Clinical Characteristics of Patients on Long-term Hemodialysis.

Objective: To study the clinical characteristics of patients on hemodialysis for more than ten years in order to highlight the modifiable factors that may improve survival in low socioeconomic status.

Study Design: Observational cross-sectional study.

Place And Duration Of Study: Department of Nephrology, The Kidney Centre Postgraduate Training Institute (TKCPGTI), Karachi, from November 2017 to January 2018.

Methodology: Clinical records of 38 patients, who have been on thrice weekly hemodialysis for more than ten years at the study centre with registration period from 1989 to 2018, were reviewed. The participants were placed in three groups according to duration of hemodialysis: 10 to 15 years; 15 to 20 years, and >20 years. Background information (age, gender, age at initiation of hemodialysis, cause of renal failure), dialysis dose (urea reduction ratio), anemia (hemoglobin), bone-mineral metabolism (calcium, phosphate and iPTH), and nutrition (albumin) were evaluated. The parameters were compared among the groups and with respect to K/DOQI and EBPG guidelines.

Results: Mean age at institution of hemodialysis was 33.5 years. The most common cause of End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) was of unknown etiology (bilateral small shrunken kidneys). Chronic sclerosing glomerulonephritis was the second most common cause. The mean hemoglobin level was 10.98 +1.4 g/dL. Mean phosphate, calcium and iPTH were 4.75 ±1.34 mg/dL, 9.62 ±0.64 mg/dL and 281.5 pg/ml, respectively. Serum albumin was 3.66 ±0.39 mg/dL. These indexes were comparable to recommended guidelines.

Conclusion: Clinical characteristics and other profiles of patients on hemodialysis for more than 10 years are comparable to the standard K/DOQI and EPBG guidelines. We believe that complying the standard guidelines for management of patients on chronic hemodialysis can result in better long-term outcome and survival in our population.