Journal Watch
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Challenges in Assessing Survival of In-center vs. Home HD
It’s treatment time that matters, not location—of course—suggests a new thorough review of the survival data. And, while it is challenging to prove a survival benefit when all home HD is so often conflated (short daily vs. nocturnal, for example), quality of life is demonstrably better—and matters more to patients.
Read the abstract » | (added 08/14/2019)
Tags: Treatment Time, Survival Data, Modality, Quality Of Life
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Payment Policy is Driving Increases in U.S. Home Dialysis
Follow the money. Analysis of 523,526 patients starting dialysis in the U.S. between 2005 and 2013 found increases in home dialysis use in all groups, and a decline in racial/ethnic differences in home dialysis. However, over time, white patients had an increase in mortality compared to minority patients, while transplant rates remained lower in minority patients.
Read the abstract » | (added 08/14/2019)
Tags: Home Dialysis Outcomes, Racial, Ethnic, Mortality, Transplant Rates
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Fluid Management Risks of Incremental HD
Incremental HD critics worry that less-frequent treatments will lead to fluid overload—and they may be right. A sample of 23 patients had interdialytic weight gains (IDWG) analyzed in the first and last 3 months of twice-weekly (2x) HD and first 3 months of thrice-weekly (3x) HD. IDWG exceeded 5.7% of dry weight 0% in the first 3 months of 2x HD—12% in the last 3 months—and 4% after a switch to 3x. The authors said, “fluid management in incident-ESKD patients receiving bi-weekly HD deteriorates prior to conversion to thrice-weekly HD.”
Read the abstract » | (added 08/14/2019)
Tags: Incremental Hd, Fluid Management Risks, Volume Management
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Some PD PETs Are Better Than Others
There are three ways to do a peritoneal equilibrium test (PET) to measure how well someone’s peritoneum is able to transport water and wastes. Compared to a traditional PET, a modified PET had good agreement in 21 patients—but the so-called mini-PET did not.
Read the abstract » | (added 08/14/2019)
Tags: Peritoneal Equilibrium Test, Pet, Peritoneal Membrane Transport
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Remote PD Monitoring Reduced Hospitalizations
A study of people starting automated PD matched patients who did and did not receive remote patient monitoring (RPM), with 63 patients in each group. Those who received RPM had significantly fewer hospital stays and days.
Read the abstract » | (added 08/14/2019)
Tags: Automated Pd, Remote Patient Monitoring, Hospitalization
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PD: Better Quality of Life than In-Center HD for 2 Years
Among 989 patients starting PD or in-center HD, health-related quality of life (HRQOL) was measured at 3, 12, and 24 months after dialysis start. PD patients scored higher all along on several key dimensions than HD patients—and this effect lasted up to 2 years. Both PD and HD patients had about the same amount of decline in HRQOL over 2 years.
Read the abstract » | (added 08/14/2019)
Tags: Hrqol, Pd, In Center Hd, Quality Of Life
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High Fiber Diet May Save Lives on PD
A study of 881 PD patients followed for up to 12 years found that participants who ate more fiber tended to be younger, male, and have more residual kidney function. In those who did not have diabetes, each 1 gram increase in daily fiber intake independently predicted improved survival by 13%.
Read the abstract » | (added 08/14/2019)
Tags: Chronic Kidney Disease, Dietary Fiber, Mortality, Peritoneal Dialysis
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How longer HD treatments affect bone minerals
The ACTIVE study randomized 200 people to do 24+ hours of HD per week vs. standard (<18 hours per week) HD. Long HD treatments reduced serum phosphate levels, but did not change PTH or serum calcium. In a second analysis of the data, those who did longer HD needed fewer phosphate binders as well.
Read the abstract » | (added 07/15/2019)
Tags: Hd Duration, Long Hd Treatment, Serum Phospate, Mineral Metabolism, Phosphate Binders
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In-center HD patients tend to overestimate how long they are likely to live
Statistics do not apply to individuals. However, a survey of 996 standard in-center HD patients from 31 clinics found that most could not correctly guess how long other “people your age with similar health conditions” usually live (<5 years, 5-10 years, >10 years, not sure). Just 11.2% chose <5 years, when the USRDS results would suggest 60.3%. Those who believed they would live longer were less likely to have advance directives.
Read the abstract » | (added 07/15/2019)
Tags: Life Expectancy, Patient Education
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Impact of daily low-flow HD on potassium and lactate levels
In the NxStage FREEDOM study, 345 patients switched from standard in-center HD to daily, low-flow HD. Blood levels of potassium and lactate were analyzed during the last 3 months of standard HD and the first 3 months of daily HD. On daily HD, predialysis serum potassium decreased significantly at a dialysate potassium level of 1 mEq/L, with no change at 2 mEq/L. Predialysis serum bicarbonate level decreased significantly with dialysate lactate concentration of 40 mEq/L—but increased significanty at 45 mEq/L. Choosing the correct dialysate for the patient is important.
Read the abstract » | (added 07/15/2019)
Tags: Daily Hd, Potassium, Bicarbonate, Dialysate