Journal Watch

  • Starting more people on PD does not cause harm

    In Canada, a study looked at PD "attempt rates": how often each nephrologist would start new patients on PD. Between the highest and lowest attempt rates, there were no differences in PD success—or survival. The authors conclude that maximizing PD start rates can save money to help more people, with no harm to patients.

    Read the abstract » | (added 2013-04-29)

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  • Home HD beliefs of patients and care partners in Italy

    Home HD is underused in Italy. Interviews found three positive themes: flexibility/freedom, comfort in familiar surroundings, and altruistic motivation to be an example for others. Four negative themes were also found: disrupted sense of normality, family burden, housing constraints, and healthcare by "professionals", not "amateurs".

    Read the abstract » | (added 2013-02-27)

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  • Wearable and implantable kidney devices

    The current standard in-center paradigm needs to change, say the authors of this review. Radically new approaches are needed to improve patient outcomes and quality of life. Two such approaches on the horizon are wearable and implantable devices.

    Read the abstract » | (added 2013-02-27)

    Tags: Chronic kidney disease

  • PD corrects metabolic acidosis better than standard in-center HD

    Too-low bicarbonate levels are a risk factor for death. Among 110,951 standard in-center HD patients and 10,400 PD patients, bicarb levels were much lower in those on PD. Survival data suggest that it is safest to keep bicarb levels higher than 22mEq/L for all ESRD patients—on any modality.

    Read the abstract » | (added 2013-02-27)

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  • Multidisciplinary training to reduce peritonitis in PD

    Researchers in Uruguay developed a tool to assess practical PD skills. They found that one on one lessons, retraining, and group meetings for PD patients cut the peritonitis rate nearly in half.

    Read the abstract » | (added 2013-02-27)

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  • Alert: Icodextrin PD fluid can mask hypoglycemia

    A case report of an 80 year old man in the emergency room highlights the need for healthcare providers to be aware of the impact of icodextrin PD fluid on blood sugar. Handheld glucose meters can overestimate blood sugar. A lab test can verify blood sugar if symptoms of hypoglycema are present and the glucometer reading is normal.

    Read the abstract » | (added 2013-02-27)

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  • Mortality patterns in PD & home HD differ from standard in-center HD

    In the Australian dialysis database (ANZDATA), 4,298 deaths on PD and 10,338 on HD were analyzed for patterns. Patients who did PD, home HD, or in-center HD more than 3 days per week were equally likely to die on any day of the week. Not so for standard in-center HD patients: they were significantly more likely to die from heart-related reasons on Monday, after the 2-day no-treatment weekend.

    Read the abstract » | (added 2013-02-27)

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  • New from Australia: Outcomes of extended HD (mainly done at home)

    In a series of 286 people doing extended HD, 96% received their treatments at home, and 77% did them at night. Survival was 98% at 1 year, 92% at 3 years, and 83% at 5 years.

    Read the abstract » | (added 2013-02-27)

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  • What does glucose in PD fluid have to do with artery calcification?

    Quite a bit, it appears. Among 50 people doing PD who did not have diabetes, about half had coronary artery calcification. Those who used more higher glucose PD fluids were more likely to have the problem, as were men with a history of heart disease, and those who did not get enough PD.

    Read the abstract » | (added 2013-01-25)

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  • If at first you don't succeed with PD...it still costs less than in-center HD

    A 4-year Canadian study has found that over a 3-year period, the cost of starting on PD and then switching to HD ($114,503) is still much less than doing standard in-center HD ($175,996). But starting and continuing PD is the lowest cost dialysis option ($58,724).

    Read the abstract » | (added 2013-01-25)

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