Patient awareness and initiation of peritoneal dialysis.
BACKGROUND
Few US patients with kidney failure start treatment on peritoneal dialysis (PD) despite its potential survival, quality of life, and cost-saving benefits. We investigated patient awareness of PD and variables associated with PD selection, including dialysis unit ownership and geographic area.


METHODS
In a cohort study, incident dialysis patients identified by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) and included in the United States Renal Data System (USRDS) were surveyed from 2005 to 2007 for the USRDS Comprehensive Dialysis Study. Participants reported whether PD had been discussed with them before they started regular treatment for kidney failure, and initial dialysis modality was verified in the USRDS patient registry.


RESULTS
The proportion of patients in our study cohort who reported that PD had been discussed with them (61%) was higher than in previous surveys, but only 10.9% of informed patients initiated PD. With patient demographic and clinical characteristics controlled for, the proportion of informed patients who started PD differed substantially across large dialysis organizations. Substantial variation in selection of PD was also evident among patients starting dialysis in the 18 end-stage renal disease Network areas.


CONCLUSIONS
Despite patients' early awareness of PD as a treatment option, PD selection was low in this national cohort. Factors associated with PD selection merit continued study as CMS seeks to improve quality and cost-effectiveness of kidney patient care.
Kutner
Nancy G
NG
United States Renal Data System Rehabilitation/Quality of Life Special Studies Center, Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA. nkutner@emory.edu
Zhang
Rebecca
R
Huang
Yijian
Y
Wasse
Haimanot
H
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D003657:Decision Making; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000191:economics / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015337:Multicenter Studies as Topic; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D010530:Peritoneal Dialysis / Q000191:economics / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011788:Quality of Life; D012042:Registries / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014481:United States; D055815:Young Adult