Journal Watch
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Prevalence of Anxiety in PD
Anxiety is less often measured than depression, but can be even more difficult for patients. A small study (n=85 PD patients), suggests that some degree of anxiety may be more prevalent than is currently realized. While about half (50.6%) reported minimal anxiety on the Beck Anxiety Inventory, the remaining half were split between mild (25.9%), moderate (14.1%) and severe (9.4%) anxiety. The authors suggest early diagnosis and management of mood disorders in ESRD patients.
Read the abstract » | (added 2026-01-16)
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The Impact of Obesity on Outcomes of Percutaneous PD Catheter Placement
Among 125 patients who had percutaneous PD catheter placement, nearly half (n=61) had normal BMI (<25 kg/m2), about one third (n=40) were overweight (BMI 25-29.9), and the remaining 24 were obese (BMI>30). One year later, 36 (28.8%) of the catheters failed, 3 patients died, and 7 received transplants. BMI was not significantly associated with catheter failure or other adverse events.
Read the abstract » | (added 2026-01-16)
Tags: Obesity, Outcomes, Percutaneous PD, Catheter Placement
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RCT: Rhythmic Breathing + Acupressure vs. Vapocoolant Spray for HD Needle Pain
A randomized control trial divided 157 patients into five groups to assess pain relief from hemodialysis needles: controls (n=34), rhythmic breathing (n=24), Hugo point acupressure (n=35), breathing + acupressure (n=37) and vapocoolant spray. The control group had mean score of 64.79 on the Visual Analogue Scale; the highest pain level. With rhythmic breathing, the mean score was 37.79. Those who used Hugo point acupressure had mean scores of 33.14. Rythmic breathing + acupressure resulted in mean scores of 28.35, and vapocoolant spray 25.59. All of the interventions significantly reduced pain compared to the controls.
Read the abstract » | (added 2026-01-16)
Tags: RCT, Rhythmic Breathing, Acupressure, Vapocoolant Spray, Needle Pain
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COVID Risk for In-center vs. Home Dialysis Patients
A study of 7,974 U.S. dialysis clinics reported on SARS-CoV-2 infections among 171,338 patients. To the surprise of no one, researchers found that the rate of COVID infection was 68% lower among patients who received their treatments in their own homes (2.85 infections per 1000 patient-weeks in-center vs. 1.69 infections per 1000 patient-weeks at home).
Read the abstract » | (added 2026-01-16)
Tags: SARS CoV 2, HHD
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HD Adequacy Based on Middle Molecules
A crossover study of 30 HD patients assessed middle molecule removal with standard HD vs. hemodiafiltration (HDF), with a 2-week washout period between them. Measurements of serum IL-1 and myoglobulin were measured pre- and post-treatment. There were no differences in these levels at baseline, and the highest reduction ratios for both IL-1 (81.6+12.6%) and myoglobulin (83.8+10.6%) as well as urea (75.2+5.6%) were found after HDF.
Read the abstract » | (added 2026-01-16)
Tags: HD Adequacy, Middle Molecules, IL 1, Myoglobulin
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Preventing PD Infections: ASN Core Interventions
An ASN workshop developed interventions focused on six key, evidence-based strategies to reduce infection, improve quality of life, and expand home treatments: Infection rate surveillance and feedback, standardized staff training/competency assessment, standardized patient and care partner education, routine infection prevention assessments, antimicrobial PD exit site prophylaxis, and prophylactic antimicrobials for some procedures or events.
Read the abstract » | (added 2025-12-17)
Tags: Interventions, Infection, Quality Of Life, Home Treatments, Training
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Optimal Education for Optimal Start Dialysis
Optimal ESRD start patients receive a preemptive kidney transplant, start a home therapy, or begin in-center HD with a venous access, and optimal education is needed for these events to occur. This paper explores gaps in modality education in outpatient nephrology clinics, dialysis clinics, and inpatient settings.
Read the abstract » | (added 2025-12-17)
Tags: Optimal Start Dialysis, Optimal Education, Modality Education
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Blood Pressure Variability: Is PD or Standard HD Better?
In a prospective cohort of 156 PD patients and 218 HD patients (n=374), clinical and lab data and 24-hour ambulatory BP were measured. After 4 years of follow-up, PD patients had significantly lower 24-hour systolic BP and a significantly lower (p = 0.039) incidence of cardiovascular events. BVP was higher in HD patients.
Read the abstract » | (added 2025-12-17)
Tags: Blood Pressure Variability, Cerebrovascular Risk, Hemodialysis, Peritoneal Dialysis
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Women May Fare Better on PD Than Men
The International observational PDOPPS has turned its attention to the examination of sex differences in PD outcomes like mortality, transfer to HD, peritonitis, and transplant rates. PD patients from eight countries (n=25,292) were 43% female on average, and females had lower mortality rates, fewer transfers to HD, and lower rates of peritonitis. In South Korea, for example, median time on PD was 6.4 years for females, but just 4.9 years for males.
Read the abstract » | (added 2025-12-17)
Tags: PDOPPS, Gender, PD Outcomes, Mortality, Transfer To HD, Peritonitis, Transplant Rates
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Body Mass Index and PD: A Meta-analysis
Analysis of adjusted data from 18 studies found that underweight PD patients had a significantly higher risk of mortality than those with normal BMI, though obesity did not. However, obese PD patients had a significant increase in the risk of peritonitis. Neither underweight nor obesity increased the risk of technique failure or transfer to HD.
Read the abstract » | (added 2025-11-11)
Tags: Body Mass Index, PD, Meta analysis