Statin use may boost PD survival

A new study from Korea has found that taking a statin drug to lower cholesterol helped people on PD live longer—whether or not they had diabetes. The researchers suggest that larger, randomized studies are now needed.

Read the abstract » | (added 2011-06-21)

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Better PD technique survival in people with diabetes who use icodextrin

In the first randomized control trial using icodextrin in lieu of glucose for PD solution, 41 people with diabetic nephropathy were assigned one or the other. After 2 years, 71.4% of the icodextrin group was still doing PD, while only 45% who used glucose-based solution still did PD.

Read the abstract » | (added 2011-04-25)

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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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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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Survival with diabetes and kidney failure is better

Diabetes plus kidney failure is a tough blow. But, since 1980, survival for people with both health problems has more than doubled. And that was with standard in-center HD. Imagine how much better survival might be with more dialysis!

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

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High transporters live just as long on cycler PD

In a study that followed 117 people who started PD in Korea, those who were older, or had diabetes or heart disease had poorer survival. But being a high transporter (wastes move quickly through the peritoneum but water removal is poor) did not reduce survival.

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

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Diabetes + PD? Icodextrin-aided fluid removal and metabolic control

A randomized controlled trial of glucose PD fluid vs. icodextrin (ICO) found significant benefits. Among 59 people with diabetes on CAPD, those in the group using ICO for the long exchange were far less likely to need higher concentration fluid (9% vs. 66%). And, the ICO group needed less insulin, had lower triglycerides, and had lower A1cs.

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

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Survival on PD beats standard in-center HD hands down

Studies done with data from the early 1990s found better survival on standard in-center HD than PD. But a new study pairing 6,337 PD patients who started treatment in 2003 with standard HD patients found just the opposite. Survival was significantly better with PD—especially for those under 65, and those who did not have heart disease or diabetes.

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

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PD and home HD don't compete with each other

A new study finds that different people are attracted to PD vs. home HD. Those who chose PD tended to be older, female, and have diabetes and/or high blood pressure. Those who chose home HD were younger, more likely to be male, and had heart or blood vessel disease. Both treatment options are growing worldwide (perhaps because they're better?!).

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

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Nocturnal HD: MUCH better survival

On standard in-center HD, 5-year survival is about 20%. A new study of 247 dialyzors from Canada found a 5-year survival on nocturnal HD of about 80%. Those who were younger and did not have diabetes did even better.

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

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