♦ Objective: We studied whether improper bag exchange predicts the first peritonitis episode in continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) patients.

Background and objectives: To explore the correlation between dietary sodium intake and cardiovascular and overall mortality, and then determine whether this correlation can be explained by protein and energy intake paralleled with sodium intake in dialysis patients. Design, setting, participants, & measurements: This single-center retrospective cohort study enrolled 305 incident patients who started peritoneal dialysis in our unit from July 2002 to February 2007. All patients were followed until death or until being censored in February 2008. Demographic data were collected at baseline. Biochemical, dietary, and nutrition data were examined at baseline and thereafter at regular intervals to calculate the average values throughout the study. Results: Participants with the highest average sodium intake were more likely to be younger, male, and overweight. Patients in the high tertile of average sodium intake had higher albumin, prealbumin, and lean body mass levels, and more nutrient intakes paralleling with sodium intake. Low average sodium intake independently predicted the increased risk for overall and cardiovascular death after adjusting for recognized confounders. Further adjustment for dietary protein, energy, and other nutrient intakes individually had minimal impact on the association between average sodium intake and overall death, with hazard ratios varying between 0.35 and 0.44, and cardiovascular death, with hazard ratios varying between 0.06 and 0.11. Conclusions: This study revealed that low dietary sodium intake independently predicts the high overall and cardiovascular mortality in dialysis patients. This correlation could not be entirely explained by deficient protein and energy intake.

We aimed to explore the impacts of individual and environmental socioeconomic status (SES) on the outcome of peritoneal dialysis (PD) in regions with significant SES disparity, through a retrospective multicenter cohort in China. Overall, 2,171 incident patients from seven PD centers were included. Individual SES was evaluated from yearly household income per person and education level. Environmental SES was represented by regional gross domestic product (GDP) per capita and medical resources. Undeveloped regions were defined as those with regional GDP lower than the median. All-cause and cardiovascular death and initial peritonitis were recorded as outcome events. Poorer PD patients or those who lived in undeveloped areas were younger and less-educated and bore a heavier burden of medical expenses. They had lower hemoglobin and serum albumin at baseline. Low income independently predicted the highest risks for all-cause or cardiovascular death and initial peritonitis compared with medium and high income. The interaction effect between individual education and regional GDP was determined. In undeveloped regions, patients with an elementary school education or lower were at significantly higher risk for all-cause death but not cardiovascular death or initial peritonitis compared with those who attended high school or had a higher diploma. Regional GDP was not associated with any outcome events. Low personal income independently influenced all-cause and cardiovascular death, and initial peritonitis in PD patients. Education level predicted all-cause death only for patients in undeveloped regions. For PD patients in these high risk situations, integrated care before dialysis and well-constructed PD training programs might be helpful.

Background. The decreased protein intake may lead to protein–energy wasting and poor survival. It is unknown what the appropriate protein intake in patients on peritoneal dialysis (PD) is. We aimed to explore the appropriate levels of daily protein intake (DPI) in favor of outcome in a large PD cohort. Methods. Our study enrolled 305 incident patients, who could be followed regularly. Demographic data were collected at baseline. Biochemical, dietary and nutritional data and dialysis adequacy were measured at the baseline and thereafter at regular intervals. Outcome events included all-cause death, cardiovascular disease (CVD) death and first-episode peritonitis. Results. A total of 127 patients died during the 44.5-month follow-up, 41.7% of whom died from CVD. A total of 129 cases first-episode peritonitis were observed. Patients with a high tertile of baseline DPI (≥0.94 g/kg/day) had significantly higher serum albumin, prealbumin, hemoglobin, lean body mass and handgrip strength compared to the low tertile group (≤0.73 g/kg/day) (P < 0.05–0.001). They also had significantly lower risk for all-cause, CVD death and first-episode peritonitis than the low tertile group adjusted for commonly recognized confounders. Although patients in the middle tertile of DPI (0.74–0.93 g/kg/day) did not show significant differences in the majority of nutritional markers, all-cause and CVD mortality compared to high tertile group, they had a trend to a negative nitrogen balance and similar risk for first-episode peritonitis to the low tertile group. The DPI included as a time-dependent variable could not predict any outcome events in multivariate Cox models. Conclusions. Our study revealed that DPI 0.94 g/kg/day was in favor of nutrition status and long-term outcome in this population.

♦ Objective: About half the patients on peritoneal dialysis (PD) in China need to be assisted by family members or home assistants. We explored whether these patients have a higher risk for peritonitis and death compared with self-care PD patients.