Table 3 : Relation between pre-ESRD care periods and patient characteristics.

Outcome	Pre-ESRD care period				Total (%)	p-value
	>12m	6-12m	<6m	0m
Age at  referral time to nephrology care
<14.9	5	0	1	2	8(2.8)
15-29.9	11	3	16	24	54(18.6)
30-44.9	14	5	21	43	83(28.6)
45-59.9	15	5	28	46	94(32.4)
≥60	4	7	17	23	51(17.6)	0.06
Sex
female	20	8	27	57	112(38.6)
male	29	12	56	81	178(61.4)	0.6
Referral source
Emergency department	7	6	36	108	157(54.1)
Other healthcare centres	11	5	11	17	44(15.2)
Outpatient clinic	31	9	36	13	89(30.7)	<0.0001
Reason of referral to nephrologist
Diseases of genitourinary system	4	4	2	1	11(4.4)
Disease of circulatory system	12	4	31	39	86(34.1)
Endocrine, nutritional and metabolic diseases & immunity disorders	19	11	41	69	140(55.6)
Symptoms and signs indicate to renal diseases	2	0	4	9	15(6)	0.005
Diabetic nephropathy
No	36	13	60	107	216(74.5)
Yes	13	7	23	31	74(25.5)	0.6
Hypertensive nephropathy
No	24	9	37	64	134(46.2)
Yes	25	11	46	74	156(53.8)	0.97
Starting HD with AVF
No	35	17	73	138	263(90.7)
Yes	14	3	10	0	27(9.3)	<0.0001

HD= haemodialysis, AVF= arterio-venous fistula.