Using Life Table Method the present study estimated the survival of patients gone under hemodialysis, according to age group, from 1997 to 2000, in the Ribeirão Preto County. Based in probability of survival it was also estimated the expenses referred to the sessions of hemodialysis for patients that are beginning treatment. Nearly 60% of patients followed were alive after four years of study, show high survival. The results of this study show that the high expenditure with hemodialysis refers to the increase of survival of patients and not specifically the increase of demand of the therapy.
Hemodialysis; Survival; Health expenditures
