Twenty-five years of experience with out-center hemodialysis

Background. Out-center hemodialysis (HD) offers patients a better quality o f life, a greater independence, and a better rehabilitation opportunity. A lower mortality than with Other modalities of dialysis has been reported. I n addition, in France the charges paid depend on the modality of dialysis, out-center HD being the less expensive, and savings are also accomplished t hrough fewer patient transports, which are additionally reimbursed. We pres ent a 25-year experience of out-center HD. Methods. We retrospectively studied the clinical records of 471 patients tr eated between 1974 and 1997 in a single nonprofit organization operating re gional home HD (H-HD) and facilities for self-care HD (SC-HD). Survival res ults were analyzed according to: (a) causes of end-stage renal disease, (b) age at the start of IID, (c) period of start of HD, (d) modality of HD (H- HD, SC-HD), and (e) a subgroup of 174 patients defined at risk because they were contraindicated for transplantation. Results. The mean age at the start of HD increased from 31.2 +/- 9.7 (mean +/- SD) years in 1974 to 52.6 +/- 13.5 years in 1997. Causes of the end of treatment were: (a) transplantation (63%), (b) transfer (20%), and (c) deat h (7%). The overall survival was 90% at 5 years, 77% at 10 years, 62% at 15 years, and 45% at 20 years, and, for the group at risk, 78%, 62%, 46%, and 31%, respectively. Cox proportional hazard analyses showed that risk facto rs were older age, diabetes, and renal vascular diseases. Conclusion. If adequate choice is given, out-center HD offers a reliable an d safe modality of dialysis with better survival results than survival in f ull-care in-center HD. In addition, out center HD ensures a striking financ ial benefit as compared with the higher costs if the same patients were tre ated with full-care in-center HD. These modalities should be encouraged for all HD patients who are able to be treated by out-center modalities.