Accurate dry weight assessment: reducing the incidence of hypertension and cardiac disease in patients on hemodialysis.
Hypertension is a major cause of cardiac disease in patients on hemodialysis (HD) and is most commonly due to hypervolemia. Removal of excess water during HD can successfully normalize blood pressure, but its success depends on an accurate assessment of dry weight. This article reviews the literature concerning hypertension in patients on HD and proposes that increased attention by dialysis staff to assessing dry weight may reduce the incidence of hypertension and cardiac disease in these patients.
Purcell
Wendy
W
Royal Melbourne Hospital and the North West Dialysis Service, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Manias
Elizabeth
E
Williams
Allison
A
Walker
Rowan
R
D001835:Body Weight; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control*; D017583:Hemodiafiltration; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000517:prevention & control*; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy; D009730:Nursing Assessment / Q000379:methods; D006435:Renal Dialysis / Q000379:methods* / Q000451:nursing