title: Examination of survival after transfer from peritoneal dialysis to hemodialysis.
abstract: Data on survival after transfer from peritoneal dialysis (PD) to hemodialysis (HD) is conflicting. We reviewed two decades of outcomes in a PD program to examine short-term survival after transfer from PD to HD. Of 379 patients on PD, 33% transferred to HD. The reasons for transfer were PD-related infections (340%), uremia or failure to thrive (26%), PD catheter problems or loss of mechanical skills (15%), dementia or unable to train (7%), noncompliant with PD (7%), other (10%, including gastrointestinal complications, hernia, encapsulating peritoneal sclerosis, preference, loss of ultrafiltration), and cardiac (2%). All of those transferring for "other" reasons survived 6 months, and as did all except 1 who transferred for uremia (p = 0.035). Overall survival was 92% at 3 months and 85% at 6 months. Using multivariate logistic regression analysis, only score on the Charlson comorbidity index at PD start was a risk factor for dying in the first 6 months on HD: for each 1 point increase in CCI score, the hazard ratio for death was 1.4 (95% confidence interval: 1.16 to 1.74; p = 0.005). To summarize, starting a patient on PD and waiting until uremia to transfer to HD does not have a negative impact on survival. In a program with relatively low PD-related infectious complications, such complications accounted for only one third of transfers to HD.
authors: University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15261, USA.
authors: Beth
authors: B
authors: Piraino
authors: A Elizabeth
authors: AE
authors: Wyman
authors: Heena
authors: H
authors: Sheth
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000401:mortality* / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010530:Peritoneal Dialysis / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000401:mortality; D006435:Renal Dialysis / Q000401:mortality*; D055815:Young Adult