NDT Advance Access published online on December 22, 2007
Nephrology Dialysis Transplantation, doi:10.1093/ndt/gfm915
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Quality of Care and Survival of Haemodialyzed Patients in Western Switzerland
1 Division of Nephrology, University Hospital of Geneva, Switzerland 2 Service of Clinical Epidemiology, University Hospital of Geneva, Switzerland 3 Division of Nephrology, University Hospital of Lausanne, Switzerland
Correspondence and offprint requests to: Patrick Saudan, Division of Nephrology, University Hospital, 1211 Geneva 14, Switzerland. Tel: +41-22-3726794; Fax: +41-22-3726794; E-mail: Patrick.Saudan{at}hcuge.ch
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Abstract |
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Background. Many factors affect survival in haemodialysis (HD) patients. Our aim was to study whether quality of clinical care may affect survival in this population, when adjusted for demographic characteristics and co-morbidities.
Methods. We studied survival in 553 patients treated by chronic HD during March 2001 in 21 dialysis facilities in western Switzerland. Indicators of quality of care were established for anaemia control, calcium and phosphate product, serum albumin, pre-dialysis blood pressure (BP), type of vascular access and dialysis adequacy (spKt/V) and their baseline values were related to 3-year survival. The modified Charlson co-morbidity index (including age) and transplantation status were also considered as a predictor of survival.
Results. Three-year survival was obtained for 96% of the patients; 39% (211/541) of these patients had died. The 3-year survival was 50, 62 and 69%, respectively, in patients who had 0–2, 3 and 
4 fulfilled indicators of quality of care (test for linear trend, P < 0.001). In a Cox multivariate analysis model, the absence of transplantation, a higher modified Charlson's score, decreased fulfilment of indicators of good clinical care and low pre-dialysis systolic BP were independent predictors of death.
Conclusion. Good clinical care improves survival in HD patients, even after adjustment for availability of transplantation and co-morbidities.
Keywords: co-morbidity score; end-stage renal failure; haemodialysis; quality of care; survival
4 Participting centers: see the appendix to this article.
Received for publication: 8. 8.07
Accepted in revised form: 4.12.07
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