The Renal Registry of Bosnia and Herzegovina

Background: The Renal Registry of Bosnia and Herzegovina systematically collects national data on kidney replacement therapy for patients with end-stage kidney disease (ESKD). This report summarizes 2 decades of registry data (2002-2022), showing trends in incidence, prevalence, modality distribution, and patient outcomes.

Methods: Data were obtained annually from 30 dialysis centers across the country. Incidence, prevalence, and survival rates for hemodialysis (HD), peritoneal dialysis (PD), and kidney transplantation were calculated per million population (pmp). Descriptive statistics and Kaplan–Meier survival analyses were performed using SPSS 25.

Results: Between 2002 and 2022, the number of dialysis centers increased from 18 to 30, and the total treated population rose by 43.5% (from 1687 to 2421 patients). Hemodialysis remained the predominant modality (80.4%), while PD accounted for only 3.0% of all dialysis patients. The incidence rate in 2022 was 118.9 pmp, and the prevalence reached 685.6 pmp. The leading causes of ESKD were diabetic nephropathy (29.5%) and hypertensive nephropathy (13.1%). The crude mortality rate among dialysis patients in 2022 was 13.2%, primarily due to cardiovascular disease. By the end of 2022, a total of 402 patients lived with a functioning kidney graft.

Conclusion: Over the past 2 decades, Bosnia and Herzegovina has experienced steady growth in its dialysis population and gradual improvements in registry coverage. However, the country continues to face challenges, including low utilization of PD and limited transplantation activity. Strengthening early chronic kidney disease detection and expanding organ donation programs remain key national priorities.

Cite this article as: Resić H, Rebić D, Turković AM. The renal registry of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Turk J Nephrol. Published online May 11, 2026. doi: 10.10.5152/turkjnephrol.2026.25988.