Late nephrologist referral and mortality assotiation in dialytic patients.

INTRODUCTION: Chronic kidney disease is defined by the progressive loss of renal function. Interventions in early stages significantly improve the prognosis of patients with chronic kidney disease, reducing the mortality, and many studies show that early nephrologist referral reduces the mortality rate. OBJECTIVE: To analyze the characteristics of the patients in dialysis and the time between the first consultation in the dialysis clinic and the beginning of the dialytic program. METHODS: It was made a cohort retrospective study with two analysis axis: the social and epidemiological characteristics of the patients in hemodialysis and the time between the first consultation in the clinic and the beginning of the dialytic program. Analytical and descriptive methods where used to compare these data with the early referral and the mortality 12 months after the dialysis onset. RESULTS: One hundred and one patients were analyzed. The mortality rate of the early and lately referred patients was 47.8% and 20.5%, respectively (HR = 2.38; IC = 1.06-5.36; p = 0.035). Concerning the patients which initiated the dialysis with catheter and arteriovenous fistula, the mortality was respectively 51.4% and 10.3% (HR = 4.61; IC = 1,54-13,75; p = 0.006). CONCLUSION: The referral timing was predominantly late. The late referral was associated with a greater mortality. Other variables associated with a greater mortality were age of 70 or more, presence of diabetes and the use of catheter by the dialysis onset.

Encaminhamento tardio ao nefrologista e a associação com mortalidade em pacientes em hemodiálise / Late nephrologist referral and mortality assotiation in dialytic patients

Introdução: A doença renal crônica (DRC) caracteriza-se pela perda progressiva da função renal. Intervenções em estágios iniciais melhoram significativamente o prognóstico dos pacientes com DRC e vários estudos mostram que o encaminhamento precoce (EP) ao nefrologista reduz a taxa de mortalidade. Objetivo: Analisar o perfil dos pacientes em diálise e o tempo transcorrido entre a primeira consulta na unidade de diálise e o início do programa dialítico. Métodos: Foi realizado um estudo de coorte retrospectivo com dois eixos de análise: perfil socioepidemiológico e clínico dos pacientes em hemodiálise e o tempo transcorrido entre a primeira consulta na unidade de diálise e o início do programa dialítico. Utilizaram-se métodos analíticos para comparar estes dados com o EP e com a mortalidade em 12 meses após o início da diálise. Resultados: Foram analisados 111 pacientes. A taxa de mortalidade dos pacientes encaminhados tardiamente e precocemente foi, respectivamente, de 47,8% e 20,5% (razão de risco [HR] = 2,38; intervalo de confiança [IC] = 1,06-5,36; p = 0,035). Os pacientes que iniciaram a diálise por cateter e fístula arteriovenosa (FAV) tiveram mortalidade, respectivamente, de 51,4% e 10,3% (HR = 4,61; IC = 1,54-13,75; p = 0,006). Conclusão: O tempo de encaminhamento foi predominantemente tardio. Foi demonstrado que o encaminhamento tardio (ET) esteve relacionado a maior mortalidade. Outros fatores associados a maior mortalidade foram a idade maior ou igual a 70 anos, presença de DM e uso de cateter ao início da diálise. .

Introduction: Chronic kidney disease is defined by the progressive loss of renal function. Interventions in early stages significantly improve the prognosis of patients with chronic kidney disease, reducing the mortality, and many studies show that early nephrologist referral reduces the mortality rate. Objective: To analyze the characteristics of the patients in dialysis and the time between the first consultation in the dialysis clinic and the beginning of the dialytic program. Methods: It was made a cohort retrospective study with two analysis axis: the social and epidemiological characteristics of the patients in hemodialysis and the time between the first consultation in the clinic and the beginning of the dialytic program. Analytical and descriptive methods where used to compare these data with the early referral and the mortality 12 months after the dialysis onset. Results: One hundred and one patients were analized. The mortality rate of the early and lately referred patients was 47.8% and 20.5%, respectively (HR = 2.38; IC = 1.06-5.36; p = 0.035). Concerning the patients which initiated the dialysis with catheter and arteriovenous fistula, the mortality was respectively 51.4% and 10.3% (HR = 4.61; IC = 1,54-13,75; p = 0.006). Conclusion: The referral timing was predominantly late. The late referral was associated with a greater mortality. Other variables associated with a greater mortality were age of 70 or more, presence of diabetes and the use of catheter by the dialysis onset. .