The effect of extended-hours hemodialysis on outcomes: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Extended-hours hemodialysis is associated with improvements in quality of life (QoL) and mortality, but it may accelerate the loss of residual kidney function (RKF) and increase vascular access complications. Multiple established databases were systematically searched; randomized and non-randomized studies were pooled separately. QoL outcomes were assessed using standardized mean difference (SMD), vascular access adverse events and mortality were assessed with relative risk ratios (RR). Four hundred seventy-six patients from six trials were eligible. Data from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) could only be synthesized for vascular access adverse events and mortality, which demonstrated no significant change in vascular access adverse events (RR 1.25, 95% CI 0.88 to 1.77) or mortality (RR 2.29, 95% CI 0.60 to 8.71). Pooled data from non-randomized trials demonstrated no significant difference in QoL (SF-36 Physical Component Summary SMD 0.61, 95% CI -0.10 to 1.31, SF-36 Mental Component Summary SMD -0.04, 95% CI -0.61 to 0.54). RKF was assessed in one report which demonstrated a potential reduction over 12 months with extended-hours hemodialysis. The majority of trials had high risk of bias. Extended-hours hemodialysis was not associated with improved QoL or mortality, or increased vascular access events. Adequately powered RCTs are needed to fully assess extended-hours hemodialysis.