News Release

Model predicts dialysis patients' likelihood of survival

Tool could identify patients eligible for hospice

Peer-Reviewed Publication

American Society of Nephrology

Michael Germain, Baystate Medical Center

image: This is a picture of Michael Germain, M.D., co-author of the study. view more 

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A new model can help physicians determine if a kidney disease patient on dialysis is likely to die within the next few months, according to a study appearing in an upcoming issue of the Clinical Journal of the American Society Nephrology (CJASN). This clinical tool could help medical professionals initiate discussions with patients and their families about end-of-life care such as hospice.

Some kidney disease patients on dialysis are very ill and long-term survival is not anticipated. Because dialysis can be tedious and cause medical complications, patients who know that they likely have only a short time to live may wish to consider alternatives such as stopping dialysis. Unfortunately, doctors have not had accurate ways to predict dialysis patients' likelihood of long-term survival.

Michael Germain, MD; Lewis Cohen, MD (Baystate Medical Center); and their colleagues designed a model to help physicians assess the likelihood of long-term survival for these very ill patients. The investigators derived their model after studying 512 kidney disease patients on dialysis. One major component of the model is a doctor's estimate of prognosis, called the "surprise question." (Would you be surprised if your patient died in the next six months?) The model also takes into consideration a patient's nutritional status, age, and additional illnesses or conditions.

Five simple factors: a 'no' answer to the surprise question, older age, decreased serum albumin, presence of dementia, and presence of peripheral vascular disease (blockage of an artery that leads to an arm or a leg), could be mathematically combined to accurately predict that a patient is unlikely to survive past six months. When comparing a patient who died within six months with one who remained alive, 87% of the time the model accurately predicted that the former patient had a higher risk of dying within that timeframe than the latter. The researchers validated their model by testing its accuracy in another 514 kidney disease patients on dialysis, where the model's predictive accuracy was only slightly lower (80%).

Discussing a kidney disease patient's likelihood of dying can help seriously ill patients and their families make informed clinical decisions: some will decide to stop dialysis and start hospice care, while others may prefer continuing vigorous treatments to prolong life as long as possible. "Terminal care is complicated and it is always preferable if decisions can be discussed in advance, goals established, and decisions reached collaboratively between patient and physician," said Dr. Germain.

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Disclosures: Dr. Cohen is the author of the upcoming book, "NO GOOD DEED: A Story of Medicine, Murder Accusations, and the Debate over How We Die" that deals with issues related to end-of-life care and discontinuation of dialysis of kidney disease patients. The authors report no other disclosures. Study co-authors include Robin Ruthazer, MPH (Tufts Medical Center) and Alvin Moss, MD (West Virginia University School of Medicine).

ASN continues to lead the fight against kidney disease by highlighting complex areas of interest, such as palliative care and quality of life issues. The Society recently posted a podcast about palliative care, which is available through its website at http://asn-online.org/publications/kidneynews/podcast.aspx.

The article, entitled "Predicting Six-Month Mortality in Patients Maintained with Hemodialysis," will appear online at http://cjasn.asnjournals.org/ on December 3, 2009, doi 10.2215/CJN.03860609.

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Founded in 1966, the American Society of Nephrology (ASN) is the world's largest professional society devoted to the study of kidney disease. Comprised of 11,000 physicians and scientists, ASN continues to promote expert patient care, to advance medical research, and to educate the renal community. ASN also informs policymakers about issues of importance to kidney doctors and their patients. ASN funds research, and through its world-renowned meetings and first-class publications, disseminates information and educational tools that empower physicians.


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