Multidisciplinary predialysis education decreases the incidence of dialysis and reduces mortality--a controlled cohort study based on the NKF/DOQI guidelines.
BACKGROUND
Observational studies have demonstrated that multidisciplinary predialysis education (MPE) improves the post-dialysis outcomes of chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients. However, the beneficial effect of MPE remains unclear in prospective controlled studies.


METHODS
All CKD patients who visited the outpatient nephrology clinics at two centres of the Chang Gung Memorial Hospital in 2006-07 were enrolled. The incidence of dialysis and mortality were compared between MPE recipients and non-recipients. The content of the MPE was standardized in accordance with the NKF/DOQI guidelines. Prognostic factors for progression to end-stage renal disease (ESRD) and all-cause mortality were analysed by using the Cox proportional hazards model.


RESULTS
Of 573 patients, 287 received MPE. Dialysis was initiated in 13.9% and 43% of the patients in the MPE and non-MPE groups, respectively (P < 0.001). The mean follow-up period was 11.7 +/- 0.9 months. The overall mortality was 1.7% and 10.1% in the MPE and non-MPE groups, respectively (P < 0.001). Cox regression analysis revealed that diabetes, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), high-sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and MPE assignment were significant independent predictors for progression to ESRD. Independent prognostic factors for mortality included age, diabetes, eGFR, hs-CRP and MPE assignment.


CONCLUSIONS
MPE based on the NKF/DOQI guidelines may decrease the incidence of dialysis and reduce mortality in late-stage CKD patients.
Wu
I-Wen
IW
1Department of Nephrology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Keelung, Taiwan.
Wang
Shun-Yin
SY
Hsu
Kuang-Hung
KH
Lee
Chin-Chan
CC
Sun
Chiao-Yin
CY
Tsai
Chi-Jen
CJ
Wu
Mai-Szu
MS
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011379:Prognosis; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D006435:Renal Dialysis / Q000401:mortality* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
D002097:C-Reactive Protein