Organizational Culture and Home Dialysis Uptake

An ethnographic study of dialysis clinic culture was conducted at four clinics in England with average or high rates of home dialysis and maximal geographic, ethnic, and socioeconomic diversity. Three themes identified were encouraging the patient voice and providing individualized support, ensuring home dialysis access (minimalizing eligibility assumptions), and achieving sustained change based on benefits for patients.

Read the abstract » | (added 2025-01-13)

Tags: Dialysis Clinic Culture, Home Dialysis Access, Patient Benefits

Predicting Sarcopenia on PD using Handgrip Strength and BMI

Identifying patients at risk of sarcopenia without costly assessment tools would allow for earlier treatment. Analysis of data from 699 PD patients in China found a sarcopenia prevalence of 13.92% and nomogram models identified handgrip strength and BMI as independent predictors.

Read the abstract » | (added 2025-01-13)

Tags: Body Mass Index, Handgrip Strength, Nomogram, Peritoneal Dialysis, Risk Factors, Sarcopenia

Advancing American Kidney Health Initiative Did Not Impact Public Awareness

In 2019, the AAKHI aimed to increase the use of home dialysis. Analysis of U.S. Google Trends data from 2013 to 2021 for home dialysis terms found an increase in searches when the AAKHI was first announced, followed by flat or declining searches. The authors concluded that the AAKHI did not impact public information-seeking and targeted education initiatives may be needed.

Read the abstract » | (added 2025-01-13)

Tags: Advancing American Kidney Health Initiative, AAKHI , Public Awareness

Survival on HD vs. Immediate-start PD

After reviewing medical records from 911 incident dialysis patients from 2005 to 2023, 140 HD and 140 immediate start PD patients were selected for 1:1 propensity score matching. While long-term survival was comparable between the two modalities, non-diabetic patients had significantly higher survival on immediate start PD than HD.

Read the abstract » | (added 2025-01-13)

Tags: HD, Immediate start PD, Survival, Propensity Score