Ying Xu1, Jie Dong, Li Zuo. 1. Renal Division, Department of Medicine, Peking University First Hospital; Institute of Nephrology, Peking University, Beijing, PR China.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: In a single-center retrospective cohort study, we investigated whether the frequency of clinic patient-physician contact (PPC) correlates with quality of care and can predict outcome in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We enrolled 307 incident PD patients who started PD from July 2002 to February 2007. All patients who visited the clinic at least once every 6 months and who lived for at least 6 months were followed until death, transfer to hemodialysis, renal transplantation, or February 2008 (censor date). Throughout the study period, an integrative follow-up strategy was used, including PPC and three other modes of contact between patients and non-physicians. Patients' PPC frequency was divided into 3 categories: high frequency (monthly or more often), intermediate frequency (every 1-3 months), and low frequency (every 3-6 months). Baseline demographic and biochemical data were collected. Indices of diet, dialysis adequacy, biochemistry, and nutrition were measured at every visit and then calculated as mean values. RESULTS: We followed the 307 patients for a mean of 31.45 +/- 13.62 months (range: 12-64 months). By PPC frequency, 127 patients (41.3%) were in the high-frequency group; 136 (44.3%), in the intermediate-frequency group; and 44 (14.3%), in the low-frequency group. We observed no difference of baseline demographic and biochemical data between the three groups (p > 0.05). Patients in the low-frequency group had lower mean hemoglobin and total urea clearance rates, but higher serum phosphate than did patients in the intermediate- or high-frequency groups (p < 0.05). Mean indices of nutrition, including serum albumin, daily protein and energy intake, and lean body mass were not different between the three groups (p > 0.05). Frequency of PPC did not show an effect on the survival of PD patients (p = 0.37 by Kaplan-Meier plot). Age (p = 0.002), Charlson comorbidity score (p = 0.001), and pre-dialysis albumin (p = 0.019) were independent negative risk factors for death in multivariate Cox proportional hazard models, which were adjusted for sex, PPC frequency, baseline hemoglobin, and glomerular filtration rate. CONCLUSIONS: Frequency of PPC did not predict outcome in PD patients after an integrative care strategy was implemented. Control of anemia and hyperphosphatemia needs to be strengthened in patients with a low frequency of PPC.
OBJECTIVE: In a single-center retrospective cohort study, we investigated whether the frequency of clinic patient-physician contact (PPC) correlates with quality of care and can predict outcome in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We enrolled 307 incident PDpatients who started PD from July 2002 to February 2007. All patients who visited the clinic at least once every 6 months and who lived for at least 6 months were followed until death, transfer to hemodialysis, renal transplantation, or February 2008 (censor date). Throughout the study period, an integrative follow-up strategy was used, including PPC and three other modes of contact between patients and non-physicians. Patients' PPC frequency was divided into 3 categories: high frequency (monthly or more often), intermediate frequency (every 1-3 months), and low frequency (every 3-6 months). Baseline demographic and biochemical data were collected. Indices of diet, dialysis adequacy, biochemistry, and nutrition were measured at every visit and then calculated as mean values. RESULTS: We followed the 307 patients for a mean of 31.45 +/- 13.62 months (range: 12-64 months). By PPC frequency, 127 patients (41.3%) were in the high-frequency group; 136 (44.3%), in the intermediate-frequency group; and 44 (14.3%), in the low-frequency group. We observed no difference of baseline demographic and biochemical data between the three groups (p > 0.05). Patients in the low-frequency group had lower mean hemoglobin and total urea clearance rates, but higher serum phosphate than did patients in the intermediate- or high-frequency groups (p < 0.05). Mean indices of nutrition, including serum albumin, daily protein and energy intake, and lean body mass were not different between the three groups (p > 0.05). Frequency of PPC did not show an effect on the survival of PDpatients (p = 0.37 by Kaplan-Meier plot). Age (p = 0.002), Charlson comorbidity score (p = 0.001), and pre-dialysis albumin (p = 0.019) were independent negative risk factors for death in multivariate Cox proportional hazard models, which were adjusted for sex, PPC frequency, baseline hemoglobin, and glomerular filtration rate. CONCLUSIONS: Frequency of PPC did not predict outcome in PDpatients after an integrative care strategy was implemented. Control of anemia and hyperphosphatemia needs to be strengthened in patients with a low frequency of PPC.