Open AccessSuboptimal dialysis initiation is associated with comorbidities and uraemia progression rate but not with estimated glomerular filtration rate
Author(s) -
James Heaf,
Maija Heiro,
Aivars Pētersons,
Baiba Vernere,
Johan Vestergaard Povlsen,
Anette Bagger Sørensen,
Naomi Clyne,
Inga Arūnė Bumblytė,
Alanta Žilinskienė,
Else Randers,
Niels Løkkegaard,
Mai Ots-Rosenberg,
Stig Arne Kjellevold,
Jan Kampmann,
Björn Rogland,
Inger Lagreid,
Olof Heimbürger,
Bengt Lindholm
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
clinical kidney journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.033
H-Index - 40
eISSN - 2048-8513
pISSN - 2048-8505
DOI - 10.1093/ckj/sfaa041
Subject(s) - medicine , renal function , comorbidity , dialysis , kidney disease , incidence (geometry) , nephrology , peritoneal dialysis , intensive care medicine , optics , physics
Background Despite early referral of uraemic patients to nephrological care, suboptimal dialysis initiation (SDI) remains a common problem associated with increased morbimortality. We hypothesized that SDI is related to pre-dialysis care. Methods In the ‘Peridialysis’ study, time and reasons for dialysis initiation (DI), clinical and biochemical data and centre characteristics were registered during the pre- and peri-dialytic period for 1583 end-stage kidney disease patients starting dialysis over a 3-year period at 15 nephrology departments in the Nordic and Baltic countries to identify factors associated with SDI. Results SDI occurred in 42%. Risk factors for SDI were late referral, cachexia, comorbidity (particularly cardiovascular), hypoalbuminaemia and rapid uraemia progression. Patients with polycystic renal disease had a lower incidence of SDI. High urea and C-reactive protein levels, acidosis and other electrolyte disorders were markers of SDI, independently of estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). SDI patients had higher eGFR than non-SDI patients during the pre-dialysis period, but lower eGFR at DI. eGFR as such did not predict SDI. Patients with comorbidities had higher eGFR at DI. Centre practice and policy did not associate with the incidence of SDI. Conclusions SDI occurred in 42% of all DIs. SDI was associated with hypoalbuminaemia, comorbidity and rate of eGFR loss, but not with the degree of renal failure as assessed by eGFR.