Journal Watch
Home Dialysis in Finland
Prevalence of home dialysis has dropped in the past decade in Finland, despite its better survival compared to in-center HD. Semi-structured surveys for nephrologists, nephrology nurses, and patient associations endeavored to understand why. Nursing shortages and patient comorbidities received wide agreement as barriers, and clinicians believed that starting in-center reduces the odds of switching to home treatments later. For patients, financial burdens and impact on care partners were critical, as was “bringing hospitals home” or living in small spaces.
Read the abstract » | (added 2025-03-13)
Tags: Home Dialysis, Survival, Modality, Barriers
Reasons for Switching from PD to HD
A retrospective analysis of 15,974 French PD patients between 2002 and 2018 found 6,835 deaths, 5,108 transfers to HD, and 3,094 transplants. Nurse-assisted PD reduced the risk of transfer to HD due to infection in the first 18 months as well as adequacy after 6 months. Surprisingly, CAPD had a higher risk of transfers to HD for mechanical issues than APD in the first 6 months—but a lower risk of issues after 18 months. Suboptimal starts had more psychosocial issues.
Read the abstract » | (added 2025-02-14)
Impact of the START Project on PD in Canada
In Alberta, Canada, the Starting dialysis on Time, at home, on the Right Therapy (START) project enrolled 1,962 consecutive adult ESKD patients who started dialysis between April 1, 2015 and March 31, 2018 with the aim of increasing the proportion of patients who do PD within 6 months of dialysis start. At baseline, 27% of incident patients tarted PD. Immediately after implementation, there was a 5.4% increase in the use of PD. No changes were found in rates of hospitalization, death, or probability of switching to HD.
Read the abstract » | (added 2024-03-15)
Tags: Haemodialysis, Peritoneal Dialysis, Quality Improvement
High Ultrafiltration Volumes May Contribute to Pruritus
Could changes in skin perfusion and inflammation play a role in dialysis itching? An observational study of 392 patients looked at self-reports of pruritus severity and UF volumes. BMI and UF volume independently predicted pruritis severity.
Read the abstract » | (added 2023-12-15)
Tags: Ultrafiltration Volume, UF Volume, BMI, Pruritus, Skin Perfusion, Inflammation
The Varied Uses of Assisted PD in Spain
In a retrospective look from 1997 through 2020, a Spanish clinic identified four groups who used assisted PD at some point. Group 1 was totally dependent at PD start, group 2 was self-care and then became totally dependent, group 3 needed short-term PD help, and group 4, the controls, remained on self-care. Of those who required assistance, 73% did so during follow up, not initially. Up to 44% of autonomous patients became dependent for various reasons over time, including loss of a care partner. Assisted PD—even when paying care partners—was less costly than switching to standard HD.
Read the abstract » | (added 2022-10-17)
Tags: Assisted PD, Dependency
PD Adequacy and Itching
Among 80 people on CAPD, blood levels of the pain marker “substance P” and total urea clearance both independently predicted itching. Inadequate PD seems to be a reason for people using PD to itch.
Read the abstract » | (added 2021-07-12)
Tags: Pruritus , Peritoneal Dialysis, CAPD, Substance P, Total Urea Clearance, Itching, PD
Starting with PD Better than Switching to it from HD
A metaanalysis comparing patients who started with PD to those who began HD and then switched to PD after 3 months found significantly better overall and technique survival in the PD first group. There were no significant differences in the peritonitis rate.
Read the abstract » | (added 2020-07-10)
Tags: Hemodialysis, Peritoneal Dialysis, Renal Replacement Therapy
Metaanalysis of Nocturnal HD and Sleep Quality
Nine studies of 286 patients found significantly less sleep apnea and better O2 saturation—but less total sleep time—after switching from conventional to nocturnal HD. Prospective pre-post studies found improved sleep quality, but randomized trials did not. Read the abstract.
Read the abstract » | (added 2018-10-12)
Tags: Sleep Apnea, CHD, NHD, O2 Saturation, Nocturnal HD, Conventional HD, Sleep Quality
If One PD Exit Site Antibiotic is Good, Are Two Better?
In a single center study, 146 people on PD were randomized to use gentamycin cream on their exit sites (n=71) or to switch between gentamycin in odd months and mupirocin in even months (n=75). After 174 (gentamycin) or 181 patient years (alternating), the group switching between two antibiotics had significantly more peritonitis, especially gram-negative and fungal.
Read the abstract » | (added 2016-04-12)
Tags:
Less Severe Itching With PD Than In-center HD
Among 380 people on PD or in-center HD, fewer on PD had uremic pruritus (itching) (28.6% vs. 38.2%). And, the itching was less severe in those who did PD, and affected less of the body. Those with higher levels of active vitamin D had less intense itching. Those with higher blood levels of phosphorus, triglycerides, and AST had more itching problems.
Read the abstract » | (added 2016-03-10)
Tags: Hemodialysis