Indication for Dialysis Initiation and Mortality in Patients With Chronic Kidney Failure: A Retrospective Cohort Study

Matthew B. Rivara, Chang Huei Chen, Anupama Nair, Denise Cobb, Jonathan Himmelfarb, Rajnish Mehrotra

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

38 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background Initiation of maintenance dialysis therapy for patients with chronic kidney failure is a period of high risk for adverse patient outcomes. Whether indications for dialysis therapy initiation are associated with mortality in this population is unknown. Study Design Retrospective cohort study. Setting & Participants 461 patients who initiated dialysis therapy (hemodialysis, 437; peritoneal dialysis, 24) from January 1, 2004, through December 31, 2012, and were treated in facilities operated by a single dialysis organization. Follow-up for the primary outcome was through December 31, 2013. Predictor Clinically documented primary indication for dialysis therapy initiation, as categorized into 4 groups: laboratory evidence of kidney function decline (reference category), uremic symptoms, volume overload or hypertension, and other/unknown. Outcomes All-cause mortality. Results During a median follow-up of 2.4 years, 183 (40%) patients died. Crude mortality rates were 10.0 (95% CI, 6.8-14.7), 12.7 (95% CI, 10.2-15.7), 21.7 (95% CI, 16.4-28.6), and 12.2 (95% CI, 6.8-14.7) deaths/100 patient-years among patients initiating dialysis therapy primarily for laboratory evidence of kidney function decline, uremic symptoms, volume overload or hypertension, and other/unknown reason, respectively. Following adjustment for demographic variables, coexisting illnesses, and estimated glomerular filtration rate, initiation of dialysis therapy for uremic symptoms, volume overload or hypertension, or other/unknown reasons was associated with 1.12 (95% CI, 0.72-1.77), 1.69 (95% CI, 1.02-2.80), and 1.28 (95% CI, 0.73-2.26) times higher risk, respectively, for subsequent mortality compared to initiation for laboratory evidence of kidney function decline. Limitations Possibility of residual confounding by unmeasured variables; reliance on clinical documentation to ascertain exposure. Conclusions Patients initiating dialysis therapy due to volume overload may have increased risk for mortality compared with patients initiating dialysis due to laboratory evidence of kidney function decline. Further studies are needed to identify and test interventions that might reduce this risk.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)41-50
Number of pages10
JournalAmerican Journal of Kidney Diseases
Volume69
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Jan 2017
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • End-stage renal disease (ESRD)
  • all-cause mortality
  • chronic kidney failure
  • clinical decision making
  • dialysis initiation
  • hemodialysis
  • hypertension
  • incident ESRD
  • indications for renal replacement therapy
  • peritoneal dialysis
  • symptoms
  • uremic symptoms
  • volume overload

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