An endoAVF can be reliably created using a radiofrequency magnetic catheter-based system, without open surgery and with minimal complications. The endoAVF can be successfully used for hemodialysis and demonstrated high 12-month cumulative patencies. It may be a viable alternative option for achieving AVFs for hemodialysis patients in need of vascular access.
Background
Home-based dialysis therapies, home hemodialysis (HHD) and peritoneal dialysis (PD) are underutilized in many countries and significant variation in the uptake of home dialysis exists across dialysis centers. This study aimed to evaluate the patient- and center-level characteristics associated with uptake of home dialysis.
Methods
The Australia and New Zealand Dialysis and Transplant (ANZDATA) Registry was used to include incident dialysis patients in Australia and New Zealand from 1997 to 2017. Uptake of home dialysis was defined as any HHD or PD treatment reported to ANZDATA within 6 months of dialysis initiation. Characteristics associated with home dialysis uptake were evaluated using mixed effects logistic regression models with patient- and center-level covariates, era as a fixed effect and dialysis center as a random effect.
Results
Overall, 54 773 patients were included. Uptake of home-based dialysis was reported in 24 399 (45%) patients but varied between 0 and 87% across the 76 centers. Patient-level factors associated with lower uptake included male sex, ethnicity (particularly indigenous peoples), older age, presence of comorbidities, late referral to a nephrology service, remote residence and obesity. Center-level predictors of lower uptake included small center size, smaller proportion of patients with permanent access at dialysis initiation and lower weekly facility hemodialysis hours. The variation in odds of home dialysis uptake across centers increased by 3% after adjusting for the era and patient-level characteristics but decreased by 24% after adjusting for center-level characteristics.
Conclusion
Center-specific factors are associated with the variation in uptake of home dialysis across centers in Australia and New Zealand.
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