The primary aims of the Patient INformation about Options for Treatment (PINOT) Follow-up Study are to determine the proportions of patients, identified in the 2009 PINOT cohort that:

(i)Made the transition to home dialysis, after an initial start on center-based dialysis.

(ii)Commenced dialysis, or a time-limited trial of dialysis within 3 years, after confirmed plans for conservative care.

The hypotheses to be tested in the PINOT follow-up study are:

1. 50% of stage 5 chronic kidney disease patients who plan for home dialysis do not commence home dialysis within 3 years, and instead remain on centre-based haemodialysis; and,
2. less than 15% of stage 5 chronic kidney disease patients who plan for conservative care commence dialysis within 3 years.

The secondary aims of the follow-up study include:

(i) To assess the primary reasons patients did not transition to home dialysis, in the planned home dialysis group.

(ii)To compare 3 and 5 year survival rates among patients who commenced conservative care and patients who commenced renal replacement therapy.

(iii) To assess the types of dialysis utilisation over a 5 year time period among the total cohort of patients.

(iv)To determine how renal palliative care services were engaged for conservative care patients, and document the patient's place of death (i.e. hospital, hospice, home with community palliative care).

Inclusion Criteria:

• Adults and children with end stage kidney disease (eGFR <15 ml/min) who commenced renal replacement therapy or conservative care in Australia between July and September 2009

Exclusion Criteria:

• Patients returning to dialysis after a failed transplant,
• Patients with acute renal failure

Adults and children with chronic kidney disease attending renal treatment centres in Australian public hospitals and private practices