Mortality Risk Factors in the China Dialysis Outcomes and Practice Patterns Study (DOPPS)

Background Mortality risk for hemodialysis (HD) patients varies by country and ethnicity. Here, mortality rate and its related risk factors in Chinese HD patients from the Dialysis Outcomes and Practice Patterns Study (DOPPS) were investigated. Methods Data from China DOPPS phase 5 (2012–2015) were used. Patients’ demographics, assigned primary causes of end stage kidney disease (ESKD), comorbidities, dialysis prescription, laboratory values, date and cause for death were analyzed. Cox proportional hazards models were used to assess the association of patient characteristics and treatments with mortality. Results 1427 HD patients were enrolled. The mean age was 59.4 ± 14.9 years. The median follow-up time was 1.9 (1.1–2.1) years. There was total 205 deaths with at least 103 from cardiovascular disease (50.2%). The overall mortality rate was 8.8 per 100 patient-years. In the multivariate Cox model, older, serum albumin (Alb < 4g/dl, blood platelets < 100*109/L, pulse pressure (PP) > 63mmHg, and congestive heart failure history were independent risk factors for all-cause mortality. Conclusions Attention should be paid to patients who were older, with lower Alb and blood platelets level, higher PP and congestive heart failure history. Our results highlighted that there might be some modifiable risk factors for patients’ survival, such as Hgb, Alb, blood platelets, and blood pressure management.