More people are being told about PD

In 1997, the DMMS Wave 2 study found that fewer than 25% of people with kidney failure were told about PD. A new survey of people surveyed from 2005–2007 found that 61% were told—though just 10.9% of them chose PD. Still—major progress!

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

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It's never too late to educate

Each year, many people need dialysis within just a few weeks or months of learning that their kidneys have failed. A new Canadian study found that among 228 such people who were educated by a nurse while in the hospital, 49 (21.4%) chose PD, and 22 (9.6%) chose home HD. (In the US, fewer than 8% are home.)

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

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Dialysis at a crossroads: 50 years later

The well-known and highly respected nephrologists who sent a letter to CMS about how to improve dialysis care—with longer and/or more-frequent treatments—have written an article summing up their thoughts.

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

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Yet another call for PD first

Doctors at the University of Missouri have written an article noting that PD is under-used, and suggest ways to promote PD as a first dialysis option. Good idea!

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

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Meta-analysis: Icodextrin PD fluid really does have advantages

In a study of 9 randomized controlled trials, icodextrin removed much more water from the blood of people who did PD than standard glucose-based PD fluid without causing any more health problems for them.

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

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Nocturnal in-center treatments save lives

A new study from Turkey matched 247 people on 8-hour nocturnal in-center HD 3 times a week with 247 doing standard 4-hour HD by age, sex, diabetes, and length of time on dialysis. After a year, those doing nocturnal had 72% better survival—a significant improvement.

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

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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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Vitamin D deficiency linked with EPO resistance

What if resistance to EPO is related to low levels of vitamin D that tend to occur in people on dialysis? A new study looks at just that, and found a link. While more rigorous studies are needed, it's an intriguing thought...

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

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Nurse education after unplanned dialysis starts increases home treatments

Each year, about half of those who start dialysis had little or no time to prepare. In a new study of 176 Canadians, assigning a nurse to teach new dialyzors increased the use of PD, home HD, and even transplant.

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

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What you don't know CAN hurt you!

Health literacy means how well you understand and can use medical info to help yourself. In a new study of 480 folks on HD, those whose health literacy was highest lived longest—even adjusting for age, sex, race, and diabetes.

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

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