Peritoneal Dialysis Modality Failure in a Middle-Income Country: A Retrospective Cohort Study

Technique failure in peritoneal dialysis (PD) remains one of the most critical challenges of this therapy and is associated with a significant increase in costs and morbidity. Our objective was to estimate the frequency of PD technique failure and identify factors associated with technique failure.

A retrospective multicenter observational cohort study.

All adult patients initiating PD between January 1, 2010, and December 31, 2015, with follow-up until December 31, 2018, at the Renal Therapy Services network in Colombia.

PD modality (continuous ambulatory PD and automated PD) and demographic and clinical characteristics.

Technique failure, defined as a switch to hemodialysis lasting at least 30 days.

Sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of all patients were summarized descriptively according to modality. We estimated the cumulative incidence of technique failure, and a flexible parametric survival model with competing risks was used to evaluate factors associated with this outcome.

Among 6,452 patients meeting inclusion criteria, 67% were treated with continuous ambulatory PD. The cumulative incidence of technique failure within 1 year of PD initiation adjusting for competing risks was 6.9% (95% CI, 6.3%-7.6%); within 2 years, technique failure was 13.5% (95% CI, 12.6%-14.4%); and within 3 years, 19.6% (95% CI, 18.5%-20.7%). Female sex, larger center size, and higher Kt/V were associated with lower risk for modality change, whereas diabetes, history of major abdominal surgery, catheter implant technique (laparotomy and percutaneous techniques), obesity, and peritonitis were associated with a higher likelihood of technique failure.

Variables of distance to the center, use of icodextrin, and measures of outcomes reported by patients were not included.

Technique failure is relatively uncommon in Colombia; catheter-related problems are the most frequent cause of technique failure. Best practices in catheter insertion could minimize the risk for this outcome.