Cardiac Remodelling in Patients Undergoing in-Centre Nocturnal Haemodialysis: Results from the MIDNIGHT Study, a Non-Randomized Controlled Trial

Evidence suggests extended-hours haemodialysis (HD) may improve cardiovascular, medical and quality-of-life outcomes. In-centre nocturnal haemodialysis (INHD) is an established but underutilized method of providing extended-hours treatment. This 6-month, non-randomized controlled trial (ISRCTN16672784) recruited 13 INHD patients and 12 control patients on conventional HD. The effects of treatment on left ventricular (LV) structure, function and myocardial fibrosis were assessed using cardiac magnetic resonance imaging and native T1 mapping. Quality-of-life and clinical measures were also collected. INHD led to significant reductions in LV mass (-14.75 vs. +6.54 g; p = 0.02), global T1 (-30.62 vs. 0.4 ms; p = 0.05) and non-septal native T1 values (-30.93 vs. 8.96 ms; p = 0.02) over time. There were also significant improvements in serum phosphate (-0.39 vs. +0.02 mmol/L; p = 0.03) and reductions in ultrafiltration rates (-2.32 vs. +0.70 mL/h/kg p = 0.05) between INHD and controls. Six-months of INHD was associated with favourable LV remodelling and reduced myocardial fibrosis compared to patients on conventional haemodialysis.