Vol. 6, Issue 1, Part A (2024)

Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a major public health concern due to its significant impact on both morbidity and mortality. Peritoneal dialysis (PD) is a widely used kidney replacement therapy (KRT), available in two primary modalities: continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) and intermittent peritoneal dialysis (IPD), each with distinct implications for patient care. This study aims to examine the practice of peritoneal dialysis across multiple centers in Iraq. 
Methodology: A meta-analysis was conducted using data from eight studies, representing six centers in Iraq. The data were statistically analyzed to assess patient demographics and treatment modalities. 
Results: A total of 4,208 patients were included in the study, with 2,327 (55.3%) under the age of 15 and 1,881 (44.7%) aged 15 years or older. Of the total, 2,975 patients (70.7%) were treated for acute kidney injury with IPD, while 1,233 patients (29.3%) were undergoing CAPD for CKD. The distribution of patients across centers showed that 31.8% were from Al-Najaf, followed by Welfare Hospital (24%) and Mosul (22.8%). Patients under 15 years old with acute kidney injury were significantly more likely to receive IPD compared to those aged 15 and older (74.8% vs. 25.2%, p-value = 0.0001). All patients on CAPD (1,233, 100%) were from Al-Najaf. Welfare Hospital and Mosul accounted for the majority of IPD cases, with 33.9% and 32.3% of patients, respectively, showing a significant association (p-value = 0.0001). 
Conclusion: Peritoneal dialysis plays a crucial role as a kidney replacement therapy, particularly in acute settings. However, greater attention and expansion of CAPD services are needed in Iraq.