NDT Advance Access originally published online on April 4, 2007
Nephrology Dialysis Transplantation 2007 22(8):2297-2303; doi:10.1093/ndt/gfm176
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Regional effects of satellite haemodialysis units on renal replacement therapy in non-urban Ontario, Canada
1Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, 2Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences (ICES), 3University of Toronto, Toronto and 4London Health Sciences Centre, London, Ontario, Canada
Correspondence and offprint requests to: Dr S. Prakash, 1001 Potrero Avenue, Building 100, Room 342, San Francisco, CA 94110, California, USA. Email: suma74{at}gmail.com
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Abstract |
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Background. To provide better dialysis care to rural communities, the Ministry of Health chose to build satellite haemodialysis (HD) units, which are affiliated with, but are distant to, a main renal centre. We considered whether constructing such units in rural regions of Ontario, Canada, alleviated under-service of rates of renal replacement therapy (RRT) locally, decreased patient travel distance and decreased local peritoneal dialysis (PD) utilization.
Methods. We compared two groups of rural regions at two time points (years 1995 and 2002) in a before and after cross-sectional study. These regions were either already serviced by a satellite unit in 1995 (control group, 10 communities), or had new satellite units built between the years 1995 and 2002 (exposure group, 24 communities).
Results. The exposure group had a slightly greater increase in prevalent rate of RRT over time, but this did not reach statistical significance (control group increased 401 per million, exposure group 436 per million, P = 0.8). The mean weekly travel distance was reduced by 210.6 km after the construction of new satellite units (P < 0.001). There was no significant difference between the groups in reduction of PD proportion (P = 0.4). There was a significant increase in the number of elderly receiving RRT once local access was provided.
Conclusions. In conclusion, constructing satellite units increased access to renal care for elderly patients and reduced travel time for HD patients living in rural communities.
Keywords: ESRD, haemodialysis; peritoneal dialysis; regional variation; RRT rate
This version contains a minor correction to the second authors name.
Received for publication: 16.12.06
Accepted in revised form: 6. 3.07
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