The Potential Burden of Home Dialysis on Patients and Caregivers: A Narrative Review

A Province-Wide Home Dialysis Program Review: Challenges, Strengths, and Future Strategies

Purpose of review

British Columbia (BC) has a robust provincial kidney care program emphasizing patient-centered and goal-oriented dialysis care. Despite maintaining a home dialysis prevalence of approximately 30%, consistently above the national average, a review was conducted to examine intake and attrition rates and optimize these outcomes within a learning health system context.

Sources of information

This review draws on published articles, program reports, and insights from the provincial kidney care program framework. Key components include funding models, multidisciplinary committees, administrative support, and comprehensive training resources for staff and patients.

Methods

A structured analysis was conducted to evaluate factors influencing home dialysis rates. The approach focused on health care system dynamics, professional practices, and patient characteristics, emphasizing identifying barriers and opportunities for program optimization.

Key findings

Challenges identified include ongoing biases among health care professionals and logistical barriers in remote areas. Future initiatives aim to standardize patient screening, promote home dialysis champions, adopt environmentally friendly practices, and expand peer support networks.

Limitations

The review is constrained by potential regional variability within BC and limited generalizability to other provinces or countries. In addition, patient preferences and broader societal influences require further exploration.

Implications

A systematic approach to assessing and optimizing home dialysis programs is essential. The findings highlight the need to address health care system barriers, improve professional education, and promote patient engagement to increase home dialysis uptake and sustainability.

Self-efficacy and home dialysis: An integrative review

BACKGROUND

Enhancing patient confidence in their ability (self-efficacy) is vital to ensure people are equipped to maintain home dialysis protocols. Bandura's social cognitive theory provided a framework for understanding the role of self-efficacy in patients managing home dialysis.

OBJECTIVES

To identify self-reported levels of self-efficacy, the measurements used to assess self-efficacy and the effectiveness of interventions to enhance self-efficacy in patients undergoing home dialysis.

DESIGN

An integrative review approach was employed using Whittemore and Knafl's methodology.

METHODS

A comprehensive search was conducted to identify literature on self-efficacy in patients managing home dialysis. Searches were conducted in CINAHL, MEDLINE, Embase and Scopus databases without a date limit. The included literature was critically appraised for methodological quality. Data extraction was conducted to report the study characteristics, measurement tools used and interventions conducted along with the synthesis of findings in a narrative format.

RESULTS

Fifteen studies were included in the review were predominantly quantitative examining training programmes promoting self-efficacy in adults conducting home dialysis. The finding that self-efficacy builds over time was structured into two themes; gaining skills to develop self-efficacy and building and maintaining knowledge of self-efficacy.

CONCLUSION

The findings highlighted the importance of employing multifaceted strategies with support from health professionals including nurses, families and peer support to develop self-efficacy in patients undergoing home dialysis.

Tidal Versus Intermittent Peritoneal Dialysis in Chronic Peritoneal Dialysis Patients: Randomized, Open-Label, Prospective Control Study

BACKGROUND

Tidal peritoneal dialysis (TPD) provides better fluid flow mechanics and is more comfortable for the patient, owing to fewer alarms and less pain during inflow and outflow. The long-term characteristics of patients with TPD were not evident. In this randomized controlled follow-up study, we aimed to explore the characteristics of patients with TPD, compared to IPD.

METHODS

A total of 85 patients were randomized to either IPD or 70% TPD between January 2019 and December 2020, and all patients were followed up on December 2021. The characteristics of patients between the two groups were analyzed using a t-test or chi-square as appropriate. The overall survival and technical survival were analyzed using Kaplan-Meier analysis.

RESULTS

Forty-two patients were assigned to IPD, and 43 patients were assigned to TPD. The basal characteristics of patients were not different between the two groups. In an average of 16 months of follow-up, 19 patients died, and 25 patients dropped out of peritoneal dialysis. The two groups had no difference in overall survival and technical survival. TPD was associated with high urine volume (p = 0.001), lower blood urea nitrogen (p = 0.002), lower phosphorus (p = 0.004), and fewer cycler alarms (p < 0.001). The chance of patients reporting abdominal fullness was higher in patients with TPD (p = 0.001).

CONCLUSION

In the randomized, controlled, follow-up study, TPD may preserve residual renal function and is associated with lower urea nitrogen and phosphorus in chronic peritoneal dialysis patients. TPD is associated with fewer cycler alarms but may increase the chance of patients reporting abdominal distension.

From Home to Wearable Hemodialysis: Barriers, Progress, and Opportunities

Although the past two decades have seen substantial proportional growth of home hemodialysis in the United States, the absolute number of patients treated with home hemodialysis remains small. Currently available stationary hemodialysis devices for use in the home have inherent limitations that represent barriers for more widespread adoption by a larger proportion of individuals with kidney failure. These limitations include device weight and bulk, ergonomics considerations, technical complexity, vascular access challenges, and limited remote patient monitoring. Recent years have witnessed a resurgence in research and development of prototype wearable kidney replacement devices incorporating innovations in miniaturization, new biomaterials, and new methods for toxin clearance and dialysate regeneration. Recent work has built on five decades of incremental innovation in wearable dialysis concepts and prototypes, starting from the work by Kolff in the 1970s. Wearable dialysis devices that successfully overcome key persistent barriers to successful development and adoption of these technologies will radically reshape the landscape of kidney replacement therapies and have the potential to dramatically improve the lives of individuals living with kidney failure.

Measures of treatment burden in dialysis: A scoping review

BACKGROUND

Dialysis is a life-sustaining treatment for patients with advanced kidney failure, but it is extremely burdensome. Despite this, there are very few tools available to assess treatment burden within the dialysis population.

OBJECTIVE

To conduct a scoping review of generic and disease-specific measures of treatment burden in chronic kidney disease, and assess their suitability for use within the dialysis population.

DESIGN

We searched CINAHL, MEDLINE and the Cochrane Library for kidney disease-specific measures of treatment burden. Studies were initially included if they described the development, validation or use of a treatment burden measure or associated concept (e.g., measures of treatment satisfaction, quality of life, illness intrusiveness, disease burden etc.) in adult patients with chronic kidney disease. We also updated a previous scoping review exploring measures of treatment burden in chronic disease to identify generic treatment burden measures.

RESULTS

One-hundred and two measures of treatment burden or associated concepts were identified. Four direct measures and two indirect measures of treatment burden were assessed, using adapted established criteria, for suitability for use within the dialysis population. The researchers outlined eight key dimensions of treatment burden: medication, financial, administrative, lifestyle, health care, time/travel, dialysis-specific factors, and health inequality. None of the measures adequately assessed all dimensions of treatment burden.

CONCLUSION

Current measures of treatment burden in dialysis are inadequate to capture the spectrum of issues that matter to patients. There is a need for dialysis-specific burdens and health inequality to be assessed when exploring treatment burden to advance patient care.

The Burden of Home Dialysis: An Overlooked Challenge

Home dialysis offers several clinical and quality-of-life benefits for patients with kidney failure. However, it is important to recognize that home dialysis may place an increased burden on patients and their care partners. Sources of burden may include concerns about the ability to adequately and safely perform dialysis at home, physical symptoms, impairment of life participation, psychosocial challenges, and care partner burnout. Overlooking or failing to address these issues may lead to adverse events that negatively affect health and quality of life and reduce longevity of home dialysis. This study will explore aspects of home dialysis associated with burden, emphasize the need for increased awareness of potential challenges, and elaborate on strategies to overcome sources of burden. Future research should actively involve patients and care partners to better understand their motivation, experiences, and needs to better inform support strategies.

Experiences of Muslim patients living with peritoneal dialysis: A qualitative study in Southern Thailand

Background

Living with peritoneal dialysis affects the patient's life. The experiences of peritoneal dialysis patients, especially Muslim patients, are incomprehensible. There is a need to explore this area further to foster nursing practice improvement through enhanced understanding.

Objective

The purpose of this study was to understand the experiences of Muslim patients who are undergoing peritoneal dialysis.

Methods

A qualitative descriptive design was employed to gain a deeper understanding of the experiences of Muslim patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis in a peritoneal dialysis unit in Southern Thailand. Participants were initially recruited through purposive sampling and then selected based on the inclusion criteria. Data saturation was reached from October 2019 to January 2020. Ten Muslim patients who had been receiving peritoneal dialysis for a minimum of one month participated in personalized, in-depth, face-to-face interviews, which were supplemented by field notes. Inductive content analysis was performed using open coding, categories, and abstractions.

Results

The experiences of Muslim patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis were grouped into two main categories: 1) Overwhelmed by change and 2) Learned to survive.

Conclusion

Peritoneal dialysis has a significant impact on Muslim patients, especially during the first months of treatment. Recognizing religious teachings and strengthening religious commitment through participation in religious practices are central to living on peritoneal dialysis. The findings offer a more profound insight into the experiences of Muslim patients receiving peritoneal dialysis. These results can be foundational knowledge for establishing and improving culturally appropriate nursing practices for Muslim patients.

The Use of a Novel Virtual Reality Training Tool for Peritoneal Dialysis: Qualitative Assessment Among Health Care Professionals

BACKGROUND

Effective peritoneal dialysis (PD) training is essential for performing dialysis at home and reducing the risk of peritonitis and other PD-related infections. Virtual reality (VR) is an innovative learning tool that is able to combine theoretical information, interactivity, and behavioral instructions while offering a playful learning environment. To improve patient training for PD, Fresenius Medical Care launched the stay•safe MyTraining VR, a novel educational program based on the use of a VR headset and a handheld controller.

OBJECTIVE

This qualitative assessment aims to investigate opinions toward the new tool among the health care professionals (HCPs) who were responsible for implementing the VR application.

METHODS

We recruited nursing staff and nephrologists who have gained practical experience with the stay•safe MyTraining VR within pilot dialysis centers. Predetermined open-ended questions were administered during individual and group video interviews.

RESULTS

We interviewed 7 HCPs who have 2 to 20 years of experience in PD training. The number of patients trained with the stay•safe MyTraining VR ranged from 2 to 5 for each professional. The stay•safe MyTraining VR was well accepted and perceived as a valuable supplementary tool for PD training. From the respondents' perspective, the technology improved patients' learning experience by facilitating the internalization of both medical information and procedural skills. HCPs highlighted that the opportunity offered by VR to reiterate training activities in a positive and safe learning environment, according to each patient's needs, can facilitate error correction and implement a standardized training curriculum. However, VR had limited use in the final phase of the patient PD training program, where learners need to get familiar with the handling of the materials. Moreover, the traditional PD training was still considered essential to manage the emotional and motivational aspects and address any patient-specific application-oriented questions. In addition to its use within PD training, VR was perceived as a useful tool to support the decision-making process of patients and train other HCPs. Moreover, VR introduction was associated with increased efficiency and productivity of HCPs because it enabled them to perform other activities while the patient was practicing with the device. As for patients' acceptance of the new tool, interviewees reported positive feedback, including that of older adults. Limited use with patients experiencing dementia or severe visual impairment or lacking sensomotoric competence was mentioned.

CONCLUSIONS

The stay•safe MyTraining VR is suggested to improve training efficiency and efficacy and thus could have a positive impact in the PD training scenario. Our study offers a process proposal that can serve as a guide to the implementation of a VR-based PD training program within other dialysis centers. Dedicated research is needed to assess the operational benefits and the consequences on patient management.

Transfers from home to facility-based dialysis: comparisons of HHD, assisted PD and autonomous PD

Background

Home dialysis therapies such as peritoneal dialysis (PD) and home hemodialysis (HHD) are beneficial for quality of life and patient empowerment. The short technique survival time partly explains their low prevalence. We aimed to assess the risk of transfer to facility-based hemodialysis in patients treated with autonomous PD, assisted PD and HHD.

Methods

This was a retrospective study using data from the REIN registry of patients starting home dialysis in France from 2002 to 2019. The risks of transfer to facility-based hemodialysis (HD) were compared between three modalities of home dialysis (HHD, nurse-assisted PD, autonomous PD) using survival models with a propensity score (PS)-matched and unmatched cohort of patients.

Results

The study included 17 909 patients: 628 in the HHD group, 10 214 in the autonomous PD group, and 7067 in the assisted PD group. During the follow-up period, there were 5347 transfers to facility-based HD. The observed number of transfers was 2458 (13.7%) at 1 year and 5069 (28.3) at 5 years after the start of home dialysis, including 3272 (32%) on autonomous PD, 1648 (23.3%) on assisted PD, and 149 (23.7) on HHD. Owing to clinical characteristics differences, only 38% of HHD patients could be matched to patients from the others group. In the PS-matched cohort, the adjusted Cox model showed no difference in the risk of transfer for assisted PD (cs-HR 1.04, 95% CI 0.75-1.44) or HHD (cs-HR 1.07, 95% CI 0.77-1.48) compared with autonomous PD.

Conclusions

Unlike results from other countries, where nurse assistance is not fully available for PD-associated care, there was no difference in technique survival between autonomous PD, nurse-assisted PD, and HHD in France. This discrepancy may be attributed to our inclusion of a broader spectrum of patients who derive significant benefits from assisted PD.

Exploring the factors affecting home dialysis patients' participation in telehealth-assisted home visits: A mixed-methods study

BACKGROUND

Technology, such as telehealth, is increasingly used to support home dialysis patients. The challenges patients and carers face when home dialysis nursing visits are provided via telehealth have yet to be explored.

OBJECTIVES

To explore patients' and carers' perspectives as they transition to telehealth-assisted home visits and identify the factors influencing their engagement in this modality.

DESIGN

A mixed-methods approach, guideed by the behaviour change wheel using the capability, opportunity, motivation-behaviour model to explore individual's perceptions of telehealth.

PARTCIPANTS

Home dialysis patients and their carers.

MEASURUEMENTS

Suveys and qualitative interviews.

METHODS

A mixed-methods approach was undertaken, combining surveys and qualitative interviews. It was guided by the Behaviour Change Wheel using the Capability, Opportunity, Motivation- Behaviour model to explore individuals' perceptions of telehealth.

RESULTS

Thirty-four surveys and 21 interviews were completed. Of 34 survey participants, 24 (70%) preferred face-to-face home visits and 23 (68%) had previously engaged in telehealth. The main perceived barrier identified in the surveys was knowledge of telehealth, but participants believed there were opportunities for them to use telehealth. Interview results revealed that the convenience and flexibility of telehealth were perceived as the main advantages of telehealth. However, challenges such as the ability to conduct virtual assessments and to communicate effectively between clinicians and patients were identified. Patients from non-English speaking backgrounds and those with disabilities were particularly vulnerable because of the many barriers they faced. These challenges may further entrench the negative view regarding technology, as discussed by interview participants.

CONCLUSION

This study suggested that a blended model combining telehealth and face-to-face services would allow patient choice and is important to facilitate equity of care, particularly for those patients who were unwilling or had difficulty adopting technology.

Assessing caregiver burden in advanced kidney disease: protocol for a systematic review of the measurement properties of instruments and tools

INTRODUCTION

Caregiver burden is a significant issue in the care of patients with advanced kidney disease. Its assessment is crucial for evaluating the needs of caregivers and for the development of interventions to support them. Several instruments have been developed to measure caregiver burden in these patients. However, the measurement properties of these instruments have not been systematically reviewed.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

This systematic review will include a comprehensive search of databases including PubMed, CINAHL, Embase, Cochrane Library, SCOPUS and Web of Science by using keywords and MeSH terms to identify relevant studies starting from each database inception to 1 January 2024 and covering papers in English. The search strategy will combine relevant keywords and database-specific subject headings related to the following concepts: (1) caregivers, (2) burden, stress, distress, (3) chronic kidney disease, end-stage kidney disease, dialysis. Reference lists of eligible articles will also be hand searched. We will include quantitative and qualitative studies evaluating measurement properties of instruments assessing caregiver burden in caregivers of adult patients (aged ≥18 years). Data will be extracted from the selected studies and analysed using the COnsensus-based Standards for the selection of health Measurement INstruments checklist as the study quality assessment tool. Subsequently, the van der Vleuten utility index will be used to critique and categorise the instruments. A narrative that synthesises the utility of all instruments will be presented along with recommendations for the selection of instruments depending on specific clinical contexts. This systematic review will provide an overview of the measurement properties of available instruments, including discussion on reliability, validity and responsiveness. Results from the review may give rise to the subsequent development of most appropriate instrument that could be applied to the assessment of caregiver burden in advanced kidney disease.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

Ethics approval is not required as this study will merely synthesise data from published studies. The results will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publications as well as conference presentations.

PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER

CRD42023433906.

Glycemic and sleep effects of daytime compared with those of overnight infusions of home parenteral nutrition in adults with short bowel syndrome: A quasi-experimental pilot trial

BACKGROUND

Patients with short bowel syndrome (SBS) dependent on home parenteral nutrition (HPN) commonly cycle infusions overnight, likely contributing to circadian misalignment and sleep disruption.

METHODS

The objective of this quasi-experimental, single-arm, controlled, pilot trial was to examine the feasibility, safety, and efficacy of daytime infusions of HPN in adults with SBS without diabetes. Enrolled patients were fitted with a continuous glucose monitor and wrist actigraph and were instructed to cycle their infusions overnight for 1 wk, followed by daytime for another week. The 24-h average blood glucose, the time spent >140 mg/dL or <70 mg/dL, and sleep fragmentation were derived for each week and compared using Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Patient-reported quality-of-life outcomes were also compared between the weeks.

RESULTS

Twenty patients (mean age, 51.7 y; 75% female; mean body mass index, 21.5 kg/m2) completed the trial. Overnight infusions started at 21:00 and daytime infusions at 09:00. No serious adverse events were noted. There were no differences in 24-h glycemia (daytime-median: 93.00 mg/dL; 95% CI: 87.7-99.9 mg/dL, compared with overnight-median: 91.1 mg/dL; 95% CI: 89.6-99.0 mg/dL; P = 0.922). During the day hours (09:00-21:00), the mean glucose concentrations were 13.5 (5.7-22.0) mg/dL higher, and the time spent <70 mg/dL was 15.0 (-170.0, 22.5) min lower with daytime than with overnight HPN. Conversely, during the night hours (21:00-09:00), the glucose concentrations were 16.6 (-23.1, -2.2) mg/dL lower with daytime than with overnight HPN. There were no differences in actigraphy-derived measures of sleep and activity rhythms; however, sleep timing was later, and light at night exposure was lower with daytime than with overnight HPN. Patients reported less sleep disruptions due to urination and fewer episodes of uncontrollable diarrhea or ostomy output with daytime HPN.

CONCLUSIONS

Daytime HPN was feasible and safe in adults with SBS and, compared with overnight HPN, improved subjective sleep without increasing 24-h glucose concentrations. This trial was registered at clinicaltrials.gov as NCT04743960 (https://classic.

CLINICALTRIALS

gov/ct2/show/NCT04743960).

Home hemodialysis technique survival: insights and challenges

Home hemodialysis (HHD) offers several clinical, quality of life and cost-saving benefits for patients with end-stage kidney disease. While uptake of this modality has increased in recent years, its prevalence remains low and high rates of discontinuation remain a challenge. This comprehensive narrative review aims to better understand what is currently known about technique survival in HHD patients, elucidate the clinical factors that contribute to attrition and expand on possible strategies to prevent discontinuation. With increasing efforts to encourage home modalities, it is imperative to better understand technique survival and find strategies to help maintain patients on the home therapy of their choosing. It is crucial to better target high-risk patients, examine ideal training practices and identify practices that are potentially modifiable to improve technique survival.

Epidemiology of peritoneal dialysis outcomes

Peritoneal dialysis (PD) is an important home-based treatment for kidney failure and accounts for 11% of all dialysis and 9% of all kidney replacement therapy globally. Although PD is available in 81% of countries, this provision ranges from 96% in high-income countries to 32% in low-income countries. Compared with haemodialysis, PD has numerous potential advantages, including a simpler technique, greater feasibility of use in remote communities, generally lower cost, lesser need for trained staff, fewer management challenges during natural disasters, possibly better survival in the first few years, greater ability to travel, fewer dietary restrictions, better preservation of residual kidney function, greater treatment satisfaction, better quality of life, better outcomes following subsequent kidney transplantation, delayed need for vascular access (especially in small children), reduced need for erythropoiesis-stimulating agents, and lower risk of blood-borne virus infections and of SARS-CoV-2 infection. PD outcomes have been improving over time but with great variability, driven by individual and system-level inequities and by centre effects; this variation is exacerbated by a lack of standardized outcome definitions. Potential strategies for outcome improvement include enhanced standardization, monitoring and reporting of PD outcomes, and the implementation of continuous quality improvement programmes and of PD-specific interventions, such as incremental PD, the use of biocompatible PD solutions and remote PD monitoring.

The use of peritoneal dialysis (PD) can be advantageous compared with haemodialysis treatment, although several barriers limit its broad implementation. This review examines the epidemiology of peritoneal dialysis (PD) outcomes, including clinical, patient-reported and surrogate PD outcomes.

Peritoneal dialysis (PD) has distinct advantages compared with haemodialysis, including the convenience of home treatment, improved quality of life, technical simplicity, lesser need for trained staff, greater cost-effectiveness in most countries, improved equity of access to dialysis in resource-limited settings, and improved survival, particularly in the first few years of initiating therapy.

Important barriers can hamper PD utilization in low-income settings, including the high costs of PD fluids (owing to the inability to manufacture them locally and the exorbitant costs of their import), limited workforce availability and a practice culture that limits optimal PD use, often leading to suboptimal outcomes.

PD outcomes are highly variable around the world owing in part to the use of variable outcome definitions, a heterogeneous practice culture, the lack of standardized monitoring and reporting of quality indicators, and kidney failure care gaps (including health care workforce shortages, inadequate health care financing, suboptimal governance and a lack of good health care information systems).

Key outcomes include not only clinical outcomes (typically defined as medical outcomes based on clinician assessment or diagnosis) — for example, PD-related infections, technique survival, mechanical complications, hospitalizations and PD-related mortality — but also patient-reported outcomes. These outcomes are directly reported by patients and focus on how they function or feel, typically in relation to quality of life or symptoms; patient-reported outcomes are used less frequently than clinical outcomes in day-to-day routine care.

Experience in Spain with the first patients in home hemodialysis treated with low-flow dialysate monitors

Home hemodialysis (HHD) with low-flow dialysate devices has gained popularity in recent years due to its simple design, portability, and ability to provide greater freedom of movement for our patients. However, there are doubts about the adequacy that this technology offers, since it uses monitors with low-flow bath and lactate. The aim of this study was to demonstrate the clinical benefits of low-flow HHD with the NxStage System One® recently introduced in Spain. We present the results of an observational, retrospective cohort study that included the first patients who started short daily HHD with this device in 12 Spanish centers. We analyzed the evolution of 86 patients at 0, 6 and 12 months, including data related to prescription, and evolution of biochemical parameters related to dialysis dose, anemia, mineral-bone metabolism; evolution of residual renal function, medication usage, and causes of withdrawal during the followup. We were able to demonstrate that this NxStage System One® monitor, in patients with HHD, have provided an adequate dialysis dose, with optimal ultrafiltration rate, with improvement of main biochemical markers of dialysis adequacy. The usage of this technique was associated to a decrease of antihypertensive drugs, phosphate binders and erythropoietin agents, with very good results both patient and technique survival. The simplicity of the technique, together with its good clinical outcomes, should facilitate the growth and utilization of HHD, both in incident and prevalent patients.

Cost Barriers to More Widespread Use of Peritoneal Dialysis in the United States

The United States Department of Health and Human Services launched the Advancing American Kidney Health Initiative in 2019, which included a goal of transforming dialysis care from an in-center to a largely home-based dialysis program. A substantial motivator for this transition is the potential to reduce costs of ESKD care with peritoneal dialysis. Studies demonstrating that peritoneal dialysis is less costly than in-center hemodialysis have often focused on the perspective of the payer, whereas less consideration has been given to the costs of those who are more directly involved in treatment decision making, including patients, caregivers, physicians, and dialysis facilities. We review comparisons of peritoneal dialysis and in-center hemodialysis costs, focusing on costs incurred by the people and organizations making decisions about dialysis modality, to highlight the financial barriers toward increased adoption of peritoneal dialysis. We specifically address misaligned economic incentives, underappreciated costs for key stakeholders involved in peritoneal dialysis delivery, differences in provider costs, and transition costs. We conclude by offering policy suggestions that include improving data collection to better understand costs in peritoneal dialysis, and sharing potential savings among all stakeholders, to incentivize a transition to peritoneal dialysis.

Epidemiology of haemodialysis outcomes

Haemodialysis (HD) is the commonest form of kidney replacement therapy in the world, accounting for approximately 69% of all kidney replacement therapy and 89% of all dialysis. Over the last six decades since the inception of HD, dialysis technology and patient access to the therapy have advanced considerably, particularly in high-income countries. However, HD availability, accessibility, cost and outcomes vary widely across the world and, overall, the rates of impaired quality of life, morbidity and mortality are high. Cardiovascular disease affects more than two-thirds of people receiving HD, is the major cause of morbidity and accounts for almost 50% of mortality. In addition, patients on HD have high symptom loads and are often under considerable financial strain. Despite the many advances in HD technology and delivery systems that have been achieved since the treatment was first developed, poor outcomes among patients receiving HD remain a major public health concern. Understanding the epidemiology of HD outcomes, why they might vary across different populations and how they might be improved is therefore crucial, although this goal is hampered by the considerable heterogeneity in the monitoring and reporting of these outcomes across settings.

This Review examines the epidemiology of haemodialysis outcomes — clinical, patient-reported and surrogate outcomes — across world regions and populations, including vulnerable individuals. The authors also discuss the current status of monitoring and reporting of haemodialysis outcomes and potential strategies for improvement.

Nearly 4 million people in the world are living on kidney replacement therapy (KRT), and haemodialysis (HD) remains the commonest form of KRT, accounting for approximately 69% of all KRT and 89% of all dialysis.

Dialysis technology and patient access to KRT have advanced substantially since the 1960s, particularly in high-income countries. However, HD availability, accessibility, cost and outcomes continue to vary widely across countries, particularly among disadvantaged populations (including Indigenous peoples, women and people at the extremes of age).

Cardiovascular disease affects over two-thirds of people receiving HD, is the major cause of morbidity and accounts for almost 50% of mortality; mortality among patients on HD is significantly higher than that of their counterparts in the general population, and treated kidney failure has a higher mortality than many types of cancer. Patients on HD also experience high burdens of symptoms, poor quality of life and financial difficulties.

Careful monitoring of the outcomes of patients on HD is essential to develop effective strategies for risk reduction. Outcome measures are highly variable across regions, countries, centres and segments of the population. Establishing kidney registries that collect a variety of clinical and patient-reported outcomes using harmonized definitions is therefore crucial.

Evaluation of HD outcomes should include the impact on family and friends, and personal finances, and should examine inequities in disadvantaged populations, who comprise a large proportion of the HD population.

From Home Dialysis Access to Home Dialysis Quality

The number and percentage of patients dialyzing at home has steadily increased during the past decade, and federal policy initiatives have driven interest to a new high. However, the mere utilization of home dialysis does not ensure better outcomes for patients and care partners. Although public reporting systems for dialysis quality are mature and robust, the incorporation of home dialysis quality in those systems is immature; the advent of the End-Stage Renal Disease Treatment Choices payment model brings this problem into sharp relief. The home dialysis modalities present both common and unique targets for quality measurement. For both modalities, therapy duration (or its inverse, technique failure) is a potential target. For peritoneal dialysis, peritonitis, catheter complications, and residual kidney function are additional targets; for home hemodialysis, vascular access infections, dialysis adequacy, and treatment adherence are targets. Patient-reported experience measures are also important; this domain is a long-standing disparity, as in-facility hemodialysis patients have been routinely surveyed for several years. The statistical aspect of quality measurement in home dialysis requires some adaptation, as the typical home dialysis program is small, thus presenting a threat to reliability; pooling programs may be necessary. Ultimately, promoting high-quality home dialysis will likely increase utilization of home dialysis.

A family-centred perspective on the arteriovenous fistula in end-stage renal disease: Findings from dyadic interviews

INTRODUCTION

The preservation of a well-functioning arteriovenous fistula (AVF) is crucial for successful dialysis in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD); nonetheless, complications are frequent which leads to lower quality of life, hospitalisations and death. Self-care behaviours help to reduce the risk of complications and family caregivers can play an important role as partners for behaviour change. However, the patient and family caregiver's experiences with such an invasive intervention are largely unknown.

AIMS

This study aimed to explore the experiences of patients with ESRD and their family caregivers with the AVF through joint interviews.

METHODS

A qualitative exploratory study was conducted with a purposive sample. Semi-structured joint interviews were conducted with 14 dyads (28 participants) composed of patients on haemodialysis with AVF and their respective family caregivers. Interviews were audiotaped, transcribed verbatim and submitted to thematic analysis.

FINDINGS

Four major themes were identified: (i) AVF negative impacts; (ii) (un)presence of self-care behaviours; (iii) AVF self-management facilitators and (iv) AVF self-management barriers.

DISCUSSION

The findings suggested that more attention needs to be paid to patients' and their family caregivers' support needs (e.g. fears, concerns, knowledge, adherence barriers and facilitators) regarding AVF self-management. The dyads seem to be aware of how to take care of the AVF; however, self-care behaviours still need to be improved.

CONCLUSION

Innovative interventions need to follow an interdisciplinary approach with an educational and support component. The integration of family caregivers should also be considered, since this study evidenced their lack of knowledge and skills, and willingness to participate in these initiatives.

Challenges, Facilitators, and Recommendations for Implementation of Home Dialysis in the Veterans Health Administration: Patient, Caregiver, and Clinician Perceptions

Background

Home dialysis confers similar survival and greater quality of life than in-center hemodialysis for adults with ESKD but remains underutilized. We examined challenges and facilitators to implementation of home dialysis and identified stakeholder-centered strategies for improving it.

Methods

We conducted a qualitative, cross-sectional, multisite evaluation that included five geographically dispersed Veterans Health Administration (VHA) home dialysis programs. Participants included patients with ESKD receiving home dialysis, their informal caregivers, and home dialysis staff. Semistructured telephone interviews were conducted and audio-recorded from 2017 through 2018, to assess perceived barriers and facilitators to patient home dialysis use in VHA. Transcribed interviews were analyzed thematically by each participant group.

Results

Participants included 22 patients receiving home dialysis (18 on peritoneal dialysis [PD] and four hemodialysis [HD]); 20 informal caregivers, and 19 home dialysis program staff. Ten themes emerged as challenges to implementing home dialysis, of which six (60%) spanned all groups: need for sterility, burden of home dialysis tasks, lack of suitable home environment, physical side effects of home dialysis, negative psychosocial effects of home dialysis, and loss of freedom. Four themes (40%), identified only by staff, were insufficient self-efficacy, diminished peer socialization, geographic barriers, and challenging health status. Twelve themes emerged as facilitators to implementing home dialysis, of which seven (58%) spanned all groups: convenience, freedom, avoidance of in-center HD, preservation of autonomy, adequate support, favorable disposition, and perceptions of improved health. Two themes (17%) common among patients and staff were adequate training and resources, and physical and cognitive skills for home dialysis. Recommendations to promote implementation of home dialysis common to all participant groups entailed incorporating mental health care services, offering peer-to-peer coaching, increasing home visits, providing health data feedback, and reducing patient burden.

Conclusions

Stakeholder-centered challenges were rigorously identified. Facilitators and recommendations can inform efforts to support home dialysis implementation.

Experience in Spain with the first patients in home hemodialysis treated with low-flow dialysate monitors

Home hemodialysis (HHD) with low-flow dialysate devices has gained popularity in recent years due to its simple design, portability, and ability to provide greater freedom of movement for our patients. However, there are doubts about the adequacy that this technology offers, since it uses monitors with low-flow bath and lactate. The aim of this study was to demonstrate the clinical benefits of low-flow HHD with the NxStage System One® recently introduced in Spain. We present the results of an observational, retrospective cohort study that included the first patients who started short daily HHD with this device in 12 Spanish centers. We analyzed the evolution of 86 patients at 0, 6 and 12 months, including data related to prescription, and evolution of biochemical parameters related to dialysis dose, anemia, mineral-bone metabolism; evolution of residual renal function, medication usage, and causes of withdrawal during the followup. We were able to demonstrate that this NxStage System One® monitor, in patients with HHD, have provided an adequate dialysis dose, with optimal ultrafiltration rate, with improvement of main biochemical markers of dialysis adequacy. The usage of this technique was associated to a decrease of antihypertensive drugs, phosphate binders and erythropoietin agents, with very good results both patient and technique survival. The simplicity of the technique, together with its good clinical outcomes, should facilitate the growth and utilization of HHD, both in incident and prevalent patients.

YouTube as a platform for knowledge and awareness of peritoneal dialysis: A content analysis

BACKGROUND

One of the main barriers to choosing peritoneal dialysis (PD) is the lack of awareness and PD knowledge. There is an increasing trend in the use of the internet as a search tool for health-related information. This study aims to determine how useful YouTube videos are to get information about PD.

METHODS

YouTube videos were evaluated independently by two nephrologists. The videos' quality was assessed with DISCERN scoring system, global quality score (GQS) and the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) scoring system. We determined the quartile (Q) of the videos as follows: most reliable top 25% videos Q1 and others Q2-4.

RESULTS

A total of 295 videos were evaluated. University or society-sourced videos made up 15% (n = 43) of all videos, and healthcare providers were the primary target audience compared to patients (p < 0.001). JAMA, GQS and DISCERN scores were significantly higher for the videos that were targeted healthcare providers compared to the patients (p < 0.001, for all). A total of 34% of the videos in Q1 were obtained from the university or society. Nevertheless, only 17% of the videos prepared for the patients were among the Q1. A small number of videos mentioned that PD maintains the residual kidney function (RKF) longer compared to haemodialysis.

CONCLUSIONS

Universities and societies should upload videos to provide easy-to-understand information on PD. Also, the important benefits of PD, like the preservation of RKF, should be further highlighted in these videos. It may increase the PD penetrance by increasing patients' awareness.

Scope and heterogeneity of outcomes reported in randomized trials in patients receiving peritoneal dialysis

BACKGROUND

Randomized trials can provide evidence to inform decision-making but this may be limited if the outcomes of importance to patients and clinicians are omitted or reported inconsistently. We aimed to assess the scope and heterogeneity of outcomes reported in trials in peritoneal dialysis (PD).

METHODS

We searched the Cochrane Kidney and Transplant Specialized Register for randomized trials in PD. We extracted all reported outcome domains and measurements and analyzed their frequency and characteristics.

RESULTS

From 128 reports of 120 included trials, 80 different outcome domains were reported. Overall, 39 (49%) domains were surrogate, 23 (29%) patient-reported and 18 (22%) clinical. The five most commonly reported domains were PD-related infection [59 (49%) trials], dialysis solute clearance [51 (42%)], kidney function [45 (38%)], protein metabolism [44 (37%)] and inflammatory markers/oxidative stress [42 (35%)]. Quality of life was reported infrequently (4% of trials). Only 14 (12%) trials included a patient-reported outcome as a primary outcome. The median number of outcome measures (defined as a different measurement, aggregation and metric) was 22 (interquartile range 13-37) per trial. PD-related infection was the most frequently reported clinical outcome as well as the most frequently stated primary outcome. A total of 383 different measures for infection were used, with 66 used more than once.

CONCLUSIONS

Trials in PD include important clinical outcomes such as infection, but these are measured and reported inconsistently. Patient-reported outcomes are infrequently reported and nearly half of the domains were surrogate. Standardized outcomes for PD trials are required to improve efficiency and relevance.

Understanding Home Hemodialysis Patient Attrition: A Cohort Study

Background:

Home hemodialysis (HHD) offers a flexible, patient-centered modality for patients with kidney failure. Growth in HHD is achieved by increasing the number of patients starting HHD and reducing attrition with strategies to prevent the modifiable reasons for loss.

Objective:

Our primary objective was to describe a Canadian HHD population in terms of technique failure and time to exit from HHD in order to understand reasons for exit. Our secondary objectives include the following: (1) determining reasons for training failure, (2) reasons for early exit from HHD, and (3) timing of program exit.

Design:

A retrospective cohort study of incident adult HHD patients between January 1, 2013—June 30, 2020.

Setting:

Alberta Kidney Care South, AKC-S HHD program.

Participants:

Patients who started training for HHD in AKC-S.

Methods:

A retrospective, cohort study of incident adult HHD patients with primary outcome time on home hemodialysis, secondary outcomes include reason for train failure, time to and reasons for technique failure. Cox-proportional hazard model to determine associations between patient characteristics and technique failure. The cumulative probability of technique failure over time was reported using a competing risks model.

Results:

A total of 167 patients entered HHD. Training failure occurred in 20 (12%), at 3.1 [2.0, 5.5] weeks; these patients were older (P < .001) and had 2 or more comorbidities (P < .001). Reasons for HHD exit after training included transplant (35; 21%), death (8; 4.8%), and technique failure (24; 14.4%). Overall, the median time to HHD exit, was 23 months [11, 41] and the median time of technique failure was 17 months [8.9, 36]. Reasons for technique failure included: psychosocial reasons (37%) at a median time 8.9 months [7.7, 13], safety (12.5%) at 19 months [19, 36], and medical (37.5%) at 26 months [11, 50].

Limitations:

Small patient population with quality of data limited by the electronic-based medical record and non-standardized definitions of reasons for exit.

Conclusions:

Training failure is a particularly important source of patient loss. Reasons for exit differ according to duration on HHD. Early interventions aimed at reducing train failure and increasing psychosocial supports may help program growth.

Anemia management for home dialysis including the new US public policy initiative

Patients with end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) requiring kidney replacement therapy are often treated in conventional dialysis centers at substantial cost and patient inconvenience. The recent United States Executive Order on Advancing American Kidney Health, in addition to focusing on ESKD prevention and reforming the kidney transplantation system, focuses on providing financial incentives to promote a shift toward home dialysis. In accordance with this order, a goal was set to have 80% of incident dialysis patients receiving home dialysis or a kidney transplant by 2025. Compared with conventional in-center therapy, home dialysis modalities, including both home hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis, appear to offer equivalent or improved mortality, clinical outcomes, hospitalization rates, and quality of life in patients with ESKD in addition to greater convenience, flexibility, and cost-effectiveness. Treatment of anemia, a common complication of chronic kidney disease, may be easier to manage at home with a new class of agents, hypoxia-inducible factor-prolyl hydroxylase inhibitors, which are orally administered in contrast to the current standard of care of i.v. iron and/or erythropoiesis-stimulating agents. This review evaluates the clinical, quality-of-life, economic, and social aspects of dialysis modalities in patients with ESKD, including during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic; explores new therapeutics for the management of anemia in chronic kidney disease; and highlights how the proposed changes in Advancing American Kidney Health provide an opportunity to improve kidney health in the United States.

Economic Impact of Home Hemodialysis

Home hemodialysis (HD) is growing in the United States, but the economics of the modality are largely unknown, especially considering the unique aspects of home HD in the United States . In this review, I focus on details of Medicare coverage, which directly applies to most patients on dialysis and influences the policies of private insurers. Key details in Medicare comprise the relationship between home dialysis training and initial Medicare eligibility, reimbursement for home HD training, coverage of additional HD treatments (ie., in excess of 3 treatments per week), and monthly capitated payments to nephrologists. The overarching narrative is that frequent home HD directly increases Medicare costs for outpatient dialysis, but these added costs can be mitigated by lower inpatient expenditures if increased HD treatment frequency lowers the risk of cardiovascular hospitalization and infection control is emphasized. I also review recent international literature; conventional home HD exhibits a superior cost profile, whereas frequent home HD is generally cost-effective over multiple treatment years (ie, if early technique failure is avoided). Out-of-pocket expenses for patients should be considered. The future economics of home HD in the United States will be determined by new equipment, new adaptations of the modality, and new payment models.

Innovations to Increase Home Hemodialysis Utilization: The Transitional Care Unit

A large proportion of patients undergoing incident dialysis start in-center hemodialysis with suboptimal preparation and predialysis education. Transitional care units deliver a structured program by dedicated staff, with less patient-to-staff ratios than in regular in-center dialysis care, with the goals of supporting the emotional and physical well-being of patients while providing them with education and equipping them with the right tools to start their journey on dialysis. Key components of these programs include an emphasis on patient activation and self-management, educating and supporting patients to make informed modality choices, timely coordination of care, and an integrated approach to formation and use of the dialysis access. While data are still limited on best practices and on outcomes of these programs at a large scale, endorsing the model of transitional care units is a step in the right direction to fill the gap in our current care system.

Strategic Planning for Starting or Expanding a Home Hemodialysis Program

The American Advancing Kidney Health Initiative has renewed interest in home hemodialysis (HHD). Many perceived barriers exist for adoption of HHD despite well-reported clinical benefits. A well-designed program ensures patient success further engaging more patients. The initial planning regarding the surrounding patient population, stakeholders, economics, and physical location is essential. The services offered including modality education and different kinds of HHD modalities depend on local expertise and economics. The program should fulfill conditions for coverage requirements for personnel, physical infrastructure, and quality metrics to begin operations. The patient recruitment is facilitated by a patient-centric modality education program developed by the multidisciplinary team. If the patient is interested, a training schedule should be discussed with the patient and caregiver. A system to ensure remote patient monitoring, respite care, and 24 hours on-call availability should be established. These practical considerations ensure initial success and future growth of the program.

Dietary Adherence, Self-Regulatory Fatigue and Trait Self-Control Among Chinese Patients with Peritoneal Dialysis: A Cross-Sectional Study

PURPOSE

Little is known about factors that predict dietary adherence among Chinese patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis. We investigated whether self-regulatory fatigue and trait self-control influence dietary adherence among Chinese patients with peritoneal dialysis.

METHODS

A total of 192 Chinese patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis were recruited at two peritoneal dialysis centers. The dietary adherence, trait self-control and self-regulatory fatigue of these patients were assessed using self-administered questionnaires. Clinical data were extracted from the hospital medical records. The significance of several social demographic factors on dietary adherence was analyzed using One-way ANOVA was used to analyze, whereas the association between dietary adherence and self-regulatory fatigue as well as trait self-control were analyzed using Pearson correlation. The independence association between dietary adherence and other influencing factors was assessed using Multivariable linear regression analyses.

RESULTS

We found that peritoneal dialysis patients only moderately adhere to dietary prescriptions. The top three least adherences were observed for salt intake (1.89±0.36), face of difficulty (2.86±0.26) and fluid restriction adherence intake (2.97±0.30). Multivariable linear regression analysis revealed that education level (β=0.339, P<0.001), residence (β=-0.151, P=0.015), self-regulatory fatigue (β= -0.648, P<0.001), and trait self-control (β=0.118, P=0.022) were independent predictors of dietary adherence.

CONCLUSION

Education level and residence strongly influence dietary adherence among Chinese peritoneal dialysis patients. On the other hand, Self-regulatory fatigue and trait self-control are independent predictors of dietary adherence among peritoneal dialysis patients. These findings can guide the enhancement of dietary adherence of peritoneal dialysis patients.

How do patients and their family members experience the transition from peritoneal dialysis to incentre haemodialysis? A multisite qualitative study in England and Australia

BACKGROUND

While numerous studies have explored the patient experience of dialysis or other end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) treatments, few have explored the process of transitioning between dialysis modalities. This study aimed to develop an in-depth understanding of patient and caregiver perceptions and experiences of the transition from peritoneal to haemodialysis (HD) and to identify ways in which transitions can be optimised.

METHODS

Fifty-four in-depth, semi-structured interviews were undertaken at six study sites across the West Midlands, UK (n = 23), and Queensland, Australia (n = 31). Thirty-nine participants were patients with ESKD; the remainder were family members. An inductive analytical approach was employed, with findings synthesised across sites to identify themes that transcended country differences.

RESULTS

Of the 39 patient transitions, only 4 patients reported a wholly negative transition experience. Three cross-cutting themes identified common transition experiences and areas perceived to make a difference to the treatment transition: resistance to change and fear of HD; transition experience shared with family; and bodily adjustment and sense of self.

CONCLUSION

Although each transition is unique to the individual and their circumstances, kidney care services could optimise the process by recognising these patient-led themes and developing strategies that engage with them. Kidney care services should consider ways to keep patients aware of potential future treatment options and present them objectively. There is potential value in integrating expert support before and during treatment transitions to identify and address patient and family concerns.

Barriers to Peritoneal Dialysis in Saskatchewan Canada: Results From a Province-Wide Survey

Background:

Peritoneal dialysis (PD) is an underutilized, therapeutic option to in-center hemodialysis (HD), given its similar survival and clinical efficacy but provides lifestyle benefits and cost savings. Despite these advantages, PD prevalence rates remains below 20% in many Canadian jurisdictions.

Objectives:

The primary objective of this study was to identify and assess patient-perceived barriers to PD implementation in Saskatchewan. The secondary objectives were to examine variations in patient-perceived barriers to PD by dialysis units (main dialysis units vs satellite dialysis units) and specific challenges faced by First Nation patients residing on reserves.

Design:

A cross-sectional observational survey study.

Setting:

Two major centers (Regina and Saskatoon) and 5 associated satellite units attached to each center across the province of Saskatchewan.

Patients:

We approached all prevalent in-center HD patients across Saskatchewan, 366 (49%) agreed to participate in the study.

Measurements:

Self-reported barriers to PD were assessed using a 26-question survey which was created after engagement of our multidisciplinary team.

Methods:

We conducted a cross-sectional survey of 740 prevalent in-center HD patients within the province of Saskatchewan, Canada, from June 2018 to January 2019. Around 366 (49%) patients agreed to participate in the study. The questionnaire was designed to capture patients’ perceived barriers to PD. Descriptive statistics were used to present the data. Chi-square and Mann-Whitney U-test were used to compare the patients’ responses (main dialysis units vs satellite dialysis units, and First Nation reserves vs nonreserves).

Results:

Of the 366 patients who completed the survey, 284 met the eligibility criteria and were included in the analysis. Patient-reported satisfaction with current in-center HD care was the most common barrier to PD uptake (92%), followed by proximity to their HD unit (61%). A lack of understanding of the benefits/risks of PD, fear of family burden (54% each), and unwillingness to dialyze daily and to learn a new technique (51% each) were additional factors. Patients residing on reserves compared to nonreserve residents felt PD had a higher risk of infection compared to HD (54% vs 34%, P = .005), and felt PD led to suboptimal care (47% vs 31%, P = .021).

Limitations:

We used a nonstandardized locally derived questionnaire to quantify barriers, and this prevents inclusion of additional barriers than individual patients may consider important. Cross-sectional data can only be used as a snapshot. Only 366 patients agreed to participate, and the results cannot be generalized to 740 prevalent HD patients. We did not capture data on demographics (age, income, and literacy level), comorbidities, and dialysis vintage, which would have been helpful in interpretation of the results. We did not involve patients, carers, or patients of First Nations heritage, in the design of the survey and the study.

Conclusions:

The results of our survey indicate that the major patient-reported barrier to PD uptake in our province is clinical inertia in patients defaulted to in-center HD at the onset of dialysis. Lack of patient awareness and knowledge of PD as a viable treatment modality also figured prominently, as did fears/concerns surrounding the safety, efficacy, and perceived family burden with PD compared with in-center HD.

Trial Registration:

The study was not registered on a publicly accessible registry because it did not involve any health care intervention on human participants.

Patient and caregiver perspectives on burnout in peritoneal dialysis

BACKGROUND

Peritoneal dialysis (PD) can offer patients more autonomy and flexibility compared with in-center hemodialysis (HD). However, burnout - defined as mental, emotional, or physical exhaustion that leads to thoughts of discontinuing PD - is associated with an increased risk of transfer to HD. We aimed to describe the perspectives of burnout among patients on PD and their caregivers.

METHODS

In this focus group study, 81 patients and 45 caregivers participated in 14 focus groups from 9 dialysis units in Australia, Hong Kong, and the United States. Transcripts were analyzed thematically.

RESULTS

We identified two themes. Suffering an unrelenting responsibility contributed to burnout, as patients and caregivers felt overwhelmed by the daily regimen, perceived their life to be coming to a halt, tolerated the PD regimen for survival, and had to bear the burden and uncertainty of what to expect from PD alone. Adapting and building resilience against burnout encompassed establishing a new normal, drawing inspiration and support from family, relying on faith and hope for motivation, and finding meaning in other activities.

CONCLUSIONS

For patients on PD and their caregivers, burnout was intensified by perceiving PD as an unrelenting, isolating responsibility that they had no choice but to endure, even if it held them back from doing other activities in life. More emphasis on developing strategies to adapt and build resilience could prevent or minimize burnout.