMI), 50.3 per cent of the sample were either overweight or obese, with 39.8 per cent of the men being overweight or obese and 61.8 per cent of the women being overweight or obese.

For blood sugar, some 52.4 per cent of the participants had never measured their blood sugar, accounting for 59.5 per cent among the men and 44.7 per cent among the women. Another 7.3 per cent were diagnosed with diabetes within the past 12 months. Of this, 4.5 per cent of the men and 10.2 per cent of the women were diagnosed in the last year.