Prevalence of arterial stiffness and associated factors in Thai hemodialysis patients: A multicenter cross-sectional study.

Background: Hemodialysis (HD) patients have higher risks of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality compared to the general population. Cardio-femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV) is associated with cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in HD patients. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence and associated factors of arterial stiffness in Thai HD patients.

Effect of Menaquinone-7 Supplementation on Arterial Stiffness in Chronic Hemodialysis Patients: A Multicenter Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: There is a very high prevalence of subclinical vitamin K deficiency in patients requiring hemodialysis (HD), and this problem is associated with vascular calcification and arterial stiffness. Vitamin K2 (MK-7) supplementation can improve vitamin K status in HD patients. However, the benefits of vitamin K supplementation on arterial stiffness have still not been established.

Effect of Maintenance Intravenous Iron Treatment on Erythropoietin Dose in Chronic Hemodialysis Patients: A Multicenter Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: There is no consensus on intravenous (IV) iron supplement dose, schedule, and serum ferritin target in functional iron deficiency anemia to maintain optimum target levels of iron stores by several guidelines.

Objective: To examine the effect of IV iron supplementation to different targets of serum ferritin on erythropoietin dose and inflammatory markers in chronic hemodialysis (HD) patients with functional iron deficiency anemia.

Design: A multicenter, randomized, open-label study.

Prevalence trend of renal replacement therapy in Thailand: impact of health economics policy.

Objective: The national health insurance fund in Thailand initiated by the national health security act in November, 2002. In October 2007, the national health insurance fund launched the first renal replacement therapy (RRT) reimbursement plan by the "Peritoneal Dialysis-First" (PD First) policy. The rationale of the PD First Policy resulted from the perspective that PD for end stage renal disease (ESRD) treatment offers the most economic and efficient outcome.