Comparison of patient survival between hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis in a single Chinese center

No study in China has so far investigated the difference in patient survival rates between hemodialysis (HD) and peritoneal dialysis (PD). Therefore, the aim of the present single-center follow-up study was to determine and compare the survival rates associated with HD and PD at a Chinese hospital.

Clinical data were analyzed for all adult patients (age >18 years) with chronic renal failure who dialysis between 2006 and 2010.

The study included 216 patients, 140 of whom underwent PD and 76 of whom underwent HD. Compared to patients in the HD group, patients in the PD group were older (61 ± 14 vs. 55 ± 14 years, P = 0.004) and had higher baseline blood uric acid levels (452 ± 136 vs. 388 ± 150 μmol/L, P = 0.002) and lower baseline iPTH (224 ± 260 vs. 305 ± 267 pg/ml, P = 0.036). Moreover, a higher number of PD patients had diabetes (40 vs. 27.6 %, P = 0.056). The average follow-up time was 25 months in the PD group and 36 months in the HD group. The 1-, 2- and 3-year survival rates were 98.7, 93.2, and 85.5 %, respectively, in the HD group and 90.9, 81.5, and 73.8 %, respectively, in the PD group. In the first 3 years, HD was associated with better survival compared to the PD group. However, when adjusted for age, diabetes and BMI, there was no significant difference between the PD and HD group.

The mode of dialysis itself has no effect on the survival rate of ESRD patients on dialysis.