Predialysis nephrology care and dialysis-related health outcomes among older adults initiating dialysis

Michael J. Fischer, Kevin T. Stroupe, James S. Kaufman, Ann M. O'Hare, Margaret M. Browning, Min Woong Sohn, Zhiping Huo, Denise M. Hynes

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26 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background: Predialysis nephrology care is associated with lower mortality and rates of hospitalization following chronic dialysis initiation. Whether more frequent predialysis nephrology care is associated with other favorable outcomes for older adults is not known. Methods: Retrospective cohort study of patients ≥66 years who initiated chronic dialysis in 2000-2001 and were eligible for VA and/or Medicare-covered services. Nephrology visits in VA and/or Medicare during the 12-month predialysis period were identified and classified by low intensity (<3 visits), moderate intensity (3-6 visits), and high intensity (>6 visits). Outcome measures included very low estimated glomerular filtration rate, severe anemia, use of peritoneal dialysis, and receipt of permanent vascular access at dialysis initiation and death and kidney transplantation within two years of initiation. Generalized linear models with propensity score weighting were used to examine the association between nephrology care and outcomes. Results: Among 58,014 patients, 46 % had none, 22 % had low, 13 % had moderate, and 19 % had high intensity predialysis nephrology care. Patients with a greater intensity of predialysis nephrology care had more favorable outcomes (all p < 0.001). In adjusted models, patients with high intensity predialysis nephrology care were less likely to have severe anemia (RR = 0.70, 99 % CI: 0.65-0.74) and more likely to have permanent vascular access (RR = 3.60, 99 % CI: 3.42-3.79) at dialysis initiation, and less likely to die within two years of dialysis initiation (RR = 0.80, 99 % CI: 0.77-0.82). Conclusion: In a large cohort of older adults treated with chronic dialysis, greater intensity of predialysis nephrology care was associated with more favorable outcomes.

Original languageEnglish
Article number103
JournalBMC Nephrology
Volume17
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 29 2016

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2016 The Author(s).

Funding

The authors received funding support for this research project from: Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration, Health Services Research and Development Service (VA HSR&D IIR 02–244 and IIR 20–016 – K. Stroupe, D. Hynes, M. Browning; VA HSR&D Research Career Scientist Award – D, Hynes; VA HSR&D Career Development Award – M. Fischer); NIH K23AG28980 – A. O’Hare. USRDS and Medicare data for this project were provided by the VA Information Resource Center (VA HSR&D SDR 02–237).

FundersFunder number
National Institutes of Health (NIH)
National Institute on AgingK23AG028980
National Institute on Aging
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Office of Health Services Research and DevelopmentIIR 02–244
Office of Health Services Research and Development

    Keywords

    • Dialysis
    • Elderly
    • Nephrology care

    ASJC Scopus subject areas

    • Nephrology

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