Journal Watch
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Outcomes of extended-hours HD (mainly at home)
Among 286 people in Australia who did 24 hours or more of HD per week (96% at home), survival was 98% for 1 year, 92% for 3 years, and 83% for 5 years. Technique survival was 90% for 1 year, 77% for 3 years, and 68% for 5 years. This study did find higher rates of access problems with more frequent HD, but there was no control group.
Read the abstract » | (added 2012-10-25)
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Home HD may be a good fit for obese patients
An Australian clinic has successfully trained 23 obese people (BMI >30) to do home HD between 2001 and 2009. Patients stayed on the treatment for an average of 43.7 months.
Read the abstract » | (added 2012-10-25)
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Longer or more-frequent HD normalizes mortality patterns
It has long been known that those on PD have an equal chance of dying on any day of the week—while standard in-center HD are much more likely to die on a Monday (or Tuesday with Tue-Thu-Sat treatments). A new study looking at 14,636 Australian registry deaths found that those who got more than 3 standard in-center treatments per week or did home HD were no more likely to die on a Monday (or Tuesday) than any other day.
Read the abstract » | (added 2012-09-25)
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Green dialysis: using solar power for HD
Our own Dr. John Agar and other researchers from Australia report on their experience using the sun to power a dialysis clinic and reduce electricity costs by 76.5% In the second and third decades, the new system will pay for itself and contribute power to the grid.
Read the abstract » | (added 2012-01-26)
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Alternate night nocturnal HD in Australia
Every other night nocturnal HD is a popular option in Australia. Patients who use this option have lower phosphorus levels and better volume control and well-being—at about the same cost as standard in-center HD.
Read the abstract » | (added 2011-12-22)
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More home HD in Australia and New Zealand—because doctors believe in it
In contrast to the rest of the world, Australia and New Zealand have an average of 12.9% of patients using home HD. Why? Because nephrologists, nurses, and funding agencies hold strong beliefs in the clinical and economic benefits of this option.
Read the abstract » | (added 2011-12-22)
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Alternate-night HD improves bone minerals & blood pressure
Among 63 people in Australia who switched from standard HD to alternate-night HD, bone mineral balance and blood pressure improved after 18–24 months. Left ventricular mass did not improve, but remained stable.
Read the abstract » | (added 2011-11-28)
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Home HD and mortality risk in Australia and New Zealand
Researchers analyzed data from 26,016 patients in the ANZDATA registry (856,007 patient-months) to see if home HD helped people live longer. Compared to standard in-center HD, those on standard (3x/week), more-frequent, or nocturnal home HD were about twice as likely to survive.
Read the abstract » | (added 2011-08-25)
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CKD education rates in Australia (they're FAR better than in the US!)
It's hard to choose a treatment option for kidney failure that fits your life when you don't know what the options are, or how they might affect you. A study of 721 people new to dialysis in Australia found that 603 (84%) had options education before they started treatment.
Read the abstract » | (added 2011-05-23)
Tags: Chronic kidney disease
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Australian nephrologists say PD first, then nocturnal HD
A lengthy survey of Australian nephrologists found strong agreement that long HD is a good option—most easily done at home, and that PD is a great first choice for dialysis. In fact, 34% of respondents said their clinic had a "PD First" policy.
Read the abstract » | (added 2011-05-23)
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