Long-term Clinical Outcomes Among Responders and Nonresponders to the In-Center Hemodialysis Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (ICH CAHPS) Survey.

RATIONALE & OBJECTIVE: The In-Center Hemodialysis Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (ICH CAHPS) survey, introduced into the End-Stage Renal Disease Quality Incentive Program, is the only patient-reported outcome currently used for value-based reimbursement in dialysis. Current response rates are ∼30% and differences in long-term clinical outcomes between survey responders and nonresponders are unknown. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. SETTING & PARTICIPANTS: Patients from all Dialysis Clinic Incorporated facilities from across the United States who met survey eligibility (aged ≥18 years and had been treated at their facility for at least 3 months). EXPOSURES: Patient-level demographic, clinical, and treatment-related characteristics. OUTCOMES: Mortality, all-cause hospitalization, and kidney transplantation. ANALYTICAL APPROACH: Time-to-event analyses using competing-risks models. Sensitivity analyses performed after multiple imputation for missing covariate data. RESULTS: Among 10,395 eligible patients, 3,794 (36%) responded to the survey. During a median follow-up of 33 months, 4,588 patients died, 7,638 patients were hospitalized at least once, and 789 patients received a transplant. In multivariable models, survey response was associated with lower mortality (subdistribution hazard ratio [sHR], 0.80; 95% CI, 0.75-0.86) and hospitalization (sHR, 0.94; 95% CI, 0.89-0.99) and higher likelihood for a kidney transplant (sHR, 1.27; 95% CI, 1.10-1.46). Results were consistent across sensitivity analyses after multiple imputation for missing covariates. LIMITATIONS: Small amount of missing covariate data, baseline covariate data assigned at the first month of the 3-month survey administration period, reasons for nonresponse unknown. CONCLUSIONS: Response to the ICH CAHPS survey is associated with lower risk for mortality and hospitalization and higher likelihood for kidney transplantation. These findings suggest that survey responders are healthier than nonresponders, emphasizing the need for caution when interpreting facility-level survey results to inform quality improvement and public policy efforts and the critical need to better capture patient-reported outcomes from more vulnerable patients.

Hemodialysis patient characteristics associated with better experience as measured by the In-center Hemodialysis Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (ICH CAHPS) survey.

BACKGROUND: Patient experience in hemodialysis (HD) is measured twice yearly in all in-center HD patients in the United States using the In-Center Hemodialysis Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (ICH CAHPS) survey. Survey scores are publically available and incorporated into the dialysis payment system. Despite its importance, little is known about factors associated with better experience scores. We studied the association between patient-level characteristics and experience scores in a large real-world cohort of HD patients. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional analysis of ICH CAHPS administration in 2012. All in-center HD patients in Dialysis Clinic, Incorporated facilities nationally over 18 years old and receiving HD at their facility for at least 3 months were eligible. Predictors include patient demographic, clinical, and treatment-related characteristics. Outcomes include high global rating scores across three domains (Nephrologist, Dialysis Staff, Dialysis Center) and high composite scores across three domains (Nephrologists' Communication and Caring, Quality of Dialysis Center Care and Operations, and Providing Information to Patients). RESULTS: Among 3369 respondents, older age and telephone (vs. mail) administration of the survey were associated with higher global ratings, while shortened HD treatments were associated with lower global ratings. Lower education and telephone administration were associated with higher composite scores, while older age, and shortened HD treatments were associated with lower composite scores. CONCLUSIONS: Several patient characteristics and mode of survey administration are associated with higher experience scores. Future research should assess HD facility characteristics associated with higher scores and interventions that might improve experience accounting for these associations.

Evaluation of non-response to the In-Center Hemodialysis Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (ICH CAHPS) survey.

BACKGROUND: The In-Center Hemodialysis Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (ICH CAHPS) Survey is the first patient reported outcome measure included in the U.S. Medicare End Stage Renal Disease Quality Incentive Program. Administered twice yearly, it assesses in-center dialysis experience and survey responses are tied to dialysis facility payments. Low response rates, currently approximately 35%, raise concern for possible underrepresentation of patient groups. METHODS: Cross-sectional analysis of survey administration in 2012 to all in-center hemodialysis patients in Dialysis Clinic, Inc. (DCI) facilities nationally over 18 years old who received hemodialysis at their facility for at least 3 months. Patient-level covariates included demographic, clinical, laboratory, and functional characteristics. Random effects multivariable logistic regression was used to assess survey non-response. RESULTS: Among 11,055 eligible patients 6541 (59%) were non-responders. Of the remaining 4514 responders, 549 (14%) surveys were not usable due to presence of proxy help or incomplete responses. Non-responders were more likely to be men, non-white, younger, single, dual Medicare/Medicaid eligible, less educated, non-English speaking, and not active on the transplant list; non-responders had longer ESRD vintage, lower body mass index, lower serum albumin, worse functional status, and more hospitalizations, missed treatments, and shortened treatments. Similar associations were found using more parsimonious multivariable analyses and after imputing missing data. CONCLUSIONS: Non-responders to the ICH CAHPS significantly differed from responders, broadly spanning individuals with fewer socioeconomic advantages and greater illness burden, raising limitations in interpreting facility survey results. Future research should assess reasons for non-response to improve ICH CAHPS generalizability and utility.

Going Upstream: Coordination to Improve CKD Care.

Care coordination for patients with chronic kidney disease has been shown to be effective in improving outcomes and reducing costs. However, few patients with CKD benefit from this systematic management of their kidney disease and other medical conditions. As a result, outcomes for patients with kidney disease are not optimal, and their cost of care is increased. For those patients who transition to kidney failure treatment in the United States, the transition does not go as well as it could. The effectiveness of treatments to delay progression of kidney disease in contemporary clinical practice does not match the efficacy of these treatments in clinical trials. Conservative care for kidney disease, which should be an option for patients who are very old and very sick, is not considered often enough or seriously enough. Opportunities for early and even pre-emptive transplantation are missed, as are opportunities for home dialysis. The process of dialysis access creation is rarely optimal. The consequence is care which is not as good as it could be, and much more expensive than it should be. We describe our initial efforts to implement care coordination for chronic kidney disease in routine clinical care and attempt to project some of the benefits to patients and the cost savings.

Both patient and facility contribute to achieving the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services' pay-for-performance target for dialysis adequacy.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) designated the achieved urea reduction ratio (URR) as a pay-for-performance measure, but to what extent this measure reflects patient characteristics and adherence instead of its intent to reflect facility performance is unknown. Here, we quantified the contributions of patient case-mix and adherence to the variability in achieving URR targets across dialysis facilities. We found that 92% of 10,069 hemodialysis patients treated at 173 facilities during the last quarter of 2004 achieved the target URR ≥65%. Mixed-effect models with random intercept for dialysis facility revealed a significant facility effect: 11.5% of the variation in achievement of target URR was attributable to the facility level. Adjusting for patient case-mix reduced the proportion of variation attributable to the facility level to 6.7%. Patient gender, body surface area, dialysis access, and adherence with treatment strongly associated with achievement of the URR target. We could not identify specific facility characteristics that explained the remaining variation between facilities. These data suggest that if adherence is not a modifiable patient characteristic, providers could be unfairly penalized for caring for these patients under current CMS policy. These penalties may have unintended consequences.

Nadir hemoglobin levels after discontinuation of epoetin in hemodialysis patients.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: In hemodialysis patients, both hemoglobin variability and targeting normalization of hemoglobin may have adverse consequences. There are few data on epoetin management in patients achieving high hemoglobin levels. DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS, & MEASUREMENTS: Maintenance hemodialysis patients within Dialysis Clinic Inc. (DCI) who were treated with a 20 to 30% epoetin dose reduction versus epoetin discontinuation following achievement of a hemoglobin level of > or = 13 g/dl were evaluated. The primary outcome was nadir hemoglobin within 2 months of epoetin reduction or discontinuation. RESULTS: There were 2789 patients in whom epoetin was discontinued and 754 patients in whom epoetin was reduced after hemoglobin > or = 13 g/dl. Patients treated with reduction received significantly more epoetin over the subsequent 2 months. More patients dropped below 11 (21.5 versus 10.1%) and 10 g/dl (7.2 versus 3.6%) within 2 months of discontinuing epoetin, whereas reduction was associated with more frequent nadir hemoglobin levels >12 g/dl (31.1 versus 62.8%). In multivariable models including age, ferritin, albumin, and baseline epoetin dose, discontinuation was associated with nadir hemoglobin below 10 g/dl [OR = 1.91 (CI: 1.22, 2.99)], whereas reduction was associated with a hemoglobin nadir above 12 g/dl [OR = 4.41 (CI: 3.63, 5.37)]. CONCLUSIONS: In hemodialysis patients with baseline hemoglobin >13 g/dl, epoetin discontinuation is associated with lower epoetin use and a higher probability of reaching a hemoglobin target range of 10 to 12 g/dl within 2 months; discontinuation is also associated with a higher likelihood nadir hemoglobin <10 g/dl.

Variation in fistula use across dialysis facilities: is it explained by case-mix?

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Arteriovenous fistulas (AVFs) remain the preferred vascular access for hemodialysis patients. Dialysis facilities that fail to meet Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services goals cite patient case-mix as a reason for low AVF prevalence. This study aimed to determine the magnitude of the variability in AVF usage across dialysis facilities and the extent to which patient case-mix explains it. DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS, & MEASUREMENTS: The vascular access used in 10,112 patients dialyzed at 173 Dialysis Clinic Inc. facilities from October 1 to December 31, 2004, was evaluated. The access in use was considered to be an AVF if it was used for >70% of hemodialysis treatments. Mixed-effects models with a random intercept for dialysis facilities evaluated the effect of facilities on AVF usage. Sequentially adjusted multivariate models measured the extent to which patient factors (case-mix) explain variation across facilities in AVF rates. RESULTS: 3787 patients (38%) were dialyzed using AVFs. There was a significant facility effect: 7.6% of variation in AVF use was attributable to facility. This was reduced to 7.1% after case-mix adjustment. There were no identified specific facility-level factors that explained the interfacility variation. CONCLUSIONS: AVF usage varies across dialysis facilities, and patient case-mix did not reduce this variation. In this study, 92% of the total variation in AVF usage was due to patient factors, but most were not measurable. A combination of patient factors and process indicators should be considered in adjudicating facility performance for this quality indicator.

Reducing versus discontinuing erythropoietin at high hemoglobin levels.

A 2006 change in Medicare policy allowed reimbursement for erythropoietin (EPO) in dialysis patients whose most recent hemoglobin exceeded 13 g/dl. We investigated the effects of a change in dosing algorithm implemented in response to this policy, in which EPO dosages were reduced instead of temporarily discontinued for hemoglobin levels > or =13 g/dl. Among 1688 individuals in 18 hemodialysis units, the reduction protocol resulted in more hemoglobin levels > or =13 g/dl (P < 0.0001), fewer levels between 11 and 12.9 g/dl (P < or = 0.004), no difference in the proportion of levels <11 g/dl, and more EPO administered per session (P < 0.0001) than the discontinuation protocol. In view of the expense of erythropoiesis stimulating agents and the uncertainty of the safety of using EPO to achieve high hemoglobin targets, this study suggests that discontinuation, rather than reduction, of EPO treatment is appropriate when hemoglobin reaches 13 g/dl in hemodialysis patients.

Racial differences in health-related quality of life among hemodialysis patients.

UNLABELLED: BACKGROUND; Despite technical progress in therapy, hemodialysis patients continue to report health-related quality of life (HRQOL) substantially lower than that of the general population. While African Americans with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) survive longer than members of other races, few studies have compared the HRQOL of African Americans with that of non-African Americans. METHODS: We examined differences in sociodemographic, clinical, and HRQOL variables by race. A multiple regression model assessed the extent to which race was associated with differences in HRQOL scores after adjustment for sociodemographic and clinical variables. Racial differences in the relationship between comorbid disease severity and HRQOL were explored. RESULTS; In adjusted models, African Americans had higher scores in the Index of Well-Being and burden of kidney disease, but lower scores in cognitive function (all P < 0.05). For scales reflecting symptoms and effects of kidney disease, sleep quality, and the Physical Component Summary, the fall in HRQOL with increasing comorbidity was significantly greater in non-African Americans (all P < 0.05). After adjustment, there were no racial differences in scores on the Mental Component Summary, social support, dialysis staff encouragement, or patient satisfaction. CONCLUSION: To our knowledge, ESRD is the only chronic illness for which African Americans report significantly better psychologic well being and a lower burden of disease than non-African Americans. Further research is needed to understand whether these experiences affect health care utilization, medical decision making, and patient survival. Clarification of the reasons for race differences may suggest measures to improve HRQOL for all patients with ESRD.

Bias in assessment of health-related quality of life in a hemodialysis population: a comparison of self-administered and interviewer-administered surveys in the HEMO study.

ABSTRACT. Examined is the relationship of patient-reported health-related quality of life (HRQOL) to the mode of survey administration in the Hemodialysis Study. In addition to self-administered surveys to assess HRQOL, interviewer-administered surveys were made available to include patients with poor vision, decreased manual dexterity, or strong preference. For examining the predictors of participation by self-administration of the survey, multiple logistic regression was performed. For examining the relationship of HRQOL results to mode of survey administration, adjusted differences between the self-administered and interviewer-administered groups were obtained from multiple linear regression models accounting for sociodemographic and case-mix factors. A total of 978 of the first 1000 subjects in the Hemodialysis Study completed the survey by interview (n = 427) or by self-administration (n = 551). The interviewer-administered group was older, was more likely black, had longer duration of ESRD, had a higher prevalence of diabetes, and had more severe comorbidity (all P < 0.01). After adjustment for these differences, patients in the interviewer-administered group had higher scores on scales that measured Role-Physical, Role-Emotional, and Effects of Kidney Disease (all P < 0.001). Dialysis studies that restrict HRQOL measurement to patients who are able to complete surveys without assistance will not accurately represent the health of the overall hemodialysis population. Clinical studies and clinical practices using HRQOL as an outcome should include interviewer administration or risk a selection bias against subjects with older age, minority status, and higher level of comorbidity. Future investigation should include research of survey modalities with a low response burden such as telephone interview, computer-assisted interview, and proxy administration.

Comorbidity and its change predict survival in incident dialysis patients.

BACKGROUND: Few studies have performed a comprehensive comparison of the prognostic importance of comorbidity to that of other case-mix factors influencing incident dialysis patients' survival. Longitudinal change in the comorbid illness burden of incident dialysis patients has not been measured. Comorbidity severity and its change may serve as important prognostic markers of survival, independent of other case-mix factors. METHODS: The Choices for Healthy Outcomes in Caring for End-Stage Renal Disease Cohort Study used the Index of Coexistent Disease (ICED) to assess comorbidity at the initiation of chronic dialysis treatment (1,039 incident patients) and during follow-up (733 patients). Using proportional hazards regression analyses, the relationship to survival of baseline ICED level and change in ICED level was examined. RESULTS: At the initiation of chronic dialysis treatment, 36% of patients were at ICED level 0 to 1 (least comorbidity severity); 35%, level 2; and 29%, level 3. After multivariable adjustment, baseline ICED level was the strongest predictor of subsequent mortality. Compared with ICED level 0 to 1, relative risks for mortality were 1.9 (95% confidence interval, 1.3 to 2.6) for ICED level 2 and 2.8 (95% confidence interval, 2.0 to 3.9) for ICED level 3. The prevalence and severity of most comorbid conditions increased during follow-up. After controlling for baseline ICED level and other factors, change in ICED level over time was significantly associated with mortality (P = 0.01). CONCLUSION: Indexing comorbidity when patients begin chronic dialysis therapy and recording the evolution of index scores yields a predictor of mortality risk that is independent of other case-mix factors.

Comorbidity and other factors associated with modality selection in incident dialysis patients: the CHOICE Study. Choices for Healthy Outcomes in Caring for End-Stage Renal Disease.

Case-mix factors influence both the selection of dialysis modality and outcomes in end-stage renal disease (ESRD). A detailed characterization of the case-mix differences between peritoneal dialysis (PD) and hemodialysis (HD) patients at the onset of dialysis therapy has not been performed, despite the importance of accounting for baseline differences in future comparisons of outcomes across modality groups. We compared baseline characteristics of 279 PD and 759 HD patients enrolled in the Choices for Healthy Outcomes in Caring for End-Stage Renal Disease (CHOICE) Cohort Study, a prospective study of incident dialysis patients. Comorbidity was assessed using the Index of Coexistent Diseases (ICED), consisting of a medical record review of 19 medical conditions and an observer-based assessment of 11 physical functions. ICED scores range from 0 to 3, with higher levels reflecting more severe comorbidity. Comorbidity was less severe in PD patients than in HD patients: the proportions of patients with ICED 0-1, ICED 2, and ICED 3 were 52%, 26%, and 22%, respectively, among the PD patients and 30%, 39%, and 31%, respectively, among the HD patients (P < 0.001). After controlling for all other factors, the differences in comorbidity remained significant. As compared with patients with ICED 0-1, the odds of being treated with PD for patients with ICED 2 and ICED 3 were less (odds ratio [OR] and 95% confidence intervals) 0.31 (0.17 to 0.56) and 0.50 (0.28 to 0.90), respectively. The number and severity of comorbid conditions at the onset of ESRD is significantly lower in patients choosing PD, independent of other factors influencing modality selection. The increased survival of PD patients reported in recent studies may simply reflect the self- or physician-directed selection of healthier patients to PD. Adjustment for case-mix differences in patients treated with PD versus HD is essential to the assessment of the independent effect of the dialysis modality on outcomes.

Hospital utilization among chronic dialysis patients.

Factors driving inpatient and outpatient utilization were studied among patients who began dialysis for chronic renal failure at the New England Medical Center (NEMC) between 1992 and 1997. Clinical, laboratory, and hospital resource utilization data were obtained from patient records and electronic databases. There were 2.2 hospitalizations and 14.8 hospital days per patient year at risk (PYAR). The number of hospitalizations and hospital days per PYAR were higher in the first 3 mo of initiating dialysis (4.3 and 28.3, respectively) compared to after 3 mo (1.9 and 12.9, respectively). Factors associated with increased risk of hospital days within the first 3 mo included non-health maintenance organization insurance, ischemic heart disease, late referral to the nephrologist, and use of temporary vascular access for the first dialysis. Patients with ischemic heart disease and who received dialysis during the years 1992-1994 compared with 1996-1997 had an increased risk of hospital days after 3 mo of initiating dialysis. There were 16.6 outpatient visits per PYAR, with significant differences in utilization between the first 3 mo and after 3 mo of initiating dialysis. Thus, hospital utilization was significantly higher in the first 3 mo compared to after 3 mo, and factors associated with hospital utilization depended on duration of dialysis. In particular, delayed referral to the nephrologist and lack of permanent vascular access were independently associated with increased risk of hospital utilization in the first 3 mo of dialysis. Greater attention to timely referral to the nephrologist and timely placement of vascular access could result in reduced utilization and cost savings.