Table 1 Baseline characteristics of patients at dialysis initiation by referral timing to a nephrologist
Total (n = 1475) | Late referral (n = 275) | Without late referral (n = 1200) | P value (Late vs. Non late) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Characteristics | ||||
Age (years), mean ± SD | 67.5 ± 13.1 | 67.0 ± 13.7 | 67.6 ± 12.9 | 0.6 |
Male sex, n (%) | 1005 (68.1) | 183 (66.5) | 822 (68.5) | 0.5 |
Medical history, n (%) | ||||
Volume overload | 381 (25.8) | 97 (35.3) | 284 (23.7) | < 0.001 |
Admission for heart failure | 308 (20.9) | 64 (23.3) | 244 (20.3) | 0.3 |
Amputation | 24 (1.6) | 6 (2.2) | 18 (1.5) | 0.4 |
Malignancy | 158 (10.7) | 20 (7.3) | 138 (11.5) | 0.04 |
Comorbidity, n (%) | ||||
Diabetes mellitus | 767 (52.0) | 129 (46.9) | 638 (53.2) | 0.06 |
Atherosclerotic disease | 405 (27.5) | 71 (25.8) | 334 (27.8) | 0.5 |
Coronary heart disease | 251 (17.1) | 39 (14.2) | 212 (17.7) | 0.2 |
Valvular heart disease | 99 (6.7) | 13 (4.7) | 86 (7.2) | 0.1 |
Aortic disease | 83 (5.6) | 20 (7.3) | 63 (5.3) | 0.2 |
Peripheral artery disease | 76 (5.2) | 21 (7.6) | 55 (4.6) | 0.04 |
Cerebrovascular disease | 136 (9.2) | 24 (8.7) | 112 (9.3) | 0.8 |
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease | 50 (3.4) | 11 (4.0) | 39 (3.3) | 0.5 |
Peptic ulcer disease | 51 (3.5) | 14 (5.1) | 37 (3.1) | 0.1 |
Liver disease | 67 (4.5) | 12 (4.4) | 55 (4.6) | 0.9 |
Dementia | 148 (10.0) | 37 (13.5) | 112 (9.3) | 0.04 |
Laboratory values | ||||
Hemoglobin (g/dL), mean ± SD | 9.4 ± 1.5 | 8.8 ± 1.8 | 9.5 ± 1.4 | < 0.001 |
Serum albumin (g/dL), mean ± SD | 3.2 ± 0.6 | 3.0 ± 0.6 | 3.2 ± 0.6 | < 0.001 |
eGFR (mL/min per 1.73 m2), mean ± SD | 5.5 ± 2.2 | 5.9 ± 3.3 | 5.4 ± 1.9 | 0.01 |
Potassium (mEq/L), mean ± SD | 4.5 ± 0.8 | 4.6 ± 1.0 | 4.5 ± 0.8 | 0.3 |
Adjusted calcium (mg/dL), mean ± SD | 8.6 ± 1.1 | 8.6 ± 1.2 | 8.6 ± 1.0 | 0.5 |
Phosphate (mg/dL), mean ± SD | 6.4 ± 1.9 | 6.7 ± 2.4 | 6.3 ± 1.7 | < 0.001 |
Charlson comorbidity index | 4.8 ± 1.8 | 5.0 ± 2.0 | 4.8 ± 1.8 | 0.2 |
Dialysis modality, n (%) | ||||
Peritoneal dialysis | 104 (7.1) | 11 (4.0) | 93 (7.8) | 0.03 |
Initial dialysis access, n (%) | < 0.001 | |||
Arteriovenous fistula | 987 (67.6) | 108 (39.3) | 879 (73.3) | |
Arteriovenous graft | 94 (6.4) | 15 (5.5) | 79 (6.6) | |
Central venous catheter | 289 (19.8) | 139 (51.3) | 150 (12.6) | |
Peritoneal catheter | 86 (5.9) | 8 (2.9) | 78 (6.5) | |
Other | 19 (1.3) | 5 (1.8) | 14 (1.2) | |
Oral medication, n (%) | ||||
ARB | 850 (57.7) | 98 (35.6) | 752 (62.8) | < 0.001 |
ACE inhibitors | 131 (8.9) | 16 (5.8) | 115 (9.6) | 0.05 |
β-Blockers | 519 (35.2) | 80 (29.1) | 439 (36.6) | 0.02 |
Calcium antagonist | 1178 (79.9) | 184 (66.9) | 994 (82.8) | < 0.001 |
Aldosterone antagonist | 75 (5.1) | 13 (4.7) | 62 (5.2) | 0.8 |
Statins | 596 (40.4) | 76 (27.6) | 520 (43.3) | < 0.001 |
Loop diuretics | 979 (66.4) | 144 (52.4) | 835 (69.6) | < 0.001 |
Vitamin D receptor activator | 405 (27.5) | 40 (14.5) | 365 (30.2) | < 0.001 |
Antiplatelet agents | 450 (30.5) | 68 (24.7) | 382 (31.8) | 0.02 |
Conditions at first dialysis session | ||||
Presence of heart failure symptoms, n (%) | 452 (30.7) | 114 (41.5) | 338 (28.3) | < 0.001 |
Predialysis body weight (kg), mean ± SD | 60.2 ± 13.8 | 58.7 ± 14.8 | 60.5 ± 13.6 | 0.05 |
Predialysis systolic blood pressure (mmHg), mean ± SD | 151 ± 26 | 148 ± 28 | 152 ± 25 | 0.03 |
Predialysis diastolic blood pressure (mmHg), mean ± SD | 77 ± 15 | 76 ± 18 | 77 ± 14 | 0.5 |