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 |