Actuarial analysis of patient survival and dropout with various end-stage renal disease therapies

Six Years’ Experience of CAPD at One Centre: A Survey of Major Findings

This study summarizes the overall experience of the first six years of CAPD treatment at one centre, during which time all patients (n = 124) were selected, trained, and treated in a uniform way. Patient selection was largely influenced by a high transplantation activity. The patients had a high mean age, 54 years at start of CAPD, and there was a high proportion of diabetics, 26%.

Patient survival was 81% after two years and 60% after four years for all patients, and 100% after four years for non-diabetic patients < 50 years of age. Patient and technique survival was significantly superior in younger non-diabetics than in diabetics and in non-diabetics ≥ 60 years. Thirty-nine percent of transfers to other forms of dialysis were due to peritonitis. The main reason for a high early discontinuation rate was transplantation.

The mean treatment time in hospital was 27.7 d per patient year, one-third of which was attributable to peritonitis. The risk of developing peritonitis within the first year on CAPD was 55%.

During CAPD, serum urea remained unchanged, serum potassium, creatinine, and uric acid levels increased, and serum albumin levels decreased. These findings suggest that patients being treated with four 2 L exchanges Id, may not be sufficiently dialyzed as the residual renal function deteriorates, thereby increasing the risk of anorexia and subsequent malnutrition.

A Multicenter, Selection-Adjusted Comparison of Patient and Technique Survivals on CAPD and Hemodialysis

Four hundred and eighty CAPD and 373 HD patients started regular dialysis treatment between 1981 and 1987 in 6 dialysis centers. The CAPD patients were 6 years older, on average, than the HD patients and had more complicating conditions (43.3% with 3 or more coexisting risk factors versus 28.9% with coexisting complications). The 7-year patient survival rate was not significantly different. Cox's proportional hazards regression showed that age, cardiovascular disease, cerebrovasculardisease, peripheral vasculardisease, diabetes, malignancy and multisystem disease had significant adverse effects on patient survival. After correcting for the influence of these factors, no significant differences in patient survival were seen. However, after 53.5 years of age, the increase in the risk of death was significantly higher in HD than in CAPD patients. Technique survival was significantly different in the 6 centers and was better for HD than for CAPD. There was no statistically significant difference between CAPD and HD technique survival when peritonitis was eliminated as a cause of failure. Based on this 7 year analysis, CAPD would appear to be an excellent alternative to HD.

Comparison of Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis and Hemodialysis for Diabetics

To determine the relative efficacy of hemodialysis (HD) and continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) we compared all diabetic patients starting these treatments between April 1978 and August 1983. There were 37 HD patients and 34 CAPD patients who were comparable in age and degree of systemic disease. In the CAPD group survival was 81% at one and three years, and in the HD group 76% and 400/() at one and three years (P < 0.05) respectively. Initially CAPD patients spent more days in the hospital for catheter placement and training but subsequently had fewer hospital days. Infections other than peritonitis and catheter related were more frequent in HD (P < .05) patients, as were access repairs (P < .05). Also we compared at one year 12 patients on CAPD to eight patients on HD. Although they were comparable in all respects at the start of therapy, at the end of follow-up (24 ± 3 mo HD, 27 ± 3.5 mo CAPD) all CAPD patients remained on CAPD while only three remained on HD. Also HD patients had spent more than twice as many hospital days/patient months as did CAPD patients (P < .01). We have concluded that CAPD compares favorably with HD as a renal replacement therapy for diabetic patients at our institution.

In the last decade increasing numbers of diabetic patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) have been accepted for various types of renal replacement therapy (1–17). Of these, hemodialysis (HD) has been carried out for the longest period and although results have improved, the mortality rates in diabetics are still higher than in nondiabetic populations (14–16). Continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) is a new and reportedly efficacious therapy for diabetic patients with ESRD. While some studies have suggested that CAPD has an advantage over HD, definite proof is lacking because many reports (1,2,7) included patients who were transferred from one form of dialysis to another or were started on dialysis after a renal transplant. Furthermore, few studies have compared CAPD with hemodialysis in the same institution. For these reasons at our affiliated institutions we did a retrospective study, which compared HD and CAPD as the primary form of therapy for ESRD due to diabetic nephropathy.

Survival on home dialysis in New Zealand

Background

New Zealand (NZ) has a high prevalence of both peritoneal dialysis (PD) and home haemodialysis (HD) relative to other countries, and probably less selection bias. We aimed to determine if home dialysis associates with better survival than facility HD by simultaneous comparisons of the three modalities.

Methods

We analysed survival by time-varying dialysis modality in New Zealanders over a 15-year period to 31-Dec-2011, adjusting for patient co-morbidity by Cox proportional hazards multivariate regression.

Results

We modelled 6,419 patients with 3,254 deaths over 20,042 patient-years of follow-up. Patients treated with PD and facility HD are similar; those on home HD are younger and healthier. Compared to facility HD, home dialysis (as a unified category) associates with an overall 13% lower mortality risk. Home HD associates with a 52% lower mortality risk. PD associates with a 20% lower mortality risk in the early period (<3 years) that is offset by a 33% greater mortality risk in the late period (>3 years), with no overall net effect. There was effect modification and less observable benefit associated with PD in those with diabetes mellitus, co-morbidity, and in NZ Maori and Pacific People. There was no effect modification by age or by era.

Conclusion

Our study supports the culture of home dialysis in NZ, and suggests that the extent and duration of survival benefit associated with early PD may be greater than appreciated. We are planning further analyses to exclude residual confounding from unmeasured co-morbidity and other sociodemographic factors using database linkage to NZ government datasets. Finally, our results suggest further research into the practice of PD in NZ Maori and Pacific People, as well as definitive study to determine the best timing for switching from PD in the late phase.

Home hemodialysis: survival, quality of life, and rehabilitation

Choice of treatment modality for patients with end-stage renal disease ideally should not only increase the chances of survival but also improve quality of life and facilitate rehabilitation goals. These goals include employment, enhanced physical functioning, improved understanding of dialysis, increased control, and resumption of activities enjoyed before dialysis. Home hemodialysis has been consistently associated with improved long-term patient survival and quality of life compared with patients treated with in-center hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis. Home hemodialysis is also well suited to rehabilitation. Home hemodialysis training programs educate patients and partners to become responsible for dialysis treatments, thus encouraging independence and permitting flexible scheduling, which promotes greater participation in exercise and employment. Further information about modality choice and rehabilitation outcomes could be obtained by systematic data collection to enable comparisons between modalities. Patients should have the opportunity to choose from among all modalities, including home hemodialysis.

Variations in the hemodialysis treatment process

The Medicare end-stage renal disease (ESRD) program costs more than $2 billion a year. Costs per treatment vary significantly across hemodialysis facilities, yet the relationship of these cost differentials to case mix and outcomes is uncertain. This study analyzed treatment variations in 527 chronic hemodialysis patients dialyzing in four freestanding and three hospital-based facilities. Results indicated that patients receiving care in the hospital-based units received a more costly routine dialysis treatment as well as more intensive nursing care during the treatment process than did patients in freestanding units. Policy and clinical implications of the findings are discussed.

Depression, perception of illness and mortality in patients with end-stage renal disease

A role of depression in affecting outcome in patients with end stage renal disease (ESRD) has been suggested but few have assessed psychological parameters and medical factors thought to influence survival simultaneously and prospectively. To assess whether depression or perception of illness influences survival in patients treated for ESRD, we prospectively evaluated fifty-seven patients with ESRD treated with hemodialysis (HD, n = 43) or continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD, n = 14). Patients were interviewed and completed the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and the Illness Effects Questionnaire (IEQ). An ESRD severity coefficient was used to measure chronic illness severity. A cognitive item subset of the BDI (CDI) was used as an additional measure of depression. One and two years later, records were examined to determine survival. When initial results of the assessment of survivors and non-survivors were compared, at one year follow-up, there were no differences in mean age, duration of dialysis, severity scores, BDI or IEQ scores. The initial mean CDI scores in the group of non-survivors, however, were significantly greater than the scores in the survivor group. At two year follow-up, CDI scores were significantly different between groups, and were significant in a hazards regression. Disease severity, age and duration of dialysis were also significantly related to mortality at two year follow-up. We conclude cognitive depression is an important, early, indicator of grave prognosis in patients treated for ESRD. Early recognition of and therapeutic efforts directed toward the treatment of depression might modify outcome in ESRD patients.

A six-year comparison of patient and technique survivals in CAPD and HD

Comparisons of patient and technique survival were made for 120 CAPD and 139 HD patients undergoing dialysis between January 1981 and December 1986. Cox's proportional hazard regression model was used to compare patient and technique survival, with an adjustment for pre-treatment prognostic differences. Only the patients' first treatments were considered. The CAPD patients were 10 years older, on the average, than the HD patients and had more complicated conditions (58% with 3 or more co-existing risk factors vs. 35%). Overall patient survival between CAPD and HD did not differ (P = 0.2694). However, when adjusted for patient age, sex and other comorbid complicating conditions, CAPD patients over the age of 66 had a significantly lower risk of death than their HD counterparts (P less than 0.05). There were no differences in the adjusted patient survival for patients aged 30 to 66. Four pre-treatment prognostic factors had statistically significant adverse effects on patient survival: age, diabetes, malignancy and peripheral vascular disease. Survival of the HD technique, when unadjusted, was better than survival of CAPD (P = 0.0457). Even after adjustment for sex and age, this difference was still very nearly significant (P = 0.0656). No risk factors were found to be significantly associated with technique survival. Based on patient and technique survival, CAPD would appear to be an excellent alternative to HD and may be the preferred treatment for high risk patients over the age of 66.

Current concepts. Continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis

As a long-term dialysis therapy, CAPD has attractive features for use in children (in whom access to the circulation and immobility are often problems), adults in whom blood access is difficult, patients with diabetes, patients prone to hypotension, and patients seeking independence from a machine or medical facility. CAPD and related procedures are still evolving and improving. Efforts to reduce the rates of peritonitis are ongoing and should decrease the rates of treatment dropout and increase the use of this alternative method of dialysis. Continued research toward improvements in catheter configuration and connection devices and the tailoring of technique to meet the particular needs of patients have made peritoneal dialysis an acceptable replacement therapy in patients with end-stage renal disease. Neither peritoneal dialysis nor hemodialysis is the superior long-term dialysis therapy for all patients; the choice depends on numerous medical, social, geographic, and life-style considerations.

Quality of life in chronic dialysis patients: a critical comparison of continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) and hemodialysis

Thirty-three matched pairs of chronic continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) and center hemodialysis (CHD) patients from three dialysis programs were studied cross-sectionally to assess their current medical, psychological, and social status. The CAPD and CHD groups were similar on matching and medical status variables. The CAPD subject group had a higher quality of life, lower illness and modality related stress scores, and nonsignificantly lower mood disturbance scores. The groups did not differ in self-esteem or health locus of control. CAPD subjects reported higher frequency of participation in community activities, better relationships with dialysis physicians and patients, and were more likely to be currently vocationally active. Dialysis modality likely exerts an independent effect on the quality of life of chronic dialysis patients, and CAPD is likely superior to CHD in this regard. Longitudinal studies are needed to determine the relative role of patient-selection and modality-related factors in determining the psychological and social adaptation (quality of life) of chronic dialysis patients.

Case-mix and treatment in end-stage renal disease: hemodialysis v peritoneal dialysis

The University of Southern California School of Medicine conducted a nationwide survey of 336 nephrologists to obtain demographic and clinical data on 6,411 patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Patient demographic data, along with ESRD etiology and comorbid conditions noted by the physician, were compared across various modalities of dialysis. Characteristics of the treatment provided were differentiated by the mode of dialysis and the location of the patient encounter. Results of the analysis show that patients on peritoneal dialysis are more likely to be female and have higher rates of diabetes compared with hemodialysis (HD) patients. Statistically, patients on intermittent peritoneal dialysis are older, more likely to be black, and have a higher incidence of cardiovascular conditions. Continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis patients have greatest problem severity and require more physician time and more complex services, whereas home HD patients require the greatest number of diagnostic tests and therapeutic procedures. Hospital inpatient care shows greater case-mix severity and more intensive treatment, but this does not differ by the mode of dialysis. Finally, patients of freestanding dialysis facilities are more likely to have hypertensive renal disease, whereas patients at hospital-based facilities are older, more likely to be seen in the hospital, have more urgent and severe problems during dialysis rounds, and require more physician time, more complex services, and more diagnostic tests and therapeutic procedures.

Effect of continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis on a British renal unit

Experience in the use of continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) for the treatment of end stage renal failure in Nottingham was reviewed. During six years 150 patients aged from 11 to 73 received this type of treatment. At three years patient actuarial survival was 69% and CAPD technique survival was 41%. Although CAPD was satisfactory as a first treatment for many patients, its long term use was possible in only a few. Actuarial survival of patients who changed to haemodialysis was 64% at one year after the change, suggesting that unsuccessful CAPD increased the risk of death. Hospital haemodialysis was the only suitable form of treatment for most patients in whom CAPD had been abandoned. British renal units have adopted CAPD to a much greater extent than those in Europe, but care in the selection of patients is necessary to reduce mortality, and many patients may eventually need hospital haemodialysis. Greater numbers of hospital haemodialysis places will probably have to be made available to meet this extra demand.

Living-related kidney donors: a multicenter study of donor education, socioeconomic adjustment, and rehabilitation

To determine the consequences of living-related kidney donation, a study was conducted of 536 donors whose nephrectomies had been performed at nine geographically dispersed centers during the past 12 years. The data demonstrated that greater than 84.0% of the donors thought they had been adequately informed regarding all aspects of donation, and less than 15.0% reported being pressured in their decision. Only two serious medical complications were directly attributable to the surgery, greater than 92.0% of the donors believed their health had not been adversely affected by donation, and 96.8% reaffirmed their decision regardless of the graft's success or the financial distress they experienced (P greater than .05). However, greater than 14.0% experienced direct pressure, particularly not to donate. Donation also appeared to stress previously troubled marriages, especially among donors without a religious affiliation, who were pressured to donate by their families, or who borrowed from family members (P less than .05). Substantial unreimbursed expenses (greater than or equal to $1,000) were incurred by 43 donors, and 23.2% of all donors reported that donation caused a financial hardship.