Achieving better results for peritoneal dialysis in recent years.

Introduction: Survival rates between haemodialysis (HD) and peritoneal dialysis (PD) are the same but the associated comorbidity factors have a great impact on mortality. In the most recent studies the prognosis for PD has improved more than that for HD, although this has not meant an increase in the use of this treatment.

Objectives: To determine whether the PD has improved over time with respect to its outcomes in our community, and determine the influence of comorbidity and treatment characteristics on the final results.

Methods: Incident patients undergoing DP in Andalusia between 1999 and 2010. The cohort was divided into two groups: before and after 2004.

Statistics: mean ± standard deviation, frequency, chi-square test, Student's t-test, risk determination (95% confidence interval), Kaplan-Meyer, log-rank and multivariate Cox proportional hazards models.

Results: 1464 incident patients undergoing DP, 537 before 2004 and 927 after 2004. The baseline characteristics of both groups (age, diabetes) were similar, although the first group had more severe cardiovascular disease and higher Charlson comorbidity index. In the second period, more automatic PD and solutions of bicarbonate and icodextrin were used. The overall survival rate for patients was 55 months median and 65 mean. Within all subgroups (age, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, technique type) there was a greater tendency towards survival in the second period (the technique type, age and diabetes were found to be statistically significant variables). Age, cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus and incident cases before 2004 were all independent risk factors. This latter variable lost significance as bicarbonate or icodextrin-based solutions were introduced, which were independent risk factors. Technique survival showed a median of 68 months and a mean of 73 months. Dialysis solutions and the period when the DP was initiated were independent risk factors for the technique.

Conclusions: DP has shown improved results in recent years; probably the new solutions are having a positive influence. As such PD should be implemented applying the criteria of effectiveness, free choice, efficiency and PD units should be fully developed within Nephrology Departments.