Vascular access in hemodialyis patients - registry data

Area of Science:

• Nephrology
• Vascular Surgery
• Public Health

Background:

• Arteriovenous fistula is the recommended vascular access for hemodialysis due to fewer complications.
• Central venous catheters are an alternative but associated with higher risks.
• This study examines vascular access types in hemodialysis patients in FYR of Macedonia.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the types of vascular access used in hemodialysis patients in FYR of Macedonia.
• To investigate the association between vascular access type and patient demographics, mortality, and dialysis vintage.
• To compare vascular access utilization between incident and non-incident hemodialysis patients.

Main Methods:

• Data collected from 18 hemodialysis centers in FYR of Macedonia.
• Analysis of 1,457 hemodialysis patients, including incident and non-incident cases.
• Vascular access type and intervention data were recorded from the National Renal Registry in 2009.

Main Results:

• 89% of non-incident patients utilized arteriovenous fistula, compared to a lower percentage of incident patients.
• Incident patients were older, had higher mortality, and were more likely to use central venous catheters.
• Patients with arteriovenous fistula experienced significantly less mortality and longer dialysis vintage than those with central venous catheters.

Conclusions:

• A high prevalence of arteriovenous fistula use was observed among non-incident hemodialysis patients in FYR of Macedonia.
• Incident hemodialysis patients showed a higher reliance on central venous catheters, correlating with increased mortality.
• Optimizing vascular access in incident hemodialysis patients is crucial for improving outcomes.