Table 2.
Characteristics by year of hemodialysis start
| Variable | 2001–2003 | 2004–2006 | 2007–2010 |
|---|---|---|---|
| N | 4724 | 5164 | 7295 |
| Age (yr) at hemodialysis start, N (%) | |||
| Mean (SD) | 65.6 (14.8) | 65.8 (15.3) | 65.9 (15.1) |
| <65 | 1878 (40) | 2076 (40) | 2974 (41) |
| 65–74 | 1323 (28) | 1315 (25) | 1838 (25) |
| 75–84 | 1287 (27%) | 1454 (28) | 1970 (27) |
| >84 | 236 (5) | 319 (6) | 513 (7) |
| Men, N (%) | 2813 (60) | 3047 (59) | 4409 (60) |
| Race, N (%) | |||
| Asian | 248 (5) | 281 (5) | 385 (5) |
| Black | 197 (4) | 230 (4) | 347 (5) |
| Caucasian | 3664 (78) | 3897 (75) | 5328 (73) |
| Other | 398 (8) | 544 (11) | 924 (13) |
| Unknown | 217 (5) | 212 (4) | 311 (4) |
| Acute dialysis starta | 1955 (41) | 2409 (47) | 3291 (45) |
| Primary renal diagnosis, N (%) | |||
| GN | 505 (11) | 541 (10) | 590 (8) |
| Diabetes | 1652 (35) | 1839 (36) | 2696 (37) |
| Renal vascular disease | 1058 (22) | 1103 (21) | 1449 (20) |
| Polycystic kidney disease | 176 (4) | 176 (3) | 192 (3) |
| Other | 750 (16) | 874 (17) | 1269 (17) |
| Unknown | 583 (12) | 631 (12) | 1099 (15) |
| Comorbidities, N (%) | |||
| Diabetes mellitus | 2059 (44) | 2308 (45) | 3663 (50) |
| CHF | 2272 (48) | 2423 (47) | 3423 (47) |
| Coronary artery disease | 2935 (62) | 3150 (61) | 4249 (58) |
| Coronary artery bypass graft/percutaneous coronary intervention | 638 (14) | 787 (15) | 1274 (17) |
| Peripheral vascular disease | 1205 (26) | 1120 (22) | 1491 (20) |
| Cerebrovascular disease | 768 (16) | 866 (17) | 2018 (28) |
| Leukemia | 353 (7) | 373 (7) | 565 (8) |
| Lymphoma | 36 (1) | 36 (1) | 46 (1) |
| Other cancerb | 1138 (24) | 1314 (25) | 2018 (28) |
| Lung disease (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) | 942 (20) | 855 (17) | 1301 (18) |
| Dementia | 319 (7) | 353 (7) | 612 (8) |
| Hypertension | 4295 (91) | 4668 (90) | 6608 (91) |
| Other serious illnessc | 363 (8) | 455 (9) | 1032 (14) |
| Smoking | 597 (13) | 580 (11) | 902 (12) |
| ESKD comorbidity index,d N (%) | |||
| 0 | 572 (12) | 631 (12) | 678 (9) |
| 1 | 151 (3) | 126 (2) | 236 (3) |
| 2 | 486 (10) | 542 (10) | 649 (9) |
| 3 | 390 (8) | 445 (9) | 703 (10) |
| 4 | 487 (10) | 551 (11) | 687 (9) |
| 5 | 555 (12) | 651 (13) | 885 (12) |
| 6 | 397 (8) | 479 (9) | 633 (9) |
| 7+ | 1686 (36) | 1739 (34) | 2704 (37) |
| Laboratory valuee | |||
| Albumin mean (SD), g/L | 3.21 (0.66) | 3.16 (0.70) | 3.15 (0.72) |
| Hemoglobin mean (SD), g/L | 10.14 (1.77) | 10.11 (1.75) | 9.85 (1.68) |
| eGFRf (ml/min per 1.73 m2) median (quartile 1, quartile 3) | 8 (6, 11) | 9 (6, 12) | 9 (7, 13) |
| Late referral,g N (%) | 2090 (44) | 2096 (41) | 2690 (37) |
| Rural, N (%) | 628 (13) | 658 (13) | 911 (12) |
Having a dialysis treatment as an inpatient in the 2 weeks before hemodialysis start.
Other cancer included all other types of cancer (excluding skin cancer but including melanoma).
Other serious illness that may shorten life expectancy <5 years.
The ESKD comorbidity index is a modified Charlson–weighted score on the basis of the history of the following comorbidities: CHF, peripheral vascular disease, cerebral vascular disease, dementia, chronic lung disease, rheumatologic comorbidities, peptic ulcer disease, diabetes, diabetes with complications, moderate/severe liver disease, metastatic disease, leukemia, and lymphoma (20).
Last laboratory values before starting hemodialysis.
eGFR calculated using the creatinine level at the last laboratory evaluation before hemodialysis start and the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease formula.
Late referral defined as first seen by a nephrologist <90 days before initiation of dialysis.