How do hospitalization patterns of home hemodialysis patients compare with a reasonably well dialysis patient cohort?

Figures & data

Table 1 Patient characteristics

Patient characteristics	HHD	Cat1 SHD
Male/female	N=16/9	N=15/10
Mean agea	M=53.6 (35–76)	M=47.4 (25–69)
Patients admitted	N=18	N=18
In patient days	71	85
Length of stay (days)a	M=5.9 (1–13)	M=6.7 (1–22)
Number of years on dialysisa	M=4.6 (1–18)	M=3.4 (1–16)

Note:

a P>0.05 suggesting no difference between the two means.

Abbreviations: HHD, home hemodialysis patients; Cat1 SHD, satellite hemodialysis patients on Category 1 transplant list; N, number of patients; M, mean value.

Table 2 Primary cause of ESRF

Primary cause of ESRF	HHD (N=25)	Cat1 SHD (N=25)
Diabetes	4	7
Glomerulonephritis	1	3
Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis	2	1
Adult polycystic kidney disease	2	3
IgA nephropathy	5	2
Reflux	4	4
Goodpastures Syndrome	2	0
Vasculitis	3	1
Hypertension	2	0
Other (congenital small kidneys, alports, nephrosclerosis)	0	4

Abbreviations: ESRF, end-stage renal failure; HHD, home hemodialysis patients; Cat1 SHD, satellite hemodialysis patients on Category 1 transplant list; N, number of patients; IgA, Immunoglobulin A.

Table 3 Diagnosis on admission and associated length of stay

Admission diagnosis	HHD (N)	LOS (days)	Cat1 SHD (N)	LOS (days)
Infection: osteomyelitis, pneumonia, viral infection	2	8	3	12
Surgical: dialysis access	1	6	7	44
Surgical-other: inguinal hernia repair	8	23	2	2
Cardiac: NSTEMI, hypotension	4	14	3	5
Electrolyte imbalances: hyperkalemia	0	0	2	15
Endocrinology: unstable diabetes	1	13	0	0
Gastrointestinal: nausea and vomiting, constipation, decreased oral intake	1	2	2	7
Neurological: stroke	1	7	0	0

Abbreviations: NSTEMI, non-ST segment elevation myocardial infarction; HHD, home hemodialysis patients; Cat1 SHD, satellite hemodialysis patients on Category 1 transplant list; N, number of patients in that category; LOS, length of stay.

Table 4 Recent laboratory values

Laboratory test	HHD, mean (range)	Cat1 SHD, mean (range)	P-value
Hemoglobin (g/dL)	110.8 (87–135)	109.2 (91–139)	a0.63
Creatinine (mg/dL)	445.1 (191–902)	768.5 (290–1,368)	b1.0×10^−6
Potassium (mEq/L)	4.1 (3.1–6.5)	5.0 (3.7–6.1)	b0.001
Phosphate (mg/dL)	1.1 (0.56–2.38)	1.5 (0.43–3.2)	b0.02
Albumin (g/dL)	36.0 (28–42)	36.4 (31–40)	a0.75

Notes: P-values:

a P>0.05 suggesting no difference between the two means;

b P<0.05 suggesting a difference between the two means.

Abbreviations: HHD, home hemodialysis patients; Cat1 SHD, satellite hemodialysis patients on Category 1 transplant list.