Changing ethnic and clinical trends and factors associated with successful home haemodialysis at Auckland District Health Board

BACKGROUND

The health and diversity of the population in New Zealand (NZ) is changing under the influence of many socio-economic factors. This may have shifted the landscape of home haemodialysis (HHD).

AIMS

To examine the demographic and clinical changes, determinants of HHD training and technique outcome and mortality between 2008 and 2015 at Auckland District Health Board, NZ.

METHODS

We compared three incident cohorts of HHD patients between 2008 and 2015. Relevant factors, including demographic and clinical characteristics, training failure, technique failure and mortality were recorded. Factors associated with training and technique failure were examined by multivariate logistic regression.

RESULTS

Of 152 patients, 133 completed training, 13 (10%) experienced technique failure and 15 (11%) died. Significant changes in ethnicity (increased: Māori 1.7-fold, Asian 1.7-fold and Pasifika 1.4-fold; decreased: NZ European 2.7-fold, P = 0.001), and major comorbidities, ≥2 major comorbidities (1.8-fold increase, P = 0.03), diabetes (2.1-fold increase, P = 0.013) and heart failure (P = 0.04) were seen. HHD as first renal replacement therapy modality increased 15-fold (P = 0.0001) and training time increased by 4.5 weeks (P = 0.004). Death and technique failure were unchanged over time. Shorter training time, employment and lower C-reactive protein were associated with 'Successful HHD'. 'Unsuccessful HHD' patient characteristics differed by ethnicity.

CONCLUSIONS

The HHD population has become more representative of the NZ population, but significantly more comorbid over time. Patient training time has increased, but mortality and technique failure remain stable. 'Successful HHD' is predicted by social and clinical factors, and 'unsuccessful HHD' may have different mechanisms in different patient groups.