Association Between Disturbed Serum Phosphorus Levels and QT Interval Prolongation.

Introduction: QT interval prolongation is a risk factor for fatal arrhythmias and other cardiovascular complications. QT interval prolongation in patients on hemodialysis (HD) is not well understood. Hypocalcemia is a suspected, but poorly verified etiology in these patients, and the association between serum phosphorus levels and QT interval prolongation is unknown. We sought to determine the prevalence of QT interval prolongation in patients on HD and to verify the association between predialysis serum calcium (Ca) and phosphate (P) levels and QT interval prolongation. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on adult patients on maintenance HD who were enrolled in the Japanese Society for Dialysis Therapy and Renal Data Registry 2019. After assessing patient characteristics, linear regression analysis was performed with predialysis serum Ca and P levels as exposures and a rate-corrected QT (QTc) interval as the outcome. Results: A total of 204,530 patients were analyzed with a mean QTc of 451.2 (standard deviation, 36.9) ms. After multivariable analysis, estimated change in QTc (coefficients; 95% confidence interval) per 1 mg/dl increase in serum Ca and P was -2.02 (-3.00 to -1.04) and 5.50 (3.92-7.09), respectively. In the restricted cubic spline curve, estimated change in QTc increased with lower values of serum Ca. The correlation between serum P and QTc showed a U-shaped curve. Conclusion: Decreased serum Ca levels and decreased and increased serum P levels may be associated with QT interval prolongation in patients on maintenance HD.

More rapid progression of brain atrophy in patients on peritoneal dialysis compared with hemodialysis: The VCOHP Study.

We previously reported that brain atrophy was more severe and progressed more rapidly in patients with end-stage kidney disease on peritoneal dialysis (PD) than those with non-dialysis-dependent chronic kidney disease. However, it remains unknown whether there is a difference between patients on PD and hemodialysis (HD). In total, 73 PD and 34 HD patients who underwent brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were recruited for a cross-sectional analysis. Among them, 42 PD and 25 HD patients who underwent a second brain MRI after 2 years were recruited for a longitudinal analysis. T1-weighted MRI images were analyzed. Total gray matter volume (GMV), total white matter volume, and cerebrospinal fluid volume were segmented, and each volume was quantified using statistical parametric mapping software. The ratio of GMV (GMR) was calculated by dividing GMV by intracranial volume, to adjust for variations in head size. We compared GMR between PD and HD patients in the cross-sectional analysis and the annual change in GMR (AC-GMR) in the longitudinal analysis. In the cross-sectional analysis, age- and sex-adjusted GMR was significantly lower in PD than HD patients [least square mean (LSM): 39.2% vs. 40.0%, P = 0.018]. AC-GMR was significantly greater in PD than HD patients and this difference remained significant even after adjustment for potential confounding factors (LSM: -0.68 vs. -0.28 percentage-points/year, P = 0.011). In conclusion, the present study demonstrated a more rapid progression of brain atrophy in PD patients compared with HD patients. We demonstrated that decline in GMR progressed significantly more rapidly in PD than HD patients independent of potential confounding factors. GMR gray matter volume ratio, HD hemodialysis, PD peritoneal dialysis.

Association between serum alkaline phosphatase and bacteraemia in haemodialysis outpatients: a multicentre retrospective cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVES: Elevated baseline serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP) may correlate with higher medium-term to long-term mortality in the general population and in patients with chronic kidney disease. However, few data are available on the association between serum ALP and the short-term prognosis of patients on haemodialysis (HD). We verified the association of ALP levels and bacteraemia or death in maintenance HD patients suspected of bacteraemia in an outpatient setting. DESIGN: We analysed 315 consecutive HD patients suspected of having bacteraemia with two sets of blood culture drawn on admission. SETTING: Admission to two tertiary-care university medical centres from January 2013 to December 2015. PARTICIPANTS: Consecutive cases on maintenance HD aged≥18 years. Cases of hospitalised patients who had been transferred from another hospital, had a dialysis vintage<2 months, were also undergoing peritoneal dialysis, and/or were receiving HD less than once a week were excluded. PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES: Primary outcome measure was bacteraemia and secondary outcome was in-hospital death. RESULTS: Among 315 cases included in the study, 187 had baseline-measured ALP levels, with a cut-off value on ROC analysis of 360 U/L (Area Under the Curve (AUC) 0.60, sensitivity 0.49, specificity 0.76). In multivariate analysis, there was a statistically significant association between a higher ALP in hospital visit and bacteraemia (OR: 2.37, 95% CI: 1.17 to 4.83). However, there were no statistically significant associations between higher ALP and in-hospital death (OR: 1.20, 95% CI: 0.57 to 2.54). A sensitivity analysis of 187 patients with no missing ALP values also demonstrated a significant association between elevated ALP and bacteraemia, but no significant association between ALP and in-hospital death. CONCLUSIONS: Elevated ALP is a predictor of bacteraemia. In HD patients suspected of bacteraemia in outpatient settings, increased ALP levels were associated with increased likelihood of confirmed disease.

A non-immunocompromised host with nontuberculous mycobacteria-associated tubulointerstitial nephritis.

A 50-year-old man was admitted to our hospital with the complaints of fever and general malaise. He had no history of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection or treatment with immunosuppressive agents. We performed renal biopsy to investigate possible acute kidney injury. Pathological findings showed inflammatory cell infiltration, including granulomatous lesions in the interstitium. We diagnosed the patient with acute granulomatous tubulointerstitial nephritis. We initiated prednisolone (PSL) 40 mg/day (0.6 mg/kg), in combination with isoniazid for a latent tuberculosis infection, because of positive results in interferon-γ release assays. The patient's fever and malaise promptly disappeared, and his renal function improved. After the patient had been discharged, Mycobacterium intracellulare grew in cultures of his renal tissue and urine. We gradually reduced the dose of PSL; we initiated combination therapy with ethambutol, clarithromycin, and rifampin. After 2 years of follow-up, the patient continued treatment for chronic kidney disease; it has since enabled him to avoid renal replacement therapy. This report describes a rare instance of nontuberculous mycobacteria-associated tubulointerstitial nephritis in a patient without a history of HIV infection or organ transplantation. In differential diagnosis of granulomatous tubulointerstitial nephritis, clinicians should consider drugs, sarcoidosis, tubulointerstitial nephritis and uveitis syndrome, vasculitis, and infections (e.g., involving mycobacteria). Prompt microbiological examinations, especially of urine or biopsy cultures, are vital for diagnosis.

A case of peritoneal dialysis-related peritonitis caused by dialysate leakage with successful treatment by intravenous and intraperitoneal antibiotic therapy.

Dialysate leakage is one of the causes of peritoneal dialysis (PD)-related peritonitis. The rate of catheter removal in PD-related peritonitis caused by dialysate leakage (PDPDL) is high, and the correct treatment is unclear. We experienced a case of PDPDL that was treated with intravenous and intraperitoneal antibiotic therapy. A 44-year-old Japanese man had high glucose discharge from the exit site after 14 days of initiating PD, and he had a fever and cloudy effluent with a high white cell count. We diagnosed him with PDPDL and began to administer vancomycin and ceftazidime intraperitoneally. However, the peritonitis could not be ameliorated. A culture examination showed Staphylococcus aureus from the effluent of peritoneal cavity and exit site cultures. We began intraperitoneal cefazolin administration according to a drug susceptibility test, but the effluent cell count remained high. As we added intravenous cefazolin administration, his symptoms and cloudy effluent improved, and the effluent cell count normalized. He has not developed any recurrence of dialysate leakage or peritonitis. Our findings suggest that PD-related peritonitis accompanied by other infectious sites, such as PDPDL, should be treated with additional intravenous antibiotic therapy to taking effect on the infectious sites except for peritoneum and to keep plasma concentration of antibiotics sufficient especially in cases with preserved residual kidney function.

Stronger Effect of Azilsartan on Reduction of Proteinuria Compared to Candesartan in Patients with CKD: A Randomized Crossover Trial.

INTRODUCTION: Angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) are preferably used in hypertensive patients with CKD. Azilsartan is a strong antihypertensive ARB, but its antiproteinuric effects are not well understood. We compared the antiproteinuric effect of azilsartan and candesartan in CKD patients in an open-label, randomized, crossover trial. METHODS: A total of 111 patients were treated with 20 mg of azilsartan daily for 2 months as a run-in period. After the run-in period, patients were randomized into 2 arms and received either 20 mg of azilsartan or 8 mg of candesartan daily for 3 months in a crossover trial. The primary outcome was the percent change in urinary protein-to-Cr ratio (UPCR). RESULTS: Ninety-five patients completed the trial. The mean age was 64.3 years. The estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and UPCR were 41.5 mL/min/1.73 m2 and 1.8 g/gCr, respectively. The baseline systolic and diastolic blood pressures were 131.4 and 71.0 mm Hg, respectively. The mean percent change in the UPCR was -3.8% in the azilsartan group and 30.8% in the candesartan group at the 1st endpoint (p = 0.0004), and 6.1% in the azilsartan group and 25.8% in the candesartan group at the 2nd (final) endpoint (p = 0.029). The incidence of adverse events, including eGFR levels and serum potassium levels, was not significantly different between the groups. CONCLUSION: A 20 mg azilsartan dose had potent antiproteinuric effects compared with an 8 mg candesartan dose, without an increase in adverse events. Azilsartan may provide renal protection in addition to antihypertensive effects in CKD patients.

Added value of clinical prediction rules for bacteremia in hemodialysis patients: An external validation study.

INTRODUCTION: Having developed a clinical prediction rule (CPR) for bacteremia among hemodialysis (HD) outpatients (BAC-HD score), we performed external validation. MATERIALS & METHODS: Data were collected on maintenance HD patients at two Japanese tertiary-care hospitals from January 2013 to December 2015. We enrolled 429 consecutive patients (aged ≥ 18 y) on maintenance HD who had had two sets of blood cultures drawn on admission to assess for bacteremia. We validated the predictive ability of the CPR using two validation cohorts. Index tests were the BAC-HD score and a CPR developed by Shapiro et al. The outcome was bacteremia, based on the results of the admission blood cultures. For added value, we also measured changes in the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) using logistic regression and Net Reclassification Improvement (NRI), in which each CPR was added to the basic model. RESULTS: In Validation cohort 1 (360 subjects), compared to a Model 1 (Basic Model) AUC of 0.69 (95% confidence interval [95% CI]: 0.59-0.80), the AUC of Model 2 (Basic model + BAC-HD score) and Model 3 (Basic model + Shapiro's score) increased to 0.8 (95% CI: 0.71-0.88) and 0.73 (95% CI: 0.63-0.83), respectively. In validation cohort 2 (96 subjects), compared to a Model 1 AUC of 0.81 (95% CI: 0.68-0.94), the AUCs of Model 2 and Model 3 increased to 0.83 (95% CI: 0.72-0.95) and 0.85 (95% CI: 0.76-0.94), respectively. NRIs on addition of the BAC-HD score and Shapiro's score were 0.3 and 0.06 in Validation cohort 1, and 0.27 and 0.13, respectively, in Validation cohort 2. CONCLUSION: Either the BAC-HD score or Shapiro's score may improve the ability to diagnose bacteremia in HD patients. Reclassification was better with the BAC-HD score.

Pre-dialysis Hyponatremia and Change in Serum Sodium Concentration During a Dialysis Session Are Significant Predictors of Mortality in Patients Undergoing Hemodialysis.

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have shown that hyponatremia is associated with greater mortality in hemodialysis (HD) patients. However, there have been few reports regarding the importance of the change in serum sodium (SNa) concentration (ΔSNa) during dialysis sessions. To investigate the relationships of pre-dialysis hyponatremia and ΔSNa during a dialysis session with mortality, we analyzed data from a national registry of Japanese patients with end-stage kidney disease. METHODS: We identified 178,114 patients in the database who were undergoing HD 3 times weekly. The study outcome was 2-year all-cause mortality, and the baseline SNa concentrations were categorized into quintiles. We evaluated the relationships of SNa concentration and ΔSNa with mortality using Cox proportional hazards models. RESULTS: During a 2-year follow-up period, 25,928 patients died. Each 1-mEq/l reduction in pre-HD SNa concentration was associated with a cumulatively greater risk of all-cause mortality (hazard ratio [HR], 1.05; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.05-1.06). In contrast, a larger ΔSNa was associated with higher all-cause mortality (HR for a 1-mEq/l increase in ΔSNa, 1.02; 95% CI 1.01-1.02). The combination of low pre-HD SNa concentration and large ΔSNa was also associated with higher mortality (HR 1.09; 95% CI 1.05-1.13). Participants with the lowest SNa concentration (≤136 mEq/L) and the highest ΔSNa (>4 mEq/L) showed higher mortality than those with an intermediate pre-HD SNa concentration (137-140 mEq/L) and the lowest ΔSNa (≤2 mEq/L). CONCLUSIONS: Lower pre-HD SNa concentration and higher ΔSNa are associated with a greater risk of mortality in patients undergoing HD.

High low-density lipoprotein cholesterol as an independent risk factor for coronary restenosis in hemodialysis patients undergoing percutaneous coronary interventions.

HD patients have been reported to have a higher risk of restenosis after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). The aim of this study was to investigate the risk factors of coronary restenosis in HD patients. We enrolled 54 HD patients (mean age: 66.5 ± 10.1 years; 72.2% men; mean HD duration: 3.7 years), who received PCI and follow-up coronary angiography. Of the patients, 22 (40.7%) had restenosis within 3 to 12 months of PCI. Univariate logistic analysis showed low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C)/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) ratio, LDL-C, non-HDL-C, and history of major adverse cardiovascular events were significantly associated with coronary restenosis (OR]: 1.89, 1.27, 1.22, and 5.79, respectively). Multivariate analysis showed that LDL-C was significantly associated with coronary restenosis (OR: 1.43). These data suggest that LDL-C is an independent risk factor for coronary restenosis in HD patients undergoing PCI, and strict lipid management may be required.

Anti-glomerular basement membrane disease complicated with posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome and subcortical cerebral hemorrhage: a case report and review of the literature.

A 71-year-old woman was hospitalized for the treatment of fatigue, fever, and cough. On admission, she showed increased serum inflammation markers, severe anemia, pulmonary hemorrhage, and advanced acute kidney injury requiring hemodialysis. Her serum anti-glomerular basement membrane (GBM) antibody titer was found to be extremely high on the 7th hospital day. She was eventually diagnosed with anti-GBM disease. She was treated with a combination of corticosteroid pulse therapy, oral prednisolone and cyclophosphamide, and plasma exchange, but continued to require maintenance hemodialysis for end-stage kidney disease. During her treatment, she suddenly developed headache, blindness, seizure, and consciousness disturbance. She was diagnosed by magnetic resonance imaging with posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) with subcortical cerebral hemorrhage. Both the PRES and cerebral hemorrhage subsided soon after control of her hypertension and reinforcement of immunosuppressive treatment. PRES, particularly when accompanied by cerebral hemorrhage, may cause irreversible and lethal neurological abnormalities, and nephrologists should, therefore, be aware of the potential risk of PRES in patients with anti-GBM disease. We discuss the current case in the light of the previous literature.

The Association between Dialysis Dose and Risk of Cancer Death in Patients Undergoing Hemodialysis: The Q-Cohort Study.

Objective Uremic toxins are known risk factors for cancer in patients undergoing hemodialysis (HD). Although adequate removal of uremic toxins might reduce the cancer risk by improving subclinical uremia, the relationship between the dialysis dose and risk of cancer death in patients undergoing HD remains unclear. Methods In this prospective observational study, 3,450 patients undergoing HD were followed up for 4 years. The primary outcome was cancer death. Patients were divided into quartiles according to their baseline Kt/V levels. The association between the Kt/V levels and risk of cancer death was estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method and Cox proportional-hazards model. Results A total of 111 patients (3.2%) died from cancer during the 4-year observational period. The 4-year survival rate decreased linearly with decreasing Kt/V. The multivariable-adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for cancer death were 2.23 (95% CI, 1.13-4.56), 1.77 (0.88-3.63), and 1.89 (1.04-3.56) in quartile (Q) 1, Q2, and Q3, respectively, compared with patients in the highest Kt/V category (Q4) (p for trend = 0.06). Every 0.1 increase in Kt/V was associated with a reduction of 8% in cancer death (HR 0.92, 95% CI, 0.85-0.99). Conclusion A lower dialysis dose might be associated with a higher risk of cancer death in patients undergoing HD. Kt/V is a simple indicator of dialysis dose used in clinical practice and might be a useful modifiable factor for predicting the risk of cancer death. Further basic and interventional studies are needed to confirm the apparent reduction in cancer death associated with increasing the dialysis dose.

The Incidence and Associated Factors of Sudden Death in Patients on Hemodialysis: 10-Year Outcome of the Q-Cohort Study.

AIM: The incidence of sudden death and its risk factors in patients on hemodialysis remain unclear. This study aimed to clarify the incidence of sudden death and its risk factors in Japanese patients on hemodialysis. METHODS: A total of 3505 patients on hemodialysis aged ≥ 18 years were followed for 10 years. Multivariate-adjusted hazard ratio (HR) with 95% confidence interval (95% CI) of each risk factor of sudden death were calculated using a Cox proportional hazards model. RESULTS: During the 10-year follow-up, 1735 patients died, including 227 (13%) sudden deaths. The incidence rate of sudden death was 9.13 per 1000 person-years. In multivariable-adjusted Cox analysis, male sex (HR 1.67; 95% CI 1.20-2.33), age (HR 1.44; 95% CI 1.26-1.65 per 10-year higher), the presence of diabetes (HR 2.45; 95% CI 1.82-3.29), history of cardiovascular disease (HR 1.85; 95% CI 1.38-2.46), cardiothoracic ratio (HR 1.21; 95% CI 1.07-1.39 per 5% higher), serum C-reactive protein (HR 1.11; 95% CI 1.03-1.20 per 1-mg/dL higher), and serum phosphate (HR 1.15; 95% CI 1.03-1.30 per 1-mg/dL higher) were independent predictors of sudden death. A subgroup analysis stratified by sex or age showed that lower serum corrected calcium levels, not using vitamin D receptor activators in women, and a shorter dialysis session length in men or older people (≥ 65 years) increased the risk for sudden death. CONCLUSIONS: This study clarified the incidence of sudden death and its specific predictors in Japanese patients on hemodialysis.

Hypocomplementemic urticarial vasculitis syndrome with gastrointestinal vasculitis and crescentic membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis without immune complex deposits.

Hypocomplementemic urticarial vasculitis syndrome (HUVS) is a small vessel vasculitis characterized by hypocomplementemia and urticaria-like exanthema. Some cases also display abdominal pain and membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis (MPGN) with immune complex deposits. We treated a case of HUVS with biopsy-proven gastrointestinal vasculitis and atypical histological findings in a kidney biopsy. The 36-year-old Japanese man, who was previously diagnosed with diffuse panbronchiolitis, visited our hospital due to transient urticaria-like exanthema and rapid deterioration of kidney function. On admission, the skin lesion was found to be only pigmentation, showing no vasculitis by skin biopsy. In laboratory findings, renal dysfunction with hematuria and proteinuria and hypocomplementemia were observed. Gastrointestinal vasculitis was proven by endoscopy and biopsy of the mucosa. Kidney biopsy revealed MPGN with crescents. No immune complex deposits were observed by immunofluorescence or electron microscopy. Additional examination revealed high titers of anti-C1q antibody. The patient was diagnosed with HUVS and treated with corticosteroids and plasma exchange. Although renal function and gastrointestinal vasculitis partially improved, infectious pneumonia frequently recurred. His renal dysfunction began to progress again and reached end-stage kidney disease. This is the first case of HUVS with biopsy-proven gastrointestinal vasculitis and MPGN without immune complex deposits. Notably, in some case of HUVS, anti-C1q antibody may activate the alternative complement pathway without immune complex deposits, resulting in renal injury.

Rapidly Progressive Glomerulonephritis with Delayed Appearance of Anti-Glomerular Basement Membrane Antibody Successfully Treated with Multiple Courses of Steroid Pulse Therapy.

Patients with anti-glomerular basement membrane (GBM) antibody glomerulonephritis typically exhibit rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis (RPGN). The renal outcome as well as the prognosis of this disease is worse than other forms of RPGN such as those from microscopic polyangiitis. Therefore, early therapeutic intervention is essential to improve its prognosis. One month before referral to our hospital, a 54-year-old female attended another hospital because of macrohematuria. At that time, she had proteinuria and macrohematuria with normal renal function, was negative for anti-GBM antibodies, and was diagnosed with chronic glomerulonephritis. A month later when she was admitted to our hospital, she showed renal insufficiency and was positive for anti-GBM antibodies. Immediately after recognizing the anti-GBM antibody status, plasma exchange and the first course of steroid pulse therapy was started. After 5 days of therapy, renal biopsy confirmed severe crescentic glomerulonephritis in which all the observed glomeruli were involved with cellular crescents. Despite this, she survived without end-stage renal disease after three courses of steroid pulse therapy and seven sessions of plasma exchange. This favorable outcome reflects the repeated analysis of anti-GBM antibodies within a very short period and the rapid therapeutic intervention in addition to the intensive immunosuppressive therapies.

Prognostic value of pre-dialysis blood pressure and risk threshold on clinical outcomes in hemodialysis patients: The Q-Cohort Study.

The influence of pre-dialysis blood pressure (BP) on the prognosis of hemodialysis (HD) patients is still inconclusive.A total of 3436 HD patients were prospectively followed up for 4 years. The patients were divided into quintiles of pre-dialysis systolic BP (SBP) and diastolic BP (DBP) levels [mm Hg]: Quintile 1 (Q1), SBP <134, DBP <66; Q2, SBP 134 to 147, DBP 66 to 72; Q3, SBP 148 to 158, DBP 73 to 79; Q4, SBP 159 to 171, DBP 80 to 85; Q5, SBP ≥172, DBP ≥86. The association between the pre-dialysis BP and outcomes were examined using a Cox proportional hazards model.During a 4-year follow-up period, 564 (16.4%) patients died of any cause and 590 (17.2%) developed cardiovascular (CV) events. The lowest level of pre-dialysis SBP group (Q1) showed a significantly increased risk of all-cause mortality (hazard ratio [HR] 1.83, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.40-2.39) and the highest group (Q5) significantly increased risk of CV events (HR 1.31, 95% CI 1.02-1.68) compared with the reference group (Q3), respectively. The highest level of pre-dialysis DBP group was significantly associated with increased risk for both all-cause mortality and CV events. Restricted cubic spline analysis for BP and outcomes suggested the optimal pre-dialysis BP value associated with the lowest risk of outcomes was SBP 152 mm Hg for all-cause mortality, SBP 143 mm Hg for CV events, and DBP 68 mm Hg for all-cause mortality.Our results suggested that pre-dialysis BP was independently associated with all-cause mortality and CV events among Japanese HD patients.

Study on Dialysis Session Length and Mortality in Maintenance Hemodialysis Patients: The Q-Cohort Study.

OBJECTIVES: Hemodialysis (HD) time has been recognized as an important factor in dialysis adequacy. However, few studies have reported on associations between HD time and prognosis among maintenance HD patients. We present some findings from a prospective cohort study, the -Q-Cohort Study, which was set up to explore risk factors for mortality in Japanese HD patients. We hypothesized that HD ≥5 h was associated with a significant survival advantage compared with HD < 5 h. The present study examined association between HD time and mortality in Japanese HD patients. METHODS: The prospective multicenter Q-Cohort Study was conducted between December 2006 and December 2010, following 3,456 Japanese HD patients for 4 years. We examined the association between HD time and prognosis using Cox proportional hazards modeling. Propensity scores were calculated using logistic regression. RESULTS: During follow-up, 566 patients died from any cause. Patients with HD ≥5 h (n = 2,141) showed -significantly lower risk of all-cause death (hazards ratio = 0.82; 95% CI 0.68-0.99) than those with HD < 5 h (n = 1,315), after adjusting for confounding risk factors. This -association remained significant using a propensity score-based approach. After stratifying the analysis by patient age in 10-year increments, this finding remained -significant only in patients who were ≥80 years of age. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that HD ≥5 h has a more favorable effect on mortality than HD < 5 h.