Predialysis nephrologic care and a functioning arteriovenous fistula at entry are associated with better survival in incident hemodialysis patients: an observational cohort study.
BACKGROUND
Late nephrologist referral may adversely affect outcome in patients initiating maintenance hemodialysis therapy, mostly with temporary catheters that may further increase morbidity and mortality. Our aim was to evaluate the influence of 2 variables on mortality: presentation mode (planned versus unplanned) and type of access (arteriovenous fistula [AVF] versus temporary catheter) at entry.


METHODS
This was a 3-center, 5-year, prospective, observational, cohort study of 538 incident patients. Measurements included presentation mode, type of access, renal function and biochemical test results at entry, and stratification of risk groups. Main outcome measures were mortality and hospitalization.


RESULTS
Of 281 planned patients (52%), 73% initiated therapy with an AVF. Of 257 unplanned patients (48%), 70% initiated therapy with a catheter (P < 0.001). Multivariate Cox analysis showed that unplanned presentation (hazard ratio [HR], 1.73; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.23 to 2.44) and initiation of therapy with catheter (HR, 1.75; 95% CI, 1.25 to 2.46) were independently associated with greater mortality and similar HRs after adjusting for confounders. At 12 months, the number of deaths was 3 times higher in both the unplanned versus planned groups and catheter versus AVF groups. The joint effect of unplanned dialysis initiation and catheter use had an additive impact on mortality (HR, 2.89; 95% CI, 1.97 to 4.22). Greater hematocrit (HR, 1.04; 95% CI, 1.01 to 1.09) and albumin level (HR, 1.79; 95% CI, 1.37 to 2.33) showed an independent association with survival, underscoring the benefits of predialysis care. Using Poisson regression, all-cause hospitalization (incidence rate ratio, 1.56; 95% CI, 1.36 to 1.79; P < 0.001) and infection-related (incidence rate ratio, 2.62; 95% CI, 1.91 to 3.59; P < 0.001) and vascular access-related (incidence rate ratio, 1.49; 95% CI, 1.15 to 1.94; P < 0.003) admissions were higher in unplanned patients initiating therapy with a catheter than in planned patients initiating therapy with an AVF, after adjusting for confounders.


CONCLUSIONS
Unplanned dialysis initiation and temporary catheter were independently associated with greater mortality rates in incident patients. The combined influence of both variables was associated with greater morbidity and mortality than either variable alone.
Lorenzo
Vctor
V
Nephrology Section, Hospital Universitario de Canarias, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain. lorenzovictor@terra.es
Martn
Marisa
M
Rufino
Margarita
M
Hernández
Domingo
D
Torres
Armando
A
Ayus
Juan Carlos
JC
D000368:Aged; D001166:Arteriovenous Shunt, Surgical / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D002404:Catheterization / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D002423:Cause of Death; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009017:Morbidity; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D006435:Renal Dialysis / Q000379:methods*; D016019:Survival Analysis