Table 1 Study objectives

Documentation of clinical course, complications, and time on therapy of new dialysis patients

Identification of factors influencing good or poor disease-related quality of life of PD patients

Documentation of the reasons for choosing the treatment modality and the circumstances at the start of dialysis

Identification of factors influencing occurrence of clinical complications and dropout from therapy in PD patients

Documentation of quality of life of patients with CKD starting dialysis and their caregivers before, during, and after dialysis treatment initiation

Estimation of the ‘ecological footprint’ of PD patients

Establishment of a biomaterial bank of patients with CKD starting dialysis

Estimation of health care costs and labour time required to start and maintain PD therapy