Table 1. Patient characteristics by intention to propose dialysis (group 1) or conservative measures (group 2)a
Group 1 (n = 107) n (%) or mean ± SD | Group 2 (n = 37) n (%) or mean ± SD | P | |
---|---|---|---|
a EPO indicates recombinant erythropoietin; ESRD, end-stage renal disease. | |||
b Data obtained for a subset of the study group (n = 135). | |||
c Excluding hydration problems of ESRD. | |||
d Presumptive diagnosis in most cases, in patients with a history of long-standing hypertension, bilateral small kidneys ± renal artery stenosis, mild or absent proteinuria, blank urinary sediment and no other obvious cause of nephropathy. | |||
Inclusion period | |||
1989 to 1992 | 21 (61.8) | 13 (38.2) | |
1993 to 1996 | 38 (79.2) | 10 (20.8) | .15 |
1997 to 2000 | 48 (77.4) | 14 (22.6) | |
Demography | |||
age (yr) | 83.2 ± 2.9 | 84.1 ± 2.9 | .12 |
male gender, % | 59 (55.1) | 14 (37.8) | .07 |
ethnic minority, % | 6 (5.6) | 5 (13.5) | .12 |
socially isolated, % | 15 (14.7) | 16 (43.3) | .003 |
Clinical | |||
late referral (<4 mo) | 31 (28.9) | 19 (51.4) | .014 |
EPO use before inclusion | 24 (22) | 8 (23.2) | .9 |
Karnofsky scoreb | 63 ± 20 | 55 ± 18 | .03 |
body mass index (kg/m2)c | 21.8 ± 3.3 | 21.3 ± 3 | .5 |
Etiology of ESRD | |||
vascular diseased | 63 (58.9) | 22 (59.5) | |
interstitial/obstructive nephropathy | 21 (19.6) | 4 (10.8) | |
diabetic nephropathy | 5 (4.7) | 4 (10.8) | |
other chronic glomerulopathy | 8 (7.5) | 2 (5.4) | .27 |
multiple myeloma | 5 (4.7) | 1 (2.7) | |
other systemic disease | 3 (2.8) | 1 (2.7) | |
polycystic kidney disease | 1 (.9) | 3 (8.1) | |
nephrectomy | 1 (.9) | 0 (0) | |
Comorbid conditions | |||
malignancy (actual or past) | 13 (12.2) | 5 (13.5) | .8 |
ischemic heart disease | 45 (42) | 18 (48.6) | .48 |
cardiac failure | 43 (40.2) | 19 (51.4) | .24 |
dysrhythmia | 26 (24.3) | 10 (27) | .74 |
peripheral vascular disease | 23 (21.5) | 8 (21.6) | .98 |
sequelae of stroke and/or overt | 13 (12.2)/6 (5.6) | 8 (21.6)/3 (8.1) | .3./6 |
dementia | |||
diabetes | 7 (6.5) | 8 (21.6) | .008 |
Sum of comorbid conditions | |||
0 | 26 (24.3) | 7 (18.9) | |
1 to 2 | 59 (55.1) | 18 (48.7) | .33 |
≥3 | 22 (20.6) | 12 (32.4) | |
Laboratory tests | |||
hemoglobin (g/dl) | 9.7 ± 1.5 | 9.6 ± 1.5 | .93 |
serum potassium (mmol/L) | 4.5 ± 0.7 | 4.4 ± 0.7 | .74 |
serum phosphate (mmol/L) | 1.9 ± 0.5 | 1.6 ± 0.4 | .013 |
serum bicarbonate (mmol/L) | 22.2 ± 5.2 | 22.3 ± 3.1 | .96 |