High ultrafiltration rate induced intradialytic hypotension is a predictor for cardiac remodeling: a 5-year cohort study

The effect of ascending- descending ultrafiltration and sodium profiles on blood pressure in hemodialysis patients: a randomized cross-over study

BACKGROUND

Considering no previous research into the utilization of ascending/descending ultrafiltration and linear sodium profiles in improving blood pressure among hemodialysis patients, the present study aimed to explore the effect of the A/D-UF along with linear sodium profiles on HD patients with hypotension.

METHODS

Applying a crossover design, this clinical trial was fulfilled between December 2022 and June 2023 on 20 patients undergoing HD, randomized into two groups, each one receiving two intervention protocols, viz., (a) an intervention protocol in which the liquid sodium in the dialysis solution was linear and the UF profiling was A/D, and (b) a routine protocol or HD, wherein both liquid sodium and UF in the dialysis solution remained constant. The HD patients' BP was then checked and recorded at six intervals, namely, before HD, one, two, three, and four hours after it, and following its completion, within each session. The data were further statistically analyzed using the IBM SPSS Statistics 20 and the related tests.

RESULTS

In total, 20 patients, including 12 men (60%) and 8 women (40%), with the mean age of 58.00 ± 14.54 on HD for an average of 54 months, were recruited in this study. No statistically significant difference was observed in the mean systolic and diastolic BP levels in the group receiving the A/D-UF profile all through the desired hours (p > 0.05), indicating that the patients did not face many changes in these two numbers during HD. Our cross-over clinical trial demonstrated a statistically significant reduction in symptomatic IDH episodes from 55 to 15% with the application of the A/D-UF profile (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

The study demonstrated that the A/D-UF profile could contribute to the stability of blood pressure levels among HD patients, with no significant fluctuations observed during treatment sessions.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

This study was registered in the Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials (no. IRCT20180429039463N5) on 07/01/2023.

Prevention of Intradialytic Hypotension in Hemodialysis Patients: Current Challenges and Future Prospects

Intradialytic hypotension, defined as rapid decrease in systolic blood pressure of greater than or equal to 20 mmHg or in mean arterial pressure of greater than or equal to 10 mmHg that results in end-organ ischemia and requires countermeasures such as ultrafiltration reduction or saline infusion to increase blood pressure to improve patient's symptoms, is a known complication of hemodialysis and is associated with several potential adverse outcomes. Its pathogenesis is complex and involves both patient-related factors such as age and comorbidities, as well as factors related to the dialysis prescription itself. Key factors include the need for volume removal during hemodialysis and a suboptimal vascular response which compromises the ability to compensate for acute intravascular volume loss. Inadequate vascular refill, incorrect assessment or unaccounted changes of target weight, acute illnesses and medication interference are further potential contributors. Intradialytic hypotension can lead to compromised tissue perfusion and end-organ damage, both acutely and over time, resulting in repetitive injuries. To address these problems, a careful assessment of subjective symptoms, minimizing interdialytic weight gains, individualizing dialysis prescription and adjusting the dialysis procedure based on patients' risk factors can mitigate negative outcomes.

High Ultrafiltration Rate Is Associated with Increased All-Cause Mortality in Incident Hemodialysis Patients with a High Cardiothoracic Ratio

A high ultrafiltration rate (UFR) is associated with increased mortality in hemodialysis patients. However, whether a high UFR itself or heart failure with fluid overload followed by a high UFR causes mortality remains unknown. In this study, 2615 incident hemodialysis patients were categorized according to their initial cardiothoracic ratios (CTRs) to assess whether UFR was associated with mortality in patients with high or low CTRs. In total, 1317 patients (50.4%) were women and 1261 (48.2%) were diabetic. During 2246 (1087−3596) days of follow-up, 1247 (47.7%) cases of all-cause mortality were noted. UFR quintiles 4 and 5 were associated with higher risks of all-cause mortality than UFR quintile 2 in fully adjusted Cox regression analysis. As the UFR increased by 1 mL/kg/h, the risk of all-cause mortality increased 1.6%. Subgroup analysis revealed that in UFR quintile 5, hazard ratios (HRs) for all-cause mortality were 1.91, 1.48, 1.22, and 1.10 for CTRs of >55%, 50−55%, 45−50%, and <45%, respectively. HRs for all-cause mortality were higher in women and patients with high body weight. Thus, high UFRs may be associated with increased all-cause mortality in incident hemodialysis patients with a high CTR, but not in those with a low CTR.

Proportion of Hemodialysis Treatments with High Ultrafiltration Rate and the Association with Mortality

Background

Rapid fluid removal during hemodialysis has been associated with increased mortality. The limit of ultrafiltration rate (UFR) monitored by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is 13 ml/kg per hour. It is not clear if the proportion of treatments with high UFR is associated with higher mortality. We examined the association of proportion of dialysis treatments with high UFR and mortality in end stage kidney failure patients receiving hemodialysis.

Methods

This was a retrospective study of incident patients initiating hemodialysis between January 1, 2010, and December 31, 2019, at Emory dialysis centers. The proportion of treatments with high UFR (>13 ml/kg per hour) per patient was calculated using data from the initial 3 months of dialysis therapy. Patients were categorized on the basis of quartiles of proportion of dialysis sessions with high UFR. Risk of death and survival probabilities were calculated and compared for all quartiles.

Results

Of 1050 patients eligible, the median age was 59 years, 56% were men, and 91% were Black. The median UFR was 6.5 ml/kg per hour, and the proportion of sessions with high UFR was 5%. Thirty-one percent of patients never experienced high UFR. Being a man, younger age, shorter duration of hemodialysis sessions, lower weight, diabetic status, higher albumin, and history of heart failure were associated with a higher proportion of sessions with high UFR. Patients in the higher quartile (26% dialysis with high UFR, average UFR 9.8 ml/kg per hour, median survival of 5.6 years) had a higher risk of death (adjusted hazard ratio 1.54; 95% CI, 1.13 to 2.10) compared with those in the lower quartile (0% dialysis with high UFR, average UFR 4.7 ml/kg per hour, median survival 8.8 years).

Conclusions

Patients on hemodialysis who did not experience frequent episodes of elevated UFR during the first 3 months of their dialysis tenure had a significantly lower risk of death compared with patients with frequent episodes of high UFR.