Green dialysis: using solar power for HD

Our own Dr. John Agar and other researchers from Australia report on their experience using the sun to power a dialysis clinic and reduce electricity costs by 76.5% In the second and third decades, the new system will pay for itself and contribute power to the grid.

Read the abstract » | (added 2012-01-26)

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More home HD in Australia and New Zealand—because doctors believe in it

In contrast to the rest of the world, Australia and New Zealand have an average of 12.9% of patients using home HD. Why? Because nephrologists, nurses, and funding agencies hold strong beliefs in the clinical and economic benefits of this option.

Read the abstract » | (added 2011-12-22)

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Alternate night nocturnal HD in Australia

Every other night nocturnal HD is a popular option in Australia. Patients who use this option have lower phosphorus levels and better volume control and well-being—at about the same cost as standard in-center HD.

Read the abstract » | (added 2011-12-22)

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Alternate-night HD improves bone minerals & blood pressure

Among 63 people in Australia who switched from standard HD to alternate-night HD, bone mineral balance and blood pressure improved after 18–24 months. Left ventricular mass did not improve, but remained stable.

Read the abstract » | (added 2011-11-28)

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Home HD and mortality risk in Australia and New Zealand

Researchers analyzed data from 26,016 patients in the ANZDATA registry (856,007 patient-months) to see if home HD helped people live longer. Compared to standard in-center HD, those on standard (3x/week), more-frequent, or nocturnal home HD were about twice as likely to survive.

Read the abstract » | (added 2011-08-25)

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CKD education rates in Australia (they're FAR better than in the US!)

It's hard to choose a treatment option for kidney failure that fits your life when you don't know what the options are, or how they might affect you. A study of 721 people new to dialysis in Australia found that 603 (84%) had options education before they started treatment.

Read the abstract » | (added 2011-05-23)

Tags: Chronic kidney disease

Australian nephrologists say PD first, then nocturnal HD

A lengthy survey of Australian nephrologists found strong agreement that long HD is a good option—most easily done at home, and that PD is a great first choice for dialysis. In fact, 34% of respondents said their clinic had a "PD First" policy.

Read the abstract » | (added 2011-05-23)

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Watch your water soluble vitamins on nocturnal HD

More dialysis washes more vitamins out of the blood, finds a new study from Australia. Among people who were doing nocturnal HD, levels of vitamin C and thiamine were low. Supplements may be wise—ask your doctor.

Read the abstract » | (added 2011-02-24)

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Green dialysis: Saving the planet

Dialysis uses a lot of power and a lot of water. Reusing those resources saves water, energy, and money. Our own Dr. John Agar has a new paper out about his solar dialysis and water reuse practices in Australia.

Read the abstract » | (added 2011-02-24)

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Nocturnal HD helps bone mineral status

Doing nocturnal home HD every other night helps bone minerals stay at more normal levels than standard treatments, say researchers from Australia in a new study. After 26 patients switched from standard (home) to nocturnal HD, their serum phosphorus and calcium-phosphorus products fell, most needed no binders, and bone mineral density was stable. Plus, blood vessel calcification improved or at least was stable in 87.5%.

Read the abstract » | (added 2011-02-24)

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