Modifying Dialysis to Increase Longevity

New data suggest that optimizing practice patterns for patients receiving hemodialysis for chronic kidney disease may reduce hospitalization and allow patients to live longer. The data were presented at the annual conference of the American Society of Nephrology in San Diego (CA, USA).

Laboratory values for many hemodialysis patients remain outside of established clinical practice guidelines. Patients whose hemoglobin level is within the guidelines show improved survival rates and lower risk of being hospitalized. Control of phosphorus and calcium in the blood is important for patient survival. The use of hemodialysis catheters for access to circulation during dialysis has increased and is connected with a greater risk of infections, poorer anemia control, and decreased longevity. International results on medication use reveal that longevity can be improved through the increased use of multivitamins and aspirin in patients with cardiovascular disease. On average, dialysis patients are 60 years old, and U.S. patients have a life expectancy of 4.3 years after beginning dialysis.

These results were provided by an ongoing study of hemodialysis patients in more than 300 facilities in 12 countries, called Dialysis Outcomes and Practice Patterns Study (DOPPS), coordinated by research scientists and staff of the University Renal Research and Education Association (URREA; www.urrea.org). The study aims to identify dialysis practices that promote longer lives, reduce hospital stays, and improve the quality of life for patients. To date, data have been collected on more than 80,000 hemodialysis patients.

"The ultimate goal of the DOPPS is to improve the longevity and quality of life for the more than 900,000 hemodialysis patients around the world,” said Dr. Friedrich K. Port, University of Michigan (Ann Arbor, USA), principal investigator for DOPPS and president of URREA. "The numerous findings from the DOPPS are timely and relevant to health care providers, policy makers, and patients around the world.”