Sex disparities in mortality among patients with kidney failure receiving dialysis.

Females are known to have a better survival rate than males in the general population, but previous studies have shown that this superior survival is diminished in patients on dialysis. This study aimed to investigate the risk of mortality in relation to sex among Korean patients undergoing hemodialysis (HD) or peritoneal dialysis (PD). A total of 4994 patients with kidney failure who were receiving dialysis were included for a prospective nationwide cohort study. Cox multivariate proportional hazard models were used to determine the association between sex and the risk of cause-specific mortality according to dialysis modality. During a median follow-up of 5.8 years, the death rate per 100 person-years was 6.4 and 8.3 in females and males, respectively. The female-to-male mortality rate in patients on dialysis was 0.77, compared to 0.85 in the general population. In adjusted analyses, the risk of all-cause mortality was significantly lower for females than males in the entire population (hazard ratio [HR] 0.79, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.71-0.87, P < 0.001). No significant differences in the risk of cardiovascular and infection-related deaths were observed according to sex. The risk of mortality due to sudden death, cancer, other, or unknown causes was significantly lower for females than males in the entire population (HR 0.66, 95% CI 0.56-0.78, P < 0.001), in patients on HD (HR 0.75, 95% CI 0.62-0.90, P = 0.003), and in patients on PD (HR 0.49, 95% CI 0.34-0.70, P < 0.001). The survival advantage of females in the general population was maintained in Korean dialysis patients, which was attributed to a lower risk of noncardiovascular and noninfectious death.Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00931970.

Dialysis modality-related disparities in sudden cardiac death: hemodialysis versus peritoneal dialysis.

BACKGROUND: Patients require risk stratification and preventive strategies for sudden cardiac death (SCD) based on the dialysis modality because the process of dialysis is a risk factor for SCD. This study aimed to compare the risk of SCD in patients undergoing hemodialysis (HD) versus peritoneal dialysis (PD). METHODS: Patients on HD and PD were included in the end-stage renal disease registry of the Korean Society of Nephrology between 1985 and 2017. The incidence and associated factors of SCD were analyzed based on the dialysis modality. RESULTS: Of 132,083 patients, 34,632 (26.2%) died during 94.8 ± 73.6 months of follow-up. In patients on HD and PD, 22.2% and 19.6% of total deaths were SCDs. In the propensity score-matched population, SCD accounted for 21.7% and 19.6% of total deaths in patients on HD and PD, respectively. HD was independently associated with SCD even after adjusting for age and significant comorbidities. Hypertension, coronary artery disease, and congestive heart failure, and age at the time of death < 65 years were independent risk factors for SCD in patients on HD but not in those on PD. Diabetes was significantly associated with SCD regardless of the dialysis modality. CONCLUSION: Compared with patients on PD, Korean patients on HD have a higher risk of SCD, which is attributable to cardiac comorbidities.

A Real-world Cost-effectiveness Analysis of Sevelamer Versus Calcium Acetate in Korean Dialysis Patients.

PURPOSE: Sevelamer, a noncalcium phosphate binder, has been shown to attenuate the progression of vascular calcification and improve survival in patients with chronic kidney disease undergoing dialysis compared with calcium-based binders. Using real-world data from a cohort study and the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service database, we conducted a cost-effectiveness analysis comparing sevelamer with calcium acetate in dialysis patients from the perspective of the National Health Insurance Service in South Korea. METHODS: Data (demographic, diagnostic, laboratory, and survival) from 4674 patients undergoing dialysis enrolled in a multicenter prospective cohort study conducted in South Korea between September 2008 and December 2012 were linked to phosphate binder use, hospitalization, and cost data available from the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service database. After propensity score matching, a dataset comprising comparable patients treated with either sevelamer (n = 501) or calcium acetate (n = 501) was used in the cost-effectiveness analysis. A Markov model was used to estimate costs, life years, quality-adjusted life years (QALYs), and cost-effectiveness over each patient's lifetime. Forty-month treatment-specific overall survival (OS) data available from the dataset were extrapolated to lifetime survival with the use of regression analysis. FINDINGS: Patients had a mean age of 56.3 years and were treated with dialysis for a mean duration of 67.6 months. Compared with calcium acetate, sevelamer was associated with an incremental cost of South Korean Won (₩) 12,246,911 ($10,819) and a gain of 1.758 life years and 1.108 QALYs per patient. This outcome yielded incremental cost-effectiveness ratios of ₩6,966,350 ($6154) and ₩11,057,699 ($9768) per life year and QALY gained, respectively. Conclusions regarding sevelamer's cost-effectiveness were insensitive to alternative assumptions in time horizon, discount rate, hospitalization rate, costs, and health utility estimates, and they remained consistent in 100% of the model iterations, considering a willingness-to-pay threshold of ₩31,894,720 ($28,176) per QALY gained. IMPLICATIONS: This analysis of real-world data found that sevelamer's higher cost relative to calcium acetate was adequately offset by improved survival among patients undergoing dialysis in South Korea. As such, sevelamer offers good value for money, representing a cost-effective alternative to calcium-based binders.

The efficacy and stability of an information and communication technology-based centralized monitoring system of adherence to immunosuppressive medication in kidney transplant recipients: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: Immunosuppression non-adherence in kidney transplant recipients (KTRs) not only increases the risk of medical intervention due to acute rejection and graft loss but burdens the socioeconomic system in the form of increased healthcare costs. An aggressive preemptive effort by healthcare professionals, geared to ensure adherence to immunosuppressants in KTRs, is significant and imperative. METHODS/DESIGN: This study was designed as a prospective, open-label, multicenter, randomized controlled study aimed at evaluating the efficacy and stability of an information and communication technology (ICT)-based centralized monitoring system in boosting medication adherence in KTRs. One hundred fourteen KTRs registered throughout the year 2017 to 2018 are randomized into either the ICT-based centralized home monitoring system or to ambulatory follow-up. The planned follow-up duration is 6 months. The ICT-based centralized home monitoring system described consists of a smart pill box equipped with personal identification system, a home monitoring system, an electronic Case Report Form (eCRF) system, and a comprehensive clinical trial management system (CTMS). It alerts both patients and medical staff with texts and pill box alarms if there is a dosage/dosing time error or a missed dose. Medication adherence and transplant outcomes for the follow-up period are compared between the two groups, while patient satisfaction as well as the stability and cost-effectiveness of the ICT-based monitoring system are to be evaluated. DISCUSSION: This on-going study is expected to determine if consistent use of the ICT-based centralized monitoring system described could maximize mediation adherence and subsequently enhance transplant outcomes in KTRs. Further, it would lay the foundation for successful implementation of this ICT-based monitoring system for effective management of medication adherence in KTRs. TRIALS REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov, Identifier: NCT03136588 . Registered on 20 April 2017.

Assessment of fluid and nutritional status using multifrequency bioelectrical impedance analysis in peritoneal dialysis patients.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical usefulness and relevance of bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) for assessing the fluid and nutritional status in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients. METHODS: Statistical analyses between various measures of fluid and nutritional status were performed in 106 cases of 64 patients. RESULTS: Extracellular fluid/total body water (ECF/TBW) was correlated with systolic blood pressure, extremity edema, and antihypertensive medications (p = 0.042, p < 0.001, and p = 0.029, respectively). Body cell mass (BCM)/height(2) was correlated with SGA rating and PCR (p < 0.001 and p = 0.002, respectively). ECF/TBW and BCM/height(2) significantly predicted extremity edema (p < 0.001) and SGA rating (p = 0.001), respectively. ROC analysis yielded an ECF/TBW cut-off of 0.36 and a BCM/height(2) cut-off of 11.23. When the BCM/height(2) cut-off of 11.23 was applied to subclinical patients (SGA score ≥6), a significant difference in SGA rating was detected in subgroups (p = 0.010). CONCLUSION: BIA yields useful and relevant information about hydration and nutritional status in PD patients.