Peer-Reviewed Educational Materials

Results | Printer Friendly Version | New Search

Fast Fact and Concept #191: Prognostication in Patients Receiving Dialysis

First Author: Matthew Hudson, Steven Weisbord MD, Robert Arnold MD

Background End stage renal disease (ESRD) is a highly prevalent and rapidly increasing condition. While dialysis prolongs life in patients with ESRD, life expectancy remains only a third to a sixth as long as similar patients not on dialysis. The overall one and five year mortality rates are 25% and 60%, respectively. Approximately 20% of ESRD patient deaths occur after a decision to stop dialysis, highlighting the importance of discussions of prognosis and goals of care with this chronically ill population. This Fast Fact reviews the current data regarding prognostication in patients receiving chronic hemo- and peritoneal dialysis. Note: renal transplantation reduces mortality and the following data do not consider patients with functioning kidney transplants.

Prognostic Factors Several patient-specific factors influence prognosis:

• Age: For 1-year increments beginning at age 18, there is a 3 to 4% increase in annual mortality compared to the general population. 1 and 2 year mortality rates go from 10 and 12% at 25-29 years of age, to 25% and 42% at 65-69 years, to 39% and 61% at 80-84 years of age.
• Functional status: the relative risk of dying within 3 years of starting dialysis is 1.44 for those with Karnofsky Performance Status scores of <70 compared to those with a score 70 (see Fast Fact #13).
• Albumin: serum albumin level, both at baseline and during the course of dialysis treatment, is a consistent and strong predictor of death. For example, the 1 and 2 year survival of patients with an albumin of >3.5 g/dL is 86% and 76% respectively, compared to 50% and 17% if one’s albumin is less than 3.5.

Prognostic Tools It has long been recognized that patient comorbidity is strongly correlated with prognosis in ESRD. An age-modified Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI), which stratifies patients based on medical comorbidities and age, has been successfully used to predict mortality in dialysis-dependent patients (8):

Modified Charlson Comorbidity Index: Total score is the sum of the comorbidity points Comorbidity Points 1 point each for coronary artery disease, congestive heart failure, peripheral vascular disease, cerebrovascular disease, dementia, chronic pulmonary disease, connective tissue disorder, peptic ulcer disease, mild liver disease, diabetes 1 point for every decade over 40 (e.g. a 65 year old would receive 3 points). 2 points each for hemiplegia, moderate-to-severe renal disease (including being on dialysis), diabetes with end-organ damage, cancer (including leukemia or lymphoma) 3 points for moderate-to-severe liver disease 6 points each for metastatic solid tumor or AIDS Modified CCI Score Totals Low score (3) Moderate (4-5) High (6-7) Very High (8) Annual mortality rate 0.03 0.13 0.27 0.49

For example, a 66 year old male on dialysis with a history of CHF, COPD, and diabetes with retinopathy would have a CCI score of 9 and a nearly 50% chance of dying within a year. Using this, a provider could discuss with the patient his prognosis and use this to facilitate further discussion regarding planning for the future, including end-of-life decisions. The Index of Coexistent Disease (ICED), a general illness severity index, has also shown predictive power in ESRD. The scale’s complexity and length however (it entails asking over 100 questions) limit its clinical usefulness.

Summary The age-modified CCI, in conjunction with other prognostic factors such as serum albumin and functional status, can be used to help facilitate discussions with dialysis-dependent patients and their families regarding goals of care and end-of-life planning.

References:
1. United States Renal Data System. Incidence and prevalence. Annual data report, 2006. Minneapolis, MN: USRDS Coordinating Center; 2006. Available at http://www.usrds.org/2006/pdf/02_incid_prev_06.pdf.
2. Cohen LM, Moss AH, Weisbord SD, Germain MJ. Renal Palliative Care. J Pall Med 2006;9:977-992.
3. Renal Physicians Association and American Society of Nephrology: Shared Decision-Making in the Appropriate Initiation of and Withdrawal from Dialysis, Clinical Practice Guideline No 2. Washington, DC: Renal Physicians Association, 2000.
4. Ifudu O, Paul HR, Homel P, Friedman EA. Predictive value of functional status for mortality in patients on maintenance hemodialysis. Am J Nephrol 1998;18:109-116.
5. Owen WF, Lew NL , Yiu Y, Lowry EG, Lazarus JM. The urea reduction ratio and serum albumin concentration as predictors of mortality in patients undergoing hemodialysis. NEJM 1993; 329(14): 1001-1006
6. Owen WF, Price D. African-Americans on maintenance dialysis. Adv Ren Replace Ther. 1997;4:3-12.
7. Lowrie EG, Lew NL. Death risk in hemodialysis patients. Am J Kidney Dis. 1990;15:458-482.
8. Beddhu S, Bruns FJ, Saul M, Seddon P, Zeidel ML. A Simple Comorbidity Scale Predicts Clinical Outcomes and Costs in Dialysis Patients. Am J Med 2000;108:609-613.
9. Miskulin DC, Martin AA, Brown R, et al. Predicting 1-year Mortality in an Outpatient Hemodialysis Population: A Comparison of Comorbidity Instruments. Nephrol Dial Transplant 2004;19:413-420.
10. Moss AH. A New Clinical Practice Guideline on Initiation and Withdrawal of Dialysis that Makes Explicit the Role of Palliative Medicine. J Palliat Med 2000;3:253-260.
11. Nicolucci A, Cubasso D, Labbrozzi D, et al. Effect of Coexistent Diseases on Survival of Patients Undergoing Dialysis. ASAIO J 1992;38:M291-M295.

Fast Facts are edited by Drew A. Rosielle MD, Palliative Care Center, Medical College of Wisconsin. For comments/questions write to: drosiell@mcw.edu. The complete set of Fast Facts is available at EPERC: www.eperc.mcw.edu.

Copyright/Referencing Information: Users are free to download and distribute Fast Facts for educational purposes only. Hudson M, Weisbord S, Arnold R. Fast Fact and Concept #191. Prognostication in Patients Receiving Dialysis. October 2007. End-of-Life/Palliative Education Resource Center (www.eperc.mcw.edu).

Disclaimer: Fast Facts provide educational information. This information is not medical advice. Health care providers should exercise their own independent clinical judgment. Some Fast Fact information cites the use of a product in dosage, for an indication, or in a manner other than that recommended in the product labeling. Accordingly, the official prescribing information should be consulted before any such product is used.

Creation Date: October 2007

Format: Self-Study Guide Books

Purpose: Self-Study Guide, Teaching

Educational Objective: Fast Fact

ACGME Competencies: Medical Knowledge

Keyword(s): Hepato-renal diseases, Prognosis

Results | Printer Friendly Version | New Search