Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 7, 2026
Acute Myocardial Infarction in Rats
Published on: February 16, 2011
Mortality due to bleeding, myocardial infarction and stroke in dialysis patients
G Ocak1, M Noordzij2, M B Rookmaaker1
1Department of Nephrology and Hypertension, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands.
Insights
Dialysis patients face significantly higher mortality risks from both bleeding and arterial thrombosis compared to the general population. These findings highlight the critical need for increased clinical awareness and management of these risks in dialysis care.
Area of Science:
- Nephrology
- Cardiovascular Medicine
- Public Health
Background:
- Dialysis is linked to increased risks of bleeding and thrombotic events.
- Limited data exists comparing bleeding as a cause of death versus arterial thrombosis in dialysis patients.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the comparative mortality rates of bleeding, myocardial infarction, and stroke in dialysis patients versus the general population.
- To identify potential risk factors associated with these causes of death in dialysis patients.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of 201,918 patients from 11 countries in the ERA-EDTA Registry, initiating dialysis between 1994-2011, with a 3-year follow-up.
- Calculation of age- and sex-standardized mortality rate ratios for bleeding, myocardial infarction, and stroke in dialysis patients compared to the European general population.
- Utilized Cox proportional-hazards regression to determine hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for risk factors.
Main Results:
- Dialysis patients exhibited significantly elevated mortality rate ratios: 12.8 for bleeding, 13.4 for myocardial infarction, and 12.4 for stroke compared to the general population.
- Mortality rates per 1000 person-years were substantially higher in dialysis patients for bleeding (6.2 vs. 0.3), myocardial infarction (22.5 vs. 0.9), and stroke (14.3 vs. 0.7).
Conclusions:
- Dialysis is associated with markedly increased risks of death due to bleeding and arterial thrombosis.
- Healthcare providers must be vigilant regarding the heightened mortality risks from bleeding and thrombosis in patients undergoing dialysis.
Abstract:
Essentials Mortality due to bleeding vs. arterial thrombosis in dialysis patients is unknown. We compared death causes of 201 918 dialysis patients with the general population. Dialysis was associated with increased mortality risks of bleeding and arterial thrombosis. Clinicians should be aware of the increased bleeding and thrombosis risks.
Summary:
Background Dialysis has been associated with both bleeding and thrombotic events. However, there is limited information on bleeding as a cause of death versus arterial thrombosis as a cause of death. Objectives To investigate the occurrence of bleeding, myocardial infarction and stroke as causes of death in the dialysis population as compared with the general population. Methods We included 201 918 patients from 11 countries providing data to the ERA-EDTA Registry who started dialysis treatment between 1994 and 2011, and followed them for 3 years. Age-standardized and sex-standardized mortality rate ratios for bleeding, myocardial infarction and stroke as causes of death were calculated in dialysis patients as compared with the European general population. Associations between potential risk factors and these causes of death in dialysis patients were investigated by calculating hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) by the use of Cox proportional-hazards regression. Results As compared with the general population, the age-standardized and sex-standardized mortality rate ratios in dialysis patients were 12.8 (95% CI 11.9-13.7) for bleeding as a cause of death (6.2 per 1000 person-years among dialysis patients versus 0.3 per 1000 person-years in the general population), 13.4 (95% CI 13.0-13.9) for myocardial infarction (22.5 versus 0.9 per 1000 person-years), and 12.4 (95% CI 11.9-12.9) for stroke (14.3 versus 0.7 per 1000 person-years). Conclusion Dialysis patients have highly increased risks of death caused by bleeding and arterial thrombosis as compared with the general population. Clinicians should be aware of the increased mortality risks caused by these conditions.
Related Concept Videos
01:27Dialysis
Acute kidney injury develops suddenly and can be caused by pre-renal causes (e.g., hypovolemia, shock), intrinsic renal causes (e.g., acute tubular necrosis), or post-renal causes (e.g., urinary obstruction). In contrast, chronic renal failure progresses gradually over time and is often...
01:15Dialysis
01:25Peritoneal Dialysis II: Peritoneal Dialysis Systems and Complications
01:22Bleeding in Fresh Concrete
Bleeding can cause several issues in the concrete structure. Sometimes, the rising water gets trapped beneath large aggregate...
01:30Peritoneal Dialysis I: Introduction and Procedure
01:25Peritoneal Dialysis III: Nursing Management