Depressed mood, usual activity level, and continued employment after starting dialysis

Employment rates for working-age patients receiving hemodialysis increasing: Changing economic environment

INTRODUCTION

This study explored employment trends among working-age patients undergoing hemodialysis using 5-year surveys from 1996 to 2021. Policy changes affecting individuals with disabilities, the economic environment, and employment status among the general population in Japan were considered. Differences in trends by gender and health status were examined.

METHODS

Employment status was categorized into employment and nonemployment; and regular, nonregular, and self. Analytical data with similar characteristics were generated over the six surveys using the propensity score method.

RESULTS

The employment rate, especially among women, increased from 1996 to 2021. However, the employment rate ratio to the general population was approximately 80% for men and 50% for women, even in 2021. The employment rate increased with an expansion in nonregular employment. Women's employment trends could be explained by changes in real gross domestic product and employment quotas for individuals with disabilities.

CONCLUSION

Employment trends differ by gender and by regular versus nonregular employment.

Education and employment outcomes in pediatric chronic kidney disease

As outcomes and survival for children with chronic kidney disease (CKD) have improved over the last 30 years, there is an emerging need to characterize and understand later educational and employment outcomes across the spectrum of pediatric CKD severity-ranging from mild CKD to requirement for dialysis and kidney transplantation. Although large-scale research on the topic of long-term educational and employment outcomes in the pediatric CKD population is relatively scarce, the existing literature does support that children across the spectrum of CKD severity are at risk for education-related difficulties including chronic school absenteeism. These education-related difficulties are compounded by well-described neurocognitive deficits-particularly in the domain of executive functioning-that may potentially perpetuate the risk for academic underachievement. This is particularly concerning given that data from the general pediatric population suggest that childhood academic underachievement is associated with higher likelihood of un-/underemployment in adulthood. This review highlights what is known about educational and employment outcomes among persons with a history of childhood CKD, as well as suggestions for interventions to improve educational outcomes for this population.

Patient-Centered Quality Measures for Dialysis Care: A Report of a Kidney Disease Outcomes Quality Initiative (KDOQI) Scientific Workshop Sponsored by the National Kidney Foundation

Providing high-quality patient-centered care is the central mission of dialysis facilities. Assessing quality and patient-centeredness of dialysis care is necessary for continuous dialysis facility improvement. Based predominantly on readily measured items, current quality measures in dialysis care emphasize biochemical and utilization outcomes, with very few patient-reported items. Additionally, current metrics often do not account for patient preferences and may compromise patient-centered care by limiting the ability of providers to individualize care targets, such as dialysis adequacy, based on patient priorities rather than a fixed numerical target. Developing, implementing, and maintaining a quality program using readily quantifiable data while also allowing for individualization of care targets that emphasize the goals of patients and their care partners provided the motivation for a September 2022 Kidney Disease Outcomes Quality Initiative (KDOQI) Workshop on Patient-Centered Quality Measures for Dialysis Care. Workshop participants focused on 4 questions: (1) What are the outcomes that are most important to patients and their care partners? (2) How can social determinants of health be accounted for in quality measures? (3) How can individualized care be effectively addressed in population-level quality programs? (4) What are the optimal means for collecting valid and robust patient-reported outcome data? Workshop participants identified numerous gaps within the current quality system and favored a conceptually broader, but not larger, quality system that stresses highly meaningful and adaptive measures that incorporate patient-centered principles, individual life goals, and social risk factors. Workshop participants also identified a need for new, low-burden tools to assess patient goals and priorities.

Kidney Health Plan 2033 in Korea: bridging the gap between the present and the future

In response to the increase in the prevalence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in Korea, the growth of patients requiring renal replacement therapy and the subsequent increase in medical costs, the rapid expansion of patients with end-stage kidney disease (ESKD), and the decrease in patients receiving home therapy, including peritoneal dialysis, the Korean Society of Nephrology has proclaimed the new policy, Kidney Health Plan 2033 (KHP 2033). KHP 2033 would serve as a milestone to bridge the current issues to a future solution by directing the prevention and progression of CKD and ESKD, particularly diabetic kidney disease, and increasing the proportion of home therapy, thereby reducing the socioeconomic burden of kidney disease and improving the quality of life. Here, we provide the background for the necessity of KHP 2033, as well as the contents of KHP 2033, and enlighten the Korean Society of Nephrology's future goals. Together with patients, healthcare providers, academic societies, and national policymakers, we need to move forward with goal-oriented drive and leadership to achieve these goals.

Depression among patients with chronic kidney disease, associated factors, and predictors: a cross-sectional study

BACKGROUND

Depression with diverse etiologies is exacerbated by chronic diseases, such as chronic kidney disease (CKD), coronary artery disease (CAD), cancer, diabetes mellitus, and hypertension. This study aimed to analyse depression, its associations, and predictors among patients attending the kidney clinic of a teaching hospital.

METHODS

Data were collected from 01 August 2017 to 30 September 2017 via face-to-face interviews and examination of the medical records of a convenience sample of 314 patients. The patients were categorised broadly as stages I and II with an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) > 60 mls/min/1.73 m2, and with stages III, IV, and V or GFR ≤ 60 mls/ min/1.73 m2 (or CKD). The Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ)-9 was the data collection instrument for depression-related data.

RESULTS

Participants were predominantly male (n = 179; 57.0%), aged over 60 years (n = 211; 67.2%), Indo-Trinbagonian (n = 237; 75.5%), and with stages III, IV, and V CKD. The two leading comorbid conditions were hypertension (83.4%) and diabetes mellitus (56.1%). Of the 261 (83.1%) patients with recorded eGFR, 113 (43.3%) had Stage III CKD. The mean depression (PHQ-9) score was 13.0/27 (±9.15), with 306 (97.5%) patients diagnosed as having depression with the following severities: mild (n = 116; 37.9%), moderate (n = 138, 45.1%), moderately severe (n = 38; 12.4%), and severe (n = 14; 4.6%). Depression was independent of sex. Nine sociodemographic variables were associated with depression; however, 'level of education', was the only predictor of depression with greater severity associated with lower levels of education. eGFR was negatively correlated with the PHQ-9 scores (Pearson's correlation, r = -0.144, p = 0.022). At least 78.3% of the patients who self-reported no depression had clinical depression (moderate, moderately severe, or severe) PHQ-9 scores ≥ 10.

CONCLUSION

Depression was a significant comorbidity among patients with CKD, with the majority displaying clinical depression. "Level of education" was the only predictor of depression. Self-reported depression is an unreliable method for evaluating clinical depression.

How Are Albertans "Adjusting to and Coping With" Dialysis? A Cross-Sectional Survey

Background:

Depression and anxiety are commonly reported (40% and 11%-52%) among adults receiving dialysis, compared with ~10% among all Canadians. Mental health in dialysis care is underrecognized and undertreated.

Objective:

(1) To describe preferences for mental health support reported by Albertans receiving dialysis; (2) to compare depression, anxiety, and quality-of-life (QOL) domains for people who would or would not engage in support for mental health; and (3) to explore sociodemographic, mental health, and QOL domains that explain whether people would or would not engage in support for mental health.

Design:

A cross-sectional survey.

Setting:

Alberta, Canada.

Patients:

Adults receiving all modalities of dialysis (N = 2972).

Measurements:

An online survey with questions about preferences for mental health support and patient-reported outcome measures (Patient Health Questionnaire–9 [PHQ-9], Generalized Anxiety Disorder–7 [GAD-7], and Kidney Disease QOL Instrument–36 [KDQOL-36]).

Methods:

To address objectives 1 and 2, we conducted chi-square tests (for discrete variables) and t tests (for continuous variables) to compare the distributions of the above measures for two groups: Albertans receiving dialysis who would engage or would not engage in support for mental health. We subsequently conducted a series of binary logistic regressions guided by the purposeful variable selection approach to identify a subset of the most relevant explanatory variables for determining whether or not people are more likely to engage in support for mental health (objective 3). To further explain differences between the two groups, we analyzed open-text comments following a summative content analysis approach.

Results:

Among 384 respondents, 72 did not provide a dialysis modality or answer the PHQ-9. The final data set included responses from 312 participants. Of these, 59.6% would consider engaging in support, including discussing medication with a family doctor (72.1%) or nephrologist (62.9%), peer support groups (64.9%), and talk therapy (60%). Phone was slightly favored (73%) over in person at dialysis (67.6%), outpatient (67.2%), or video (59.4%). Moderate to severe depressive symptoms (PHQ-9 score ≥10) was reported by 33.4%, and most respondents (63.9%) reported minimal anxiety symptoms; 36.1% reported mild to severe anxiety symptoms (GAD-7 score ≥5). The mean (SD) PHQ-9 score was 8.9 (6.4) for those who would engage in support, and lower at 5.8 (4.8) for those who would not. The mean (SD) GAD-7 score was 5.2 (5.6) for those who would engage in support and 2.8 (4.1) for those who would not. In the final logistic regression model, people who were unable to work had 2 times the odds of engaging in support than people who are able to work. People were also more likely to engage in support if they had been on dialysis for fewer years and had lower (worse) mental health scores (odds ratios = 1.06 and 1.38, respectively). The final model explained 15.5% (Nagelkerke R²) of the variance and with 66.6% correct classification. We analyzed 146 comments in response to the question, “Is there anything else you like to tell us.” The top 2 categories for both groups were QOL and impact of dialysis environment. The third category differed: those who would engage wrote about support, whereas those who would not engage wrote about “dialysis is the least of my worries.”

Limitations:

A low response rate of 12.9% limits representativeness; people who chose not to participate may have different experiences of mental health.

Conclusions:

Incorporating patients’ preferences and willingness to engage in support for mental health will inform future visioning for person-centered mental health care in dialysis.

Peritoneal Dialysis for Potential Kidney Transplant Recipients: Pride or Prejudice?

Kidney transplantation (KT) is recognized as the gold-standard of treatment for patients with end-stage renal disease. Additionally, it has been demonstrated that receiving a pre-emptive KT ensures the best recipient and graft survivals. However, due to an overwhelming discrepancy between the organs available and the patients on the transplant waiting list, the vast majority of transplant candidates require prolonged periods of dialysis before being transplanted. For many years, peritoneal dialysis (PD) and hemodialysis (HD) have been considered competitive renal replacement therapies (RRT). This dualistic vision has recently been questioned by evidence suggesting that an individualized and flexible approach may be more appropriate. In fact, tailored and cleverly planned changes between different RRT modalities, according to the patient’s needs and characteristics, are often needed in order to achieve the best results. While home HD is still under scrutiny in this particular setting, current data seems to favor the use of PD over in-center HD in patients awaiting a KT. In this specific population, the demonstrated advantages of PD are superior quality of life, longer preservation of residual renal function, lower incidence of delayed graft function, better recipient survival, and reduced cost.

Assessment of cerebral oxygenation response to hemodialysis using near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS): Challenges and solutions

To date, the clinical use of functional near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) to detect cerebral ischemia has been largely limited to surgical settings, where motion artifacts are minimal. In this study, we present novel techniques to address the challenges of using NIRS to monitor ambulatory patients with kidney disease during approximately eight hours of hemodialysis (HD) treatment. People with end-stage kidney disease who require HD are at higher risk for cognitive impairment and dementia than age-matched controls. Recent studies have suggested that HD-related declines in cerebral blood flow might explain some of the adverse outcomes of HD treatment. However, there are currently no established paradigms for monitoring cerebral perfusion in real-time during HD treatment. In this study, we used NIRS to assess cerebral hemodynamic responses among 95 prevalent HD patients during two consecutive HD treatments. We observed substantial signal attenuation in our predominantly Black patient cohort that required probe modifications. We also observed consistent motion artifacts that we addressed by developing a novel NIRS methodology, called the HD cerebral oxygen demand algorithm (HD-CODA), to identify episodes when cerebral oxygen demand might be outpacing supply during HD treatment. We then examined the association between a summary measure of time spent in cerebral deoxygenation, derived using the HD-CODA, and hemodynamic and treatment-related variables. We found that this summary measure was associated with intradialytic mean arterial pressure, heart rate, and volume removal. Future studies should use the HD-CODA to implement studies of real-time NIRS monitoring for incident dialysis patients, over longer time frames, and in other dialysis modalities.

Employment of patients with kidney failure treated with dialysis or kidney transplantation-a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Patients with kidney failure treated with dialysis or kidney transplantation experience difficulties maintaining employment due to the condition itself and the treatment. We aimed to establish the rate of employment before and after initiation of dialysis and kidney transplantation and to identify predictors of employment during dialysis and posttransplant.

METHODS

This systematic review and meta-analysis were carried out according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines for studies that included employment rate in adults receiving dialysis or a kidney transplant. The literature search included cross-sectional or cohort studies published in English between January 1966 and August 2020 in the PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases. Data on employment rate, study population, age, gender, educational level, dialysis duration, kidney donor, ethnicity, dialysis modality, waiting time for transplantation, diabetes, and depression were extracted. Quality assessment was performed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Meta-analysis for predictors for employment, with odds ratios and confidence intervals, and tests for heterogeneity, using chi-square and I2 statistics, were calculated. PROSPERO registration number: CRD42020188853.

RESULTS

Thirty-three studies included 162,059 participants receiving dialysis, and 31 studies included 137,742 participants who received kidney transplantation. Dialysis patients were on average 52.6 years old (range: 16-79; 60.3% male), and kidney transplant patients were 46.7 years old (range: 18-78; 59.8% male). The employment rate (weighted mean) for dialysis patients was 26.3% (range: 10.5-59.7%); the employment rate was 36.9% pretransplant (range: 25-86%) and 38.2% posttransplant (range: 14.2-85%). Predictors for employment during dialysis and posttransplant were male, gender, age, being without diabetes, peritoneal dialysis, and higher educational level, and predictors of posttransplant: pretransplant employment included transplantation with a living donor kidney, and being without depression.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with kidney failure had a low employment rate during dialysis and pre- and posttransplant. Kidney failure patients should be supported through a combination of clinical and social measures to ensure that they remain working.

Kidney failure, status passage, and the transitional nature of living with the disease: A qualitative study in Argentina

The span of kidney failure (KF) has been extended by advances in treatment. To elucidate the lived experiences of people with KF, we draw on Glaser and Strauss's theory of status passage. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 50 patients with KF and 14 health professionals, from two healthcare facilities in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The theory informed on the temporal dimensions of people's passages and dimensions related to what actors know of this passage. We described the status passage as a sequence of transitions (starting dialysis, receiving a transplant, returning to dialysis) that have devastating effects on patient's roles, and are accompanied with fear and experience of wasting time. Temporal aspects were crucial and planning was useless; indeed, timing of statuses was uncertain. With a transplant, certain roles and capacities could be regained. Some patients were not aware of the chronic nature of the disease and the ultimate reversibility of the transplant. Control over the passage was minimal because of the unpredictable prognosis of the disease but patients employed strategies to regain it. Control was even more limited for people who migrated to receive a treatment; whose lives were completely altered. Status passage theory signaled the overwhelming impact of the passage on all aspects of people's lives, the uncertainty of the transitions, lack of control and awareness of essential aspects, and unexpected aspects of desirability, adding to our understanding of how people experience this disease and its treatments.

Association between Financial Hardship and Symptom Burden in Patients Receiving Maintenance Dialysis: A Systematic Review

BACKGROUND

Many patients on maintenance dialysis experience financial hardship. Existing studies are mainly cost analyses that quantify financial hardship in monetary terms, but an evaluation of its impact is also warranted. This review aims to explore the definition of financial hardship and its relationship with symptom burden among patients on dialysis.

METHODS

A literature search was conducted in November 2020, using six electronic databases. Studies published in English that examined the associations between financial hardship and symptom burden were selected. Two reviewers independently extracted data and appraised the studies by using the JBI Critical Appraisal Checklists.

RESULTS

Fifty cross-sectional and seven longitudinal studies were identified. Studies used income level, employment status, healthcare funding, and financial status to evaluate financial hardship. While relationships between decreased income, unemployment, and overall symptom burden were identified, evidence suggested that several symptoms, including depression, fatigue, pain, and sexual dysfunction, were more likely to be associated with changes in financial status.

CONCLUSION

Our findings suggest that poor financial status may have a negative effect on physical and psychological well-being. However, a clear definition of financial hardship is warranted. Improving this assessment among patients on dialysis may prompt early interventions and minimize the negative impact of financial hardship.

Perspectives on ability to work from patients' receiving dialysis and caregivers: analysis of data from the global SONG initiative

BACKGROUND

Patients receiving dialysis have low employment rates, which compounds poorer health and socioeconomic outcomes. Reasons for under- and unemployment remain underexplored. We aimed to describe the perspectives of patients receiving hemodialysis (HD) or peritoneal dialysis (PD) and their caregivers on ability to work.

METHODS

Data was derived from adult patients' and caregivers' responses from 26 focus groups, two international Delphi surveys and two consensus workshops conducted through the Standardized Outcomes in Nephrology (SONG-HD) and SONG-PD programs. Our secondary thematic analysis identified concepts around ability to work.

RESULTS

Five hundred four patients and 146 caregivers from 86 countries were included. We identified five themes: financial pressures and instability (with subthemes of rationing the budget with increased expenditure, losing financial independence and threatened job security); struggling to meet expectations (burdened by sociocultural norms and striving to protect independence); contending with upheaval of roles and responsibilities (forced to establish a new routine to accommodate work, symptoms disrupting work, prioritizing work and other duties, and adjusting to altered capacity to work); enabling flexibility and control (employment driving decisions about dialysis modality and schedule, workplace providing occupational safety and adaptability, requiring organizational support and planning for a future career); and finding purpose and value (accepting and redefining identity, pride and fulfillment, and protecting mental well-being).

CONCLUSIONS

Employment enabled patients to maintain their identity, independence, financial security and mental health. Symptom burden, workplace inflexibility and juggling roles are major challenges. Interventions addressing motivation, workplace flexibility and safety, and establishing goals and routines could support patients' capacities to work, thereby improving overall well-being and productivity.

Health-Related Quality of Life, Depressive Symptoms, and Kidney Transplant Access in Advanced CKD: Findings From the Chronic Renal Insufficiency Cohort (CRIC) Study

Rationale & Objective

Among individuals with chronic kidney disease (CKD), poor self-reported health is associated with adverse outcomes including hospitalization and death. We sought to examine the association between health-related quality-of-life (HRQoL) and depressive symptoms in advanced CKD and subsequent access to the kidney transplant waiting list.

Study Design

Prospective cohort study.

Setting & Population

1,676 Chronic Renal Insufficiency Cohort (CRIC) study participants with estimated glomerular filtration rates ≤ 30 mL/min/1.73 m² at study entry or during follow-up.

Exposures

HRQoL ascertained by 5 scales of the Kidney Disease Quality of Life-36 Survey (Physical Component Summary [PCS], Mental Component Summary, Symptoms, Burdens, and Effects), with higher scores indicating better HRQoL, and depressive symptoms ascertained using the Beck Depression Inventory.

Outcomes

Time to kidney transplant wait-listing and time to pre-emptive wait-listing.

Analytic Approach

Time-to-event analysis using Cox proportional hazards regression.

Results

During a median follow-up of 5.1 years, 652 (39%) participants were wait-listed, of whom 304 were preemptively wait-listed. Adjusted for demographics, comorbid conditions, estimated glomerular filtration rate slope, and cognitive function, participants with the highest scores on the Burden and Effects scales, respectively, had lower rates of wait-listing than those with the lowest scores on the Burden (wait-listing adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 0.70; 95% CI, 0.57-0.85; P < 0.001) and Effects scales (wait-listing aHR, 0.74; 95% CI, 0.59-0.92; P = 0.007). Participants with fewer depressive symptoms (ie, Beck Depression Inventory score < 14) had lower wait-listing rates than those with more depressive symptoms (aHR, 0.81; 95% CI, 0.66-0.99; P = 0.04). Participants with lower Burden and Effects scale scores and those with higher Symptoms and PCS scores had higher pre-emptive wait-listing rates (aHR in highest tertile of PCS relative to lowest tertile, 1.58; 95% CI, 1.12-2.23; P = 0.01).

Limitations

Unmeasured confounders.

Conclusions

Self-reported health in late-stage CKD may influence the timing of kidney transplantation.

Physical Activity versus Sclerostin and Interleukin 6 Concentration in Patients Receiving Renal Replacement Therapy by Hemodialysis

Introduction

Chronic kidney disease and renal replacement therapy are associated with reduced motor activity, which may result in the presence of mineral bone disorders and an increase in inflammation markers. The aim of the study was to assess the relationship between the performance of daily physical activity, expressed in the number of steps performed by patients undergoing hemodialysis and the concentration of selected biochemical parameters (SCL, IL-6).

Patients and Methods

The study group (B) involved 33 patients aged 59.8 ± 9.8 years from the dialysis station at the Department of Nephrology, Transplantology and Internal Medicine PUM. In group B, interventions considering an increase in physical activity expressed in the number of steps were introduced. Group C consisted of 30 people aged 54.9 (9.37), with GFR over 60 mL/min/1.73m. Physical activity was measured with pedometers. Anthropometric and biochemical parameters were assessed at baseline, after the third and sixth month of the study. Descriptive statistics, intergroup comparisons using Mann–Whitney U test and Spearman correlation analysis were performed. The level of significance was set at p≤0.005.

Results

A relationship between IL-6 concentration and the number of steps in group B after three months of intervention was demonstrated. In group C, the concentration of SCL and IL-6 decreased with the increase in the number of steps taken. Only in group C the waist circumference decreased with the increase of the number of steps performed.

Conclusion

Patients receiving renal replacement therapy by hemodialysis showed significantly lower physical activity compared to people without kidney disease. Performing bigger number of steps can lower interleukin 6 levels in hemodialysis patients.

Exercise interventions improve depression and anxiety in chronic kidney disease patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis

PURPOSE

This systematic review examined the effects of exercise interventions on depression and anxiety in chronic kidney disease patients.

METHODS

Electronic searches were conducted between August 2019 and February 2020 at PubMed, MEDLINE, Web of Science, EBSCO, Scopus, LILACS, EMBASE, Physiotherapy Evidence Database, and Cochrane Library databases. Original clinical trial studies that examined the effects of exercise on depression and anxiety in chronic kidney disease patients, stages 3-5, were included. A total of eight studies were included in the systematic review after applying the eligibility criteria, and six studies used for the meta-analysis procedures.

RESULTS

The meta-analysis demonstrated statistical difference on depression in favour to exercise when compared to active control (SMD = - 0.66 [- 1.00, - 0.33], p < 0.0001) and passive control (MD = - 6.95 [- 8.76, - 5.14], p < 0.00001). Same results on anxiety demonstrated statistical difference between exercise and active control (SMD = - 0.78 [- 1.21, - 0.34], p = 0.0004).

CONCLUSION

From the current limited number and quality of published studies, exercise seems to be more effective than sedentary control and other active control groups for improving depression and anxiety symptoms in chronic kidney disease patients.

Kidney Dyads: Caregiver Burden and Relationship Strain Among Partners of Dialysis and Transplant Patients

BACKGROUND

Caring for dialysis patients is difficult, and this burden often falls on a spouse or cohabiting partner (henceforth referred to as caregiver-partners). At the same time, these caregiver-partners often come forward as potential living kidney donors for their loved ones who are on dialysis (henceforth referred to as patient-partners). Caregiver-partners may experience tangible benefits to their well-being when their patient-partner undergoes transplantation, yet this is seldom formally considered when evaluating caregiver-partners as potential donors.

METHODS

To quantify these potential benefits, we surveyed caregiver-partners of dialysis patients and kidney transplant (KT) recipients (N = 99) at KT evaluation or post-KT. Using validated tools, we assessed relationship satisfaction and caregiver burden before or after their patient-partner's dialysis initiation and before or after their patient-partner's KT.

RESULTS

Caregiver-partners reported increases in specific measures of caregiver burden (P = 0.03) and stress (P = 0.01) and decreases in social life (P = 0.02) and sexual relations (P < 0.01) after their patient-partner initiated dialysis. However, after their patient-partner underwent KT, caregiver-partners reported improvements in specific measures of caregiver burden (P = 0.03), personal time (P < 0.01), social life (P = 0.01), stress (P = 0.02), sexual relations (P < 0.01), and overall quality of life (P = 0.03). These improvements were of sufficient impact that caregiver-partners reported similar levels of caregiver burden after their patient-partner's KT as before their patient-partner initiated dialysis (P = 0.3).

CONCLUSIONS

These benefits in caregiver burden and relationship quality support special consideration for spouses and partners in risk-assessment of potential kidney donors, particularly those with risk profiles slightly exceeding center thresholds.

Changes in employment status prior to initiation of maintenance hemodialysis in the USA from 2006 to 2015

BACKGROUND

Hemodialysis (HD) patients have high unemployment rates associated with higher mortality and poor quality of life. Changes in employment status prior to dialysis initiation may predict subsequent patient outcomes. We sought to examine US national trends in employment status prior to and at HD initiation, risk factors for job loss and their association with transplantation and mortality.

METHODS

Employment was defined as working full-time or part-time for 496 989 patients initiating maintenance HD from 2006 to 2015. Associations between patient and dialysis facility characteristics and employment change were analyzed using multivariable logistic regression. Cox regression was used to assess job loss with mortality and transplantation.

RESULTS

About 26% (n = 129 622) of patients were employed 6 months prior compared with 15% (n = 75 719) at HD initiation. Employment rates 6 months prior to HD initiation decreased from 29% in 2006 to 23% in 2014. Employed patients who maintained employment increased from 57% in 2006 to 64% in 2015. Patients who were older, female, Hispanic, Black, with more comorbidities or living in low-income zip codes were less likely to maintain employment. Facility characteristics associated with employment maintenance included nonprofit status, more stations, dialysis availability after 5 p.m. and home dialysis training. Patients maintaining employment during the 6 months prior to HD had lower mortality and higher transplantation rates than patients who became unemployed.

CONCLUSIONS

Employment rates among HD patients are low and employment changes common during the 6 months prior to HD. Maintaining employment status was associated with key patient and facility characteristics, kidney transplantation and survival.

Opinions of hemodialysis and peritoneum patients regarding depression and psychological problems which they experience: A qualitative study

BACKGROUND

Dialysis are the treatment modalities that affect the quality of life. The objective of this qualitative study is to reveal how hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis patients perceive depression and psychological problems which they experience.

METHODS

An interpretative phenomenological analysis approach, as espoused by Smith and Osborn provided the framework for this study. The study was performed in hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis units of a university hospital. 10 adult hemodialysis patients and 10 adult peritoneal dialysis patients, selected. In-depth, semi-structured, face-to-face interviews were held with the patients. All interviews were digitally recorded and subjected to qualitative analysis after transcription.

RESULTS

Analysis revealed themes suggesting that hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis patients frequently experienced depression as well as psychological problems such as decreased social support, burnout, despair, and anxiety.

CONCLUSIONS

It was concluded as a result of this study that the prolonged hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis process negatively affected patients with chronic kidney disorders.

Icodextrin Versus Glucose Solutions for the Once-Daily Long Dwell in Peritoneal Dialysis: An Enriched Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

RATIONALE & OBJECTIVE

The efficacy and safety of icodextrin versus glucose-only peritoneal dialysis (PD) regimens is unclear. The aim of this study was to compare once-daily long-dwell icodextrin versus glucose among patients with kidney failure undergoing PD.

STUDY DESIGN

Systematic review of randomized controlled trials (RCTs), enriched with unpublished data from investigator-initiated and industry-sponsored studies.

SETTING & STUDY POPULATIONS

Individuals with kidney failure receiving regular PD treatment enrolled in clinical trials of dialysate composition.

SELECTION CRITERIA FOR STUDIES

Medline, Embase, CENTRAL, Ichushi Web, 10 Chinese databases, clinical trials registries, conference proceedings, and citation lists from inception to November 2018. Further data were obtained from principal investigators and industry clinical study reports.

DATA EXTRACTION

2 independent reviewers selected studies and extracted data using a prespecified extraction instrument.

ANALYTIC APPROACH

Qualitative synthesis of demographics, measurement scales, and outcomes. Quantitative synthesis with Mantel-Haenszel risk ratios (RRs), Peto odds ratios (ORs), or (standardized) mean differences (MDs). Risk of bias of included studies at the outcome level was assessed using the Cochrane risk-of-bias tool for RCTs.

RESULTS

19 RCTs that enrolled 1,693 participants were meta-analyzed. Ultrafiltration was improved with icodextrin (medium-term MD, 208.92 [95% CI, 99.69-318.14] mL/24h; high certainty of evidence), reflected also by fewer episodes of fluid overload (RR, 0.43 [95% CI, 0.24-0.78]; high certainty). Icodextrin-containing PD probably decreased mortality risk compared to glucose-only PD (Peto OR, 0.49 [95% CI, 0.24-1.00]; moderate certainty). Despite evidence of lower peritoneal glucose absorption with icodextrin-containing PD (medium-term MD, -40.84 [95% CI, -48.09 to-33.59] g/long dwell; high certainty), this did not directly translate to changes in fasting plasma glucose (-0.50 [95% CI, -1.19 to 0.18] mmol/L; low certainty) and hemoglobin A_1c levels (-0.14% [95% CI, -0.34% to 0.05%]; high certainty). Safety outcomes and residual kidney function were similar in both groups; health-related quality-of-life and pain scores were inconclusive.

LIMITATIONS

Trial quality was variable. The follow-up period was heterogeneous, with a paucity of assessments over the long term. Mortality results are based on just 32 events and were not corroborated using time-to-event analysis of individual patient data.

CONCLUSIONS

Icodextrin for once-daily long-dwell PD has clinical benefit for some patients, including those not meeting ultrafiltration targets and at risk for fluid overload. Future research into patient-centered outcomes and cost-effectiveness associated with icodextrin is needed.

Association of incident dialysis modality with mortality: a protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials and cohort studies

BACKGROUND

At least 2.6 million adults and children receive dialysis treatment for end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) worldwide. The large majority of these receive hemodialysis (HD), while the remaining receive peritoneal dialysis (PD). Peritoneal dialysis may be associated with similar mortality outcomes as HD, and patient-reported outcomes are potentially increased with PD. Existing evidence for the mortality associated with PD was summarized over 20 years ago, and there has been greater marginal improvement in survival with PD relative to HD since that time. It is therefore timely to reexamine the question of differential mortality by modality and summarize evidence from more contemporary practice settings.

METHODS/DESIGN

Electronic databases will be systematically searched for publications that report the association between dialysis modality (HD or PD) with death from any cause and cause-specific death in incident patients with end-stage kidney disease. The database searches will be supplemented by searching through citations and references and consultation with experts. Studies published before 1995 will be excluded. Screening of both titles and abstracts will be done by two independent reviewers. All disagreements will be resolved by an independent third reviewer. A quantitative meta-analysis of effect sizes and standard errors will be applied.

DISCUSSION

Our systematic review will update previous evidence summaries and provide a quantitative and standardized assessment of the contemporary literature comparing HD and PD including published and unpublished non-English studies from greater China, Taiwan, and Japan. This review will inform shared decision-making around initial dialysis modality choice and jurisdiction-level considerations of dialysis practice.

SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION

PROSPERO CRD42018111829.

Functional Status in Hemodialysis - A Comparative Study with FIM, ADLQ and 7D5L Instruments

There is only limited information on the functional status (FS) of patients receiving hemodialysis (HD) from developing countries where the etiology of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and demographic profile are different. The study aims to assess the FS in patients with CKD using three validated generic instruments. A total of 116 adult patients on HD with a dialysis vintage >3 months were enrolled. FS was assessed using three generic tools – Functional Independence Measure (FIM) (scores 18–126), Seven domains and five levels (7D5L) (scores 0–28), and Activities of Daily Living Questionnaire (ADLQ) (scores 0–6) scales. A higher FIM and ADLQ scores and lower 7D5L score indicated good FS. The mean age of patients was 41.28 ± 15.44 years. About 77.6% were males and 80.2% were unemployed. About 67.2% were receiving twice-weekly HD, and 28.4% were receiving thrice-weekly dialysis. The mean scores were 119.05 ± 11.42 with FIM, 6.44 ± 4.26 with 7D5L, and 5.51 ± 1.19 with ADL instruments. More than 80% showed full functional independence with ADLQ instrument. With FIM, the overall scores showed a tendency for functional independence, but the subdomains involving locomotion/mobility were impaired to a greater extent. The proportion of patients with full independence was less with 7D5L. We observed an inferior FS in individuals <40 years. Patients on HD were functionally independent as assessed by FIM and ADLQ instruments. However, 7D5L appeared to be better in identifying mild to moderate limitations in daily activities. The domains involving motor tasks seem to be affected to a greater extent. The current scales for assessing FS do not incorporate a time-dependent component.

The Effect of Peritoneal Dialysis on Labor Market Outcomes Compared with Institutional Hemodialysis

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study is to compare the impact of peritoneal dialysis (PD) and institutional hemodialysis (IHD), the 2 most common dialysis modalities, on employment, work income, and disability pension in Sweden.

METHODS

Included in this study were 4,734 patients in IHD and PD, aged 20 - 60 years, starting treatment in Sweden during 1995 - 2012, and surviving the first year of dialysis therapy. Both "intention to treat" and "on treatment" analyses were performed by including transplant patients into the former and censoring them at the date of transplant in the latter analysis. A reduced bias treatment effect of PD vs IHD on labor market outcomes was estimated while accounting for non-random selection into treatment.

RESULTS

Peritoneal dialysis was found to be associated with a 4-percentage-point increased probability of employment compared with IHD in the "on treatment" analysis. Also, PD was associated with a reduced disability pension by 6 percentage points, as well as increased work income (EUR 3,477 for employed) compared with IHD during the first year of treatment. The "intention to treat" analysis tended to give higher effect sizes compared with "on treatment."

CONCLUSIONS

The results indicate that PD is associated with a treatment advantage over IHD in terms of increased employment, work income, and reduced disability pension in the Swedish population after controlling for non-random selection into treatment.

Low employment and low willingness of being reemployed in Chinese working-age maintained hemodialysis patients

AIM

Returning to society plays an important role in improving the quality of life in maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) patients, and retention of employment is one of the core enablers. The study is to assess the employment status and to determine the variables for unemployment in Chinese MHD patients.

METHODS

Prevalent MHD patients from four dialysis centers in Shanghai China were enrolled. We assessed patients' employment status, current social functioning, hemodialysis modality, annual income and general health condition. Among current unemployed working-age patients, the reasons of quitting jobs and willingness of being reemployed were evaluated.

RESULTS

A total of 231 patients were studied, among which 114 patients were unemployed 1 year before hemodialysis. Among 117 employed patients, 16 patients quitted jobs before dialysis inception, while 49 patients quitted jobs at the initiation of HD, and 26 patients followed after a few months' HD. The main reasons for ceasing employment were physical insufficiency, conflict between dialysis and work schedules, lack of support from employers and resistance from family members. Among the 166 patients who were in their working age, 26 patients were employed. The unemployed patients had the characters of elder age, lower education level, higher annual family income, higher female ratio, lower blood flow, lower physical functioning, and social functioning and lower frequency of weekend hemodialysis and HDF/HF. Among the 140 unemployed patients, only 47 patients had the willingness of being reemployed. Their unemployment status was positively associated with elder age ((OR) 3.13, 95% CI, 1.08-9.1), lower education level ((OR) 1.97, 95% CI, 1.05-5.92), and higher family income ((OR) 7.75, 95% CI, 2.49-24.14).

CONCLUSION

Ratio of employment and willingness of being reemployed was low in MHD working-age patients. Lack of social and family's support also hampered patient's returning to society except for the HD treatment quality.

Depressive affect in incident hemodialysis patients

Background

The prevalence of depressive affect is not well defined in the incident hemodialysis (HD) population. We investigated the prevalence of and associated risk factors and hospitalization rates for depressive affect in incident HD patients.

Methods

We performed a prospective investigation using the Patient Health Questionnaire 2 (PHQ2) depressive affect assessment. From January to July of 2013 at 108 in-center clinics randomly selected across tertiles of baseline quality measures, we contacted 577 and 543 patients by telephone for depressive affect screening. PHQ2 test scores range from 0 to 6 (scores  ≥3 suggest the presence of depressive affect). The prevalence of depressive affect was measured at 1–30 and 121–150 days after initiating HD; depressive affect risk factors and hospitalization rates by depressive affect status at 1–30 days after starting HD were computed.

Results

Of 1120 contacted patients, 340 completed the PHQ2. In patients screened at 1–30 or 121–150 days after starting HD, depressive affect prevalence was 20.2% and 18.5%, respectively (unpaired t-test, P = 0.7). In 35 patients screened at both time points, there were trends for lower prevalence of depressive affect at the end of incident HD, with 20.0% and 5.7% of patients positive for depressive affect at 1–30 and 121–150 days, respectively (paired t-test, P = 0.1). Hospitalization rates were higher in patients with depressive affect during the first 30 days, exhibiting 1.5 more admissions (P < 0.001) and 10.5 additional hospital days (P = 0.008) per patient-year. Females were at higher risk for depressive affect at 1–30 days (P = 0.01).

Conclusions

The prevalence of depressive affect in HD patients is high throughout the incident period. Rates of hospital admissions and hospital days are increased in incident HD patients with depressive affect.

Vocational activity and health insurance type among patients with end-stage renal disease: association with outcomes

It is widely thought that patients with end-stage renal disease who remain vocationally active and/or commercially insured following dialysis initiation have better clinical outcomes and higher quality of life than those who do not. However, scientifically robust data are lacking. Here, we examined whether vocational status (active, N = 1848; inactive, N = 10,001) and, separately, insurance status (commercial, N = 4858; Medicare/self-pay, N = 13,329; Medicaid, N = 3528) were associated with clinical outcomes and Kidney Disease Quality of Life (KDQOL) scores among a cohort of patients who initiated dialysis at a large US dialysis organization during 2015-2016. Outcomes were considered from the day after index (31 days after dialysis initiation for vocational status and 1 day after initiation for insurance status) until the earliest of death, discontinuation of dialysis, transplant, loss to follow-up, or end of study (30 September 2016). Comparisons were made using intention-to-treat principles and generalized linear models adjusted for imbalanced patient characteristics, including sociodemographic variables. Vocational inactivity (vs. vocational activity) was independently associated with higher rates of mortality and hospitalization, lower rates of transplant, and lower KDQoL scores in 4 of 5 domains. Similar trends were observed when comparing Medicare/self-pay or Medicaid insurance to commercial insurance. Vocational activity, and separately, commercial insurance, were independently associated with better clinical and quality of life outcomes compared to other insurance and vocational categories. These findings may inform patient and physician education, and guide advocacy efforts.

The Economic Burden of Chronic Kidney Disease and End-Stage Renal Disease

The growing prevalence and progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD) raises concerns about our capacity to manage its economic burden to patients, caregivers, and society. The societal direct and indirect costs of CKD and end-stage renal disease are substantial and increase throughout disease progression. There is significant variability in the evidence about direct and indirect costs attributable to CKD and end-stage renal disease, with the most complete evidence concentrated on direct health care costs of patients with advanced to end-stage CKD. There are substantial gaps in evidence that need to be filled to inform clinical practice and policy.

Patient-perceived barriers to a screening program for depression: a patient opinion survey of hemodialysis patients

Background

Depression is a prevalent, yet underdiagnosed, psychiatric disorder among patients with end-stage renal disease. Active case identification through routine screening is suggested; however, patient-related barriers may reduce the effectiveness of screening for, and treating, depression. This study aimed to explore the perceived barriers that limit patients from participating in screening and treatment programs for depression.

Methods

In a cross-sectional study of chronic maintenance hemodialysis patients, the Perceived Barriers to Psychological Treatment questionnaire, adapted to include screening, was used to measure perceived barriers. The two-item Patient Health Questionnaire was used to identify patients with depressive symptoms.

Results

Of 160 participants, 73.1% reported at least one barrier preventing them from participation [95% confidence interval (95% CI) 66.2–80.0%]. Patients with depressive symptoms were more likely to perceive at least one barrier to a screening program for depression compared with those without depressive symptoms (96% versus 68.9%, respectively; odds ratio = 10.8; 95% CI 1.4–82.8; P = 0.005). The association of the barrier scores with depressive symptoms remained significant after adjustment for patient’s characteristics. The most common barriers that patients expressed were concerns about the side effects of any antidepressant medications that may be prescribed (40%), concerns about having more medications (32%), feeling that the problem is not severe enough (23%) and perceiving no risk of depression (23%).

Conclusions

Negative perceptions about depression and its treatment among hemodialysis patients constitute an important barrier to identifying this condition and first need to be addressed before implementing a screening program in this population.

Ability to Work among Patients with ESKD: Relevance of Quality Care Metrics

Enabling patient ability to work was a key rationale for enacting the United States (US) Medicare program that provides financial entitlement to renal replacement therapy for persons with end-stage kidney disease (ESKD). However, fewer than half of working-age individuals in the US report the ability to work after starting maintenance hemodialysis (HD). Quality improvement is a well-established objective in oversight of the dialysis program, but a more patient-centered quality assessment approach is increasingly advocated. The ESKD Quality Incentive Program (QIP) initiated in 2012 emphasizes clinical performance indicators, but a newly-added measure requires the monitoring of patient depression—an issue that is important for work ability and employment. We investigated depression scores and four dialysis-specific QIP measures in relation to work ability reported by a multi-clinic cohort of 528 working-age maintenance HD patients. The prevalence of elevated depression scores was substantially higher among patients who said they were not able to work, while only one of the four dialysis-specific clinical measures differed for patients able/not able to work. Ability to work may be among patients’ top priorities. As the parameters of quality assessment continue to evolve, increased attention to patient priorities might facilitate work ability and employment outcomes.

Family income is associated with quality of life in patients with chronic kidney disease in the pre-dialysis phase: a cross sectional study

BACKGROUND

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a condition of high prevalence in the general population mainly due to hypertension and diabetes mellitus. It is often associated with a high prevalence of complications and worse quality of life. The main objective of this study is to evaluate quality of life (QOL) using the generic instrument SF-36 in patients with CKD in pre-dialysis and identify the possible influence of the degree of renal function, hemoglobin level, age, gender, family income and level of education on QOL.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was conducted and included 170 individuals (83 men) with a mean age of 57 ± 15 years who met the inclusion criteria and answered the SF-36. Laboratory tests and clinical and demographic data were obtained, and the glomerular filtration rate was estimated using the CKD-EPI formula.

RESULTS

The degree of renal function did not influence QOL. Women had lower scores in functional capacity, physical aspects, pain, and mental health. Patients younger than 47 years old showed better QOL in the functional capacity; however, their QOL was worse in terms of social aspects. Subjects with an income higher than 5.1 times the minimum wage had better QOL in the functional capacity, pain, social, physical and emotional roles, and mental health. Hemoglobin levels and education did not globally influence QOL.

CONCLUSION

Gender and age influenced QOL, but family income was the most important factor affecting QOL (6 out of 8 domains investigated by SF-36) in this sample of 170 individuals with CKD in pre-dialysis. These findings suggest that many efforts should be made to reduce the effect of these factors on quality of life in patients with CKD and reinforce the need for longitudinal studies and intervention.

Functional Dependence and Mortality in the International Dialysis Outcomes and Practice Patterns Study (DOPPS)

BACKGROUND

Patients receiving long-term dialysis have among the highest mortality and hospitalization rates. In the nonrenal literature, functional dependence is recognized as a contributor to subsequent disability, recurrent hospitalization, and increased mortality. A higher burden of functional dependence with progressive worsening of kidney function has been observed in several studies, suggesting that functional dependence may contribute to both morbidity and mortality in dialysis patients.

STUDY DESIGN

Prospective cohort study.

SETTING & PARTICIPANTS

7,226 hemodialysis patients from 12 countries in the DOPPS (Dialysis Outcomes and Practice Patterns Study) phase 4 (2009-2011) with self-reported data for functional status.

PREDICTOR

Patients' ability to perform 13 basic and instrumental activities of daily living was summarized to create an overall functional status score (range, 1.25 [most dependent] to 13 [functionally independent]).

OUTCOME

Cox regression was used to estimate the association between functional status and all-cause mortality, adjusting for several demographic and clinical risk factors for mortality. Median follow-up was 17.2 months.

RESULTS

The proportion of patients who could perform each activity of daily living task without assistance ranged from 97% (eating) to 47% (doing housework). 36% of patients could perform all 13 tasks without assistance (functional status = 13), and 14% of patients had high functional dependence (functional status < 8). Functionally independent patients were younger and had many indicators of better health status, including higher quality of life. Compared with functionally independent patients, the adjusted HR for mortality was 2.37 (95% CI, 1.92-2.94) for patients with functional status < 8.

LIMITATIONS

Possible nonresponse bias and residual confounding.

CONCLUSIONS

We found a high burden of functional dependence across all age groups and across all DOPPS countries. When adjusting for several known mortality risk factors, including age, access type, cachexia, and multimorbidity, functional dependence was a strong consistent predictor of mortality.

Daily physical activity and physical function in adult maintenance hemodialysis patients

BACKGROUND

Maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) patients reportedly display reduced daily physical activity (DPA) and physical performance. Low daily physical activity and decreased physical performance are each associated with worse outcomes in chronic kidney disease patients. Although daily physical activity and physical performance might be expected to be related, few studies have examined such relationships in MHD patients, and methods for examining daily physical activity often utilized questionnaires rather than activity monitors. We hypothesized that daily physical activity and physical performance are reduced and correlated with each other even in relatively healthier MHD patients.

METHODS

Daily physical activity, 6-min walk distance (6-MWT), sit-to-stand, and stair-climbing tests were measured in 72 MHD patients (32 % diabetics) with limited comorbidities and 39 normal adults of similar age and gender mix. Daily physical activity was examined by a physical activity monitor. The human activity profile was also employed.

RESULTS

Daily physical activity with the activity monitor, time-averaged over 7 days, and all three physical performance tests were impaired in MHD patients, to about 60-70 % of normal values (p < 0.0001 for each measurement). Human activity profile scores were also impaired (p < 0.0001). MHD patients spent more time sleeping or in marked physical inactivity (p < 0.0001) and less time in ≥ moderate activity (p < 0.0001). These findings persisted when comparisons to normals were restricted to men or women separately. After adjustment, daily physical activity correlated with 6-MWT but not the two other physical performance tests. Human activity profile scores correlated more closely with all three performance tests than did DPA.

CONCLUSIONS

Even in relatively healthy MHD patients, daily physical activity and physical performance are substantially impaired and correlated. Whether training that increases daily physical activity or physical performance will improve clinical outcome in MHD patients needs to be examined.

Association of co-occurring serious mental illness with emergency hospitalization in people with chronic kidney disease

BACKGROUND/AIMS

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) and serious mental illness (SMI) are both associated with an increased risk for repeated hospitalization. The objective of this study was to determine if co-occurring SMI exacerbates the risk for subsequent hospitalization, particularly through the emergency department (ED), among people with CKD.

METHODS

People hospitalized in Washington State from April 2006 to December 2008 were separated into cohorts with diagnoses of CKD (n = 31,166), SMI (defined by schizophrenia and/or mood disorder; n = 20,167) or CKD with co-occurring SMI (n = 717), and a reference cohort without either diagnosis (n = 548,532). Main outcomes were rehospitalization for condition(s) other than mental illness: (1) through the ED; (2) any admission, and (3) admission resulting in death. Cox regression was used to analyze time to main outcomes controlling for prespecified covariates associated with rehospitalization.

RESULTS

The risk of rehospitalization via the ED was increased for people with CKD (hazard ratio, HR = 1.24, 95% confidence interval, CI = 1.21-1.28, p < 0.001) and co-occurring SMI (HR = 1.33, 95% CI = 1.29-1.38, p < 0.001) cohorts, but was significantly greater in the combined cohort (HR = 1.55, 95% CI = 1.40-1.73, p < 0.001). Similarly, the risk of any rehospitalization was increased for CKD (HR = 1.21, 95% CI = 1.17-1.25, p < 0.001) and co-occurring SMI (HR = 1.14, 95% CI = 1.11-1.17, p < 0.001) cohorts, while a significantly greater risk was observed for the combined cohort (HR = 1.36, 95% CI = 1.24-1.48, p < 0.001). The risk of rehospitalization resulting in death was not significantly increased in the combined cohort.

CONCLUSION

In people with CKD, co-occurring SMI increased the risk of experiencing rehospitalization, particularly through the ED. Studies of strategies to address SMI in the CKD population are needed to mitigate the risk of repeat hospital admissions.

PD First: peritoneal dialysis as the default transition to dialysis therapy

Peritoneal dialysis (PD) and in-center hemodialysis (HD) are accepted as clinically equivalent dialysis modalities, yet in-center HD is the predominant renal replacement therapy (RRT) modality offered to new end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients in the United States and most other industrialized nations. This predominance has little to do with clinical outcomes, patient choice, cost, or quality of life. It has been driven by ease of HD initiation, physician experience and training, inadequate pre-ESRD patient education, ample in-center HD capacity, and lack of adequate infrastructure for PD-related care. As compared with in-center HD, PD is a widely applicable, yet underutilized modality of RRT that provides comparable clinical outcomes, superior quality of life measures, significant cost savings, and many other unmeasured advantages. A "PD First" approach not only has advantages for patients but also physicians, healthcare systems, and society. In this review, we will summarize evidence demonstrating that PD should be the default modality when new ESRD patients are transitioning to dialysis therapy when preemptive transplantation is not an option and highlight the essential infrastructural requirements to allow for a "PD First" model.

Barriers to exercise participation among dialysis patients

BACKGROUND

Physical inactivity is a strong predictor of mortality in patients with end-stage renal disease and is associated with poor physical functioning. Patients with end-stage renal disease are inactive even compared to sedentary individuals without kidney disease. We sought to identify patient barriers to physical activity.

METHODS

Adult patients on hemodialysis in the San Francisco Bay Area were recruited and asked to complete a study survey composed of questions about self-reported level of physical functioning, physical activity participation, patient physical activity preference and barriers to physical activity. Univariate and multivariable linear regression analyses were performed to study the association between barriers to physical activity and participation in physical activity.

RESULTS

A total of 100 patients participated in the study, the majority of whom were male (73%), with a mean age of 60 ± 15 years. Twenty-seven percent identified themselves as white, 30% black and 21% Hispanic. The majority of participants strongly agreed that a sedentary lifestyle was a health risk (98%) and that increasing exercise was a benefit (98%). However, 92% of participants reported at least one barrier to physical activity. The most commonly reported barriers were fatigue on dialysis days and non-dialysis days (67 and 40%, respectively) and shortness of breath (48%). In multivariate analysis, a greater number of reported barriers was associated with lower levels of physical activity (P < 0.02). Post-dialysis fatigue was not associated with differences in activity level in multivariate analysis. Lack of motivation was associated with less physical activity. Endorsement of too many medical problems and not having enough time on dialysis days were also associated with less activity in adjusted analysis.

CONCLUSION

We have identified a number of barriers to physical activity that can be addressed in studies aimed at increasing levels of physical activity. Inconsistent with nephrologists' reported assumptions, dialysis patients were interested in physical activity.