To evaluate the dialysis practice pattern in chronic kidney disease patients undergoing hemodialysis in a tertiary and a private hospital

Methods: A prospective observational study of six months duration was carried out in 158 CKD patients on hemodialysis for a minimum period of one month. Data such as socio-demographic, clinical characteristics and dialysis practice details were captured from the patient’s medical records into the pre-designed Patient Proforma. The collected data were analysed.

Results: Majority of respondents were male (67.09%), more than 60 y of age (32.28 %), married (89.24%). Hypertension (26.51%, 17.33%) was found to be the leading cause of CKD in a tertiary and private hospital. In the tertiary hospital, 78.31% of patients were undergoing twice-weekly hemodialysis, whereas in the private hospital thrice weekly (50.67%) hemodialysis was common. About 51.81% of patients in the tertiary and 58.67% in the private hospital was undergoing hemodialysis for 1-5 y with Arterio-Venous Fistula (59.04%, 94.67%) as the permanent vascular access (P<0.001).

Conclusion: This study shows that hypertension was the leading cause of CKD in both hospitals. In the tertiary hospital twice weekly hemodialysis with arteriovenous fistula (AVF) and Permanent Catheter (IJV), were both preferred as the permanent vascular access. Whereas in the private hospital majority were undergoing thrice weekly hemodialysis and AVF was highly preferred.