Interdialytic Weight Gain: Trends, Predictors, and Associated Outcomes in the International Dialysis Outcomes and Practice Patterns Study (DOPPS)

Background High interdialytic weight gain (IDWG) is associated with adverse outcomes in hemodialysis (HD) patients. We identified temporal and regional trends in IDWG, predictors of IDWG, and associations of IDWG with clinical outcomes. Study Design Analysis 1: sequential cross-sections to identify facility- and patient-level predictors of IDWG and their temporal trends. Analysis 2: prospective cohort study to assess associations between IDWG and mortality and hospitalization risk. Setting & Participants 21,919 participants on HD therapy for 1 year or longer in the Dialysis Outcomes and Practice Patterns Study (DOPPS) phases 2 to 5 (2002-2014). Predictors Analysis 1: study phase, patient demographics and comorbid conditions, HD facility practices. Analysis 2: relative IDWG, expressed as percentage of post-HD weight (<0%, 0%-0.99%, 1%-2.49%, 2.5%-3.99% [reference], 4%-5.69%, and ≥5.7%). Outcomes Analysis 1: relative IDWG as a continuous variable using linear mixed models; analysis 2: mortality; all-cause and cause-specific hospitalization using Cox regression, adjusting for potential confounders. Results From phase 2 to 5, IDWG declined in the United States (−0.29 kg; −0.5% of post-HD weight), Canada (−0.25 kg; −0.8%), and Europe (−0.22 kg; −0.5%), with more modest declines in Japan and Australia/New Zealand. Among modifiable factors associated with IDWG, the most notable was facility mean dialysate sodium concentration: every 1-mEq/L greater dialysate sodium concentration was associated with 0.13 (95% CI, 0.11-0.16) greater relative IDWG. Compared to relative IDWG of 2.5% to 3.99%, there was elevated risk for mortality with relative IDWG ≥ 5.7% (adjusted HR, 1.23; 95% CI, 1.08-1.40) and elevated risk for fluid-overload hospitalization with relative IDWG ≥ 4% (HRs of 1.28 [95% CI, 1.09-1.49] and 1.64 [95% CI, 1.27-2.13] for relative IDWGs of 4%-5.69% and ≥5.7%, respectively). Limitations Possible residual confounding. No dietary salt intake data. Conclusions Reductions in IDWG during the past decade were partially explained by reductions in dialysate sodium concentration. Focusing quality improvement strategies on reducing occurrences of high IDWG may improve outcomes in HD patients.