Journal Watch - Home Dialysis
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How Accurate is Depression Screening in Home Dialysis?
No depression instruments have been evaluated for accuracy with patients who do home dialysis or receive transplants. Data from 203 patients using various kidney replacement modalities completed three different depression assessments to see which was most efficient for clinical use. Of the participants, 18.2% met depression criteria. The commonly-used Beck Depression Inventory Second Edition (BDI-II) and Beck Fast Screen (BDI-FS) exceeded 90% sensitivity and negative prediction for home therapies using modality-specific thressholds. A third tool, the Depression Subscale of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS-D) had lower sensitivity and home dialysis patients (70%) and those with transplants (86.7%).
Read the abstract » | (added 2026-02-17)
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Update on Pregnancy in Home Dialysis Patients
For women with CKD, pregnancy may be a goal, but their fertility window is limited and they may not have time to wait for a transplant. Pregnancy rates on dialysis are low, and the pregnancies are high risk—but this may be changing. Intensive HD that improve fertility and live birth rates, with longer gestation and higher birth weights are another option for women on dialysis who want children. Learn principles and practical management of dialysis pregnancies, as well as patient experiences.
Read the abstract » | (added 2024-02-07)
Tags: Pregnancy, Dialysis Pregnancies, Home Dialysis, Fertility, Live Birth Rates
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Nephrology Fellows Not Ready for Home Dialysis
Even nephrology fellows attending home dialysis conferences did not feel prepared to care for PD or home HD patients, finds a small study. Of 110 attendees, 76 (66%) completed a survey about their confidence with regard to management of home dialysis. Most were “moderately” confident about PD principles—though just 11% had seen a PD catheter insertion, and only 3% had initiated a patient on urgent start PD. Most had “low” confidence in their ability to manage home hemodialysis.
Read the abstract » | (added 2020-12-10)