The greatly misunderstood erythropoietin resistance index and the case for a new responsiveness measure.

Introduction The optimal use of erythropoiesis stimulating agents (ESAs) to treat anemia in end stage renal disease remains controversial due to reported associations with adverse events. In analyzing these associations, studies often utilize ESA resistance indices (ERIs), to characterize a patient's response to ESA. In this study, we examine whether ERI is an adequate measure of ESA resistance.

Shorter dialysis times are associated with higher mortality among incident hemodialysis patients.

There is an association between hemodialysis session length and mortality independent of the effects of session duration on urea clearance. However, previous studies did not consider changes in session length over time nor did they control for the influence of time-dependent confounding. Using data from a national cohort of 8552 incident patients on thrice-weekly, in-center hemodialysis, we applied marginal structural analysis to determine the association between session length and mortality.

Association of hemoglobin variability and mortality among contemporary incident hemodialysis patients.

Background And Objectives: Evidence exists that variability in hemoglobin may be an independent risk factor for mortality among hemodialysis patients. These observations were based on a 1996 cohort, a time when anemia management differed greatly from present. Design, settings, participants and measurements: A retrospective cohort study of patients incident to Fresenius Medical Care units between 2004 and 2005 (n = 6644).

Association between long-term blood pressure variability and mortality among incident hemodialysis patients.

Background: Blood pressure variability (BPV) is one putative risk factor for cardiovascular disease and mortality in hemodialysis patients. The purposes of this study are to identify a suitable metric of long-term BPV in this population and determine whether an association between BPV and all-cause mortality exists.

Study Design: Retrospective cohort study.