Table 1 Baseline characteristics of 181 hemodialysis patients

Age (years)

56.0 ± 16.6

Female – n (%)

74 (40.9)

Race/ethnicity – n (%)

 Black

79 (43.7)

 Hispanic

71 (39.2)

 Caucasian

22 (12.1)

 Other

9 (5.0)

Hypertension – n (%)

176 (97.2)

Diabetes Mellitus – n (%)

108 (59.7)

Cardiovascular Disease – n (%)

116 (64.1)

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease– n (%)

15 (8.3)

Smoking – n (%)

 Current

24 (13.3)

 Former

33 (18.2)

 Never

53 (29.3)

 Unknown

71 (39.2)

Body Mass Index - kg/m² – n (%)

 Underweight (≤18.49)

4 (2.2)

 Normal (18.5 – 24.9)

62 (34.3)

 Overweight (25 – 29.9)

64 (35.4)

 Obese (≥30)

51 (28.2)

ESRD Etiology – n (%)

 Diabetes

87 (48.1)

 Hypertension

45 (24.9)

 Glomerulonephritis

12 (6.6)

 Polycystic Kidney Disease

3 (1.7)

 Lupus

8 (4.4)

 HIV

7 (3.9)

 Other/Unknown

19 (10.5)

Initial Access Type – n (%)

 Catheter

75 (41.4)

 AVF

66 (36.5)

 AVG

40 (22.1)

Medication use – n (%)

 Diuretic

25 (13.8)

 ACE inhibitor or ARB

63 (34.8)

 Beta blocker

133 (73.5)

 Calcium Channel Blocker

109 (60.2)

 Statin

93 (51.4)

 Proton Pump Inhibitor

51 (28.2)

 H2 Blocker

10 (5.5)

Phosphate binder– n (%)^a

 Sevelamer Hydrochloride

76 (42.0)

 Calcium Acetate

38 (21.0)

 Sevelamer Carbonate

21 (11.6)

 Lanthanum Carbonate

6 (3.3)

 Calcium Carbonate

6 (3.3)

 None

34 (18.8)

Epoetin alpha dose (Units)

 ≤5000

57 (31.5)

 >5000 – ≤10,000

96 (53.0)

 ≥10,000

28 (15.5)

Interdialytic weight gain (kg)

2.77 ± 0.93

Dialysis treatment time (min)

228.4 ± 18.0

Blood flow rate (mL/min)

382 ± 31

Dialysate flow rate (mL/min)

603 ± 33

Serum bicarbonate (mEq/L)^b

23.0 ± 2.2

Serum potassium (mEq/L)^b

4.6 ± 0.6

Serum albumin (mg/dL)^b

3.7 ± 0.5

Serum calcium (mg/dL)^b

8.9 ± 0.6

Serum phosphate (mg/dL)^b

5.1 ± 1.2

Serum hemoglobin (g/dL)^b

10.8 ± 1.2

Serum creatinine (mg/dL)^b

8.0 ± 2.9

WBC (10³/mm³)^b

7.5 ± 2.1

nPCR (g/kg/day)^b

0.82 ± 0.18

spKt/V^b

1.6 ± 0.28