Journal Watch
Nocturnal HD Improves Nutritional Status
A metaanalysis was conducted of 9 studies with 229 patients who switched from standard to nocturnal HD. Those on nocturnal HD had significantly higher levels of serum albumin and protein and energy intake.
Read the abstract » | (added 2016-07-12)
Tags: Hemodialysis
Independence, Flexibility and Quality of Life Matter to Patients
For the PCORI-funded Empowering Patients on Choices for Renal Replacement Therapy (EPOCH-RRT), 180 people not yet on dialysis or using standard HD or PD were interviewed to identify the factors in their choice of a dialysis option. Independence, quality and quantity of life, and daily schedule flexibility mattered most—and 47% of those on standard HD said the choice had not been theirs. (NOTE: Ironically, the EPOCH-RRT decision aid omits home HD, an option that offers independence, quality of life, better survival, and schedule flexibility, as we have blogged here and here).
Read the abstract » | (added 2016-07-12)
Tags: Hemodialysis
PD Survival and Serum Sodium – Not What You Might Think
In an analysis of 4,687 people on PD between 2007 and 2011, those whose serum sodium levels were <140 mEq/L had a higher death rate than those with higher levels. Further studies are needed to see if correcting the sodium levels helps people live longer on PD.
Read the abstract » | (added 2016-07-12)
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Glucose in PD Solution Affects Non-Diabetic Patients, Too
Among 640 PD patients from three countries studied for up to 6.4 years, serum glucose levels rose with age and with higher dialysate glucose. In 5.4% of the sample, the levels suggested undiagnosed diabetes.
Read the abstract » | (added 2016-06-08)
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Nocturnal HD Protects Bones Better Than Standard HD
Compared to 52 patients on conventional HD, 36 patients on nocturnal HD had better bone mineral density at the lumbar spine, femoral neck, and hip after one year.
Read the abstract » | (added 2016-06-08)
Tags: Hemodialysis
Low Blood Magnesium Levels Risky On PD
Most magnesium in the body is not in the blood. And, very low blood levels (<1.8 mg/dL) were linked with higher rates of hospital stays and death among 10,692 people on PD. The greatest hospital risk was in patients who also had low (<3.5g/dL) serum albumin levels.
Read the abstract » | (added 2016-06-08)
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Mechanisms of Peritoneal Membrane Fibrosis
Glucose in PD solution activates a cell protein in mice that typically prevents fibrosis when it is not activated. This pathway leads to inflammation, growth of new blood vessels, and fibrosis—so finding a way to switch it off could lead to new drugs to help prevent these problems.
Read the abstract » | (added 2016-06-08)
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Outset Medical Tablo Human Factors Testing
Journal articles don’t tend to give product names, so we read between the lines to tell you that human factors testing on Outset’s Tablo home HD machine found 2.9 errors for patients—and 4.4 for nurses or technicians—out of 1,710 opportunities for error. None of the errors was safety related.
Read the abstract » | (added 2016-06-08)
Tags: Hemodialysis
WAK Clearance of Potassium and Phosphorus in Goats
Wearable dialysis could ease fluctuations in potassium and phosphorus vs. intermittent HD. A sorbent based wearable device tested on goats found constant levels of potassium and phosphate adsorption.
Read the abstract » | (added 2016-06-08)
Patient Costs As A Challenge For Home Dialysis Choice
Interviews with 43 home dialysis patients and 9 care partners found that fears of lost work productivity, out of pocket expenses, and socioeconomic disadvantage were challenges to choosing home dialysis. Patients weighed flexibility against training time and costs, and housing was not always suitable.
Read the abstract » | (added 2016-06-08)
Tags: Hemodialysis