Geographic and educational factors and risk of the first peritonitis episode in Brazilian Peritoneal Dialysis study (BRAZPD) patients.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Peritonitis remains as the most frequent cause of peritoneal dialysis (PD) failure, impairing patient's outcome. No large multicenter study has addressed socioeconomic, educational, and geographic issues as peritonitis risk factors in countries with a large geographic area and diverse socioeconomic conditions, such as Brazil. DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS, & MEASUREMENTS: Incident PD patients recruited from 114 dialysis centers and reporting to BRAZPD, a multicenter observational study, from December 2004 through October 2007 were included. Clinical, dialysis-related, demographic, and socioeconomic variables were analyzed. Patients were followed up until their first peritonitis. Cox proportional model was used to determine independent factors associated with peritonitis. RESULTS: In a cumulative follow-up of 2032 patients during 22.026 patient-months, 474 (23.3%) presented a first peritonitis episode. In contrast to earlier findings, PD modality, previous hemodialysis, diabetes, gender, age, and family income were not risk predictors. Factors independently associated with increased hazard risk were lower educational level, non-white race, region where patients live, shorter distance from dialysis center, and lower number of patients per center. CONCLUSIONS: Educational level and geographic factors as well as race and center size are associated with risk for the first peritonitis, independent of socioeconomic status, PD modality, and comorbidities.

Chronic peritoneal dialysis: seven-year experience in a large Hispanic program.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the clinical results of our patient population on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) and continuous cycling peritoneal dialysis (CCPD) in relation to treatment modality systems, compliance, rehabilitation characteristics, complications, and survivals. DESIGN: The medical records of all patients trained on CAPD or CCPD between 1985 and 1992 were reviewed for the above-mentioned outcome objectives. SETTING: Outpatient CAPD facility affiliated to a tertiary care community hospital. PATIENTS: The total of 305 patients trained during the study period were studied. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The patients were studied for age, sex, primary renal disease, peritoneal dialysis modality, need of assistance from a partner during the dialysis procedure, causes of transfer and hospitalization, peritonitis, rehabilitation, patient compliance, and outcome including mortality. PATIENT POPULATION: 179 (58.7%) males and 126 (41.3%) females, aged 1-80 years (mean 47.2 +/- 15.09) with a total observation time of 15,753 patient-months. The most common diagnosis of the renal disease was diabetic nephropathy (41%). Peritonitis was the main cause of hospitalizations (36.7%) and of transfers (69.5%). Patient survival at one, two, and three years was 87.9%, 76.6%, and 67.0%, respectively. Likewise, technique survival was 65.5%, 45.5%, and 30.6%. Peritonitis rate for CAPD has improved from 1.9 episodes per patient-year to 1.2 episodes per patient-year and an overall rate of 1.5 episodes per patient-year. CONCLUSIONS: The experience in a large Hispanic program shows a good patient survival rate. Although there is a trend to a lower peritonitis rate, this continues to be the main cause of transfer, hospitalization, and one of the main causes of death.