Nephrol Dial Transplant. 2021 Aug 12:gfab242. doi: 10.1093/ndt/gfab242. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Aim of the study was to determine associations between characteristics of arteriovenous access (AVA) access flow volume (Qa, mL/min) and four year freedom from cardiovascular mortality (4yr-CVM) in hemodialysis (HD) patients.
METHODS: HD patients who received a primary AVA between January 2010 and December 2017 in one center were analyzed. Initial Qa was defined as the first Qa value obtained in a well-functioning AVA by a two-needle dilution technique. Actual Qa was defined as access flow at a random point of time. Changes in actual Qa were expressed per 3-month periods. CVM was assessed according to the ERA-EDTA classification. The optimal cut-off point for initial Qa was identified by a receiver operating characteristic curve. A joint modelling statistical technique determined longitudinal associations between Qa characteristics and 4yr-CVM.
RESULTS: A total of 5208 Qa measurements (165 patients, male n = 103; age 70±12 years, autologous AVA n = 146, graft n = 19) were analyzed. During follow-up (Dec 2010-Jan 2018, median 36 months), 79 patients (48%) died. An initial Qa < 900 mL/min was associated with an increased 4y-CVM risk (HR: 4.05; 95% CI [1.94-8.43], P<0.001). After 4 years, freedom from CVM was 34% lower in patients with a Qa < 900 mL/min (53 ±7% vs. Qa ≥ 900 mL/min: 87 ±4%, P <0.001). An association between increases in actual Qa over 3-month periods and mortality was found (HR: 4.48 per 100mL/min, 95% CI [1.44-13.97], P =0.010) indicating that patients demonstrating increasing Qa were more likely to die. By contrast, actual Qa per se was not related to survival.
CONCLUSIONS: Studying novel arteriovenous access Qa characteristics may contribute to understanding excess CVM in HD patients.
PMID:34383950 | DOI:10.1093/ndt/gfab242
