QUality European STudies (QUEST)–a step forward in the quality of RRT care

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Abstract
The survival of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients depends on extremely expensive and highly complex medical treatments. Although renal replacement therapy (RRT) is life-saving, its cost is reason for increasing concern. Indeed, in Western countries patients on RRT, who represent a small segment of the general population (i.e. 0.1%), absorb about 2–3% of the health care budget [1]. The risk of death of an RRT patient, in particular the risk of cardiovascular death, remains much higher than that of an individual of the same age and gender without ESRD [2]. The costs of illness to society in terms of medical costs, decreased life expectancy, increased morbidity, decreased quality of life and inability to work are therefore substantial.