Factors Associated with Initiation of Chronic Renal... : Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (original) (raw)

Original Articles

Factors Associated with Initiation of Chronic Renal Replacement Therapy for Patients with Kidney Failure

Faruque, Labib I.*; Hemmelgarn, Brenda R.†,‡; Wiebe, Natasha*; Manns, Braden J.†,‡; Ravani, Pietro†,‡; Klarenbach, Scott*,§; Pelletier, Rick‖; Tonelli, Marcello*,§

Departments of *Medicine,

§Public Health Sciences, and

‖Renewable Resources, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada; and

Departments of †Medicine and

‡Community Health Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Correspondence: Dr. Marcello Tonelli, Departments of Medicine and Public Health Sciences, University of Alberta, 7-129 Clinical Science Building, 8440 112 Street, Edmonton, Alberta T6B 2G3, Canada. Email: [email protected]

Received October 19, 2012

Accepted March 13, 2013

Abstract

Background and objectives

Patients with kidney failure sometimes do not receive chronic renal replacement therapy (RRT), even though this may reduce their life expectancy. This study aimed to identify factors associated with initiation of chronic RRT.

Design, setting, participants, & measurements

This cohort study was conducted with Albertans aged >18 years between May 2002 and March 2009, using linked data from the provincial renal programs, clinical laboratories, and provincial health ministry. This study focused on those who developed kidney failure, defined by an estimated GFR (eGFR) <15 ml/min per 1.73 m2 at last measurement during follow-up, together with prior CKD (eGFR <60 ml/min per 1.73 m2 at least 90 days earlier). Multivariable Cox proportional hazards models were used to determine factors significantly associated with initiation of chronic RRT.

Results

In total, 7901 participants had eGFR <15 ml/min per 1.73 m2 at last measurement. After adjustment, older participants were less likely to initiate chronic RRT. Remote residence location, dementia, and metastatic cancer also decreased the likelihood of initiating RRT. The cumulative probability of initiating RRT during follow-up was 76.8% for urban-dwelling men aged <50 years without comorbidity, but was only 3.2% among remote-dwelling women aged ≥70 years with dementia and metastatic cancer. In contrast, patients with diabetes and heavy/severe proteinuria were more likely to initiate chronic RRT.

Conclusions

There is substantial variability in the likelihood of RRT initiation for patients with eGFR <15 ml/min per 1.73 m2. Further studies are needed to delineate factors that influence this outcome.