Effect of Initial Peritoneal Equilibration Test Results on Mortality in Peritoneal Dialysis Patients

OBJECTIVE: We studied the effect of initial peritoneal equilibration test (PET) results on mortality in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients besides classical mortality markers.

MATERIAL and METHODS: Seventy-eight patients were enrolled. Initial PET and biochemical and clinical findings were recorded after the beginning of PD. Survival analysis model included comorbidities, PD modality, peritoneal modality change during follow-up, history of peritonitis, calcium X phosphorus, dialysate volume, presence of anuria, ultrafiltration volume, albumin, Kt/V, normalized protein equivalent of nitrogen appearance (nPNA), and peritoneal permeability.

RESULTS: The mean age was 55.2±13.8 (52.6%, female) years and PD duration was 49.7±26.1 months. When current conditions of the patients were evaluated, 42.3% of the 78 patients received PD treatment, 24.4% switched to hemodialysis, 6.4% had kidney transplantation and 26.9% died. The most significant factors determining patient survival were age, albumin and weekly total Kt/V according to the Cox regression analysis using the backward elimination method. When Cox regression analysis was repeated by the forward selection method, albumin was detected as the most significant factor determining patient survival.

CONCLUSION: Albumin was found to be the most important factor predicting patient survival among peritoneal permeability, nPNA, PD modality, weekly total Kt/V, dialysate volume, ultrafiltration volume on the initial PET.