ABSTRACT

This study investigates the relationship between the clinical parameters at the beginning of hemodialysis therapy and the changing in the frequency of weekly hemodialysis sessions in ongoing treatment.

The study population was composed of all of the patients that were started chronic hemodialysis treatment between January 2015 and January 2020. The patients were classified as twice-weekly (2/7) and thrice-weekly (3/7) groups according to the hemodialysis schedule at the start of treatment. The 3/7 group is additionally subdivided according to the dialysis schedule switches to the thrice-weekly program. Basal demographics and biochemical parameters were obtained from medical records at the start of hemodialysis.

The total number of subjects in the study was 433 (141 in the twice-weekly program, 292 in the thrice-weekly program). Forty-six (32.6%) patients in twice-weekly hemodialysis program were shifted to a thrice-weekly program during the follow-up. The female/ male ratio in the 2/7 program is different from the 3/7 program. Serum creatinine and C-reactive protein levels were higher in patients on the 3/7 program. Serum calcium and albumin levels were higher in patients on a 2/7 program. The statistically significant increments were found in calcium, hemoglobin, hematocrit, urea, creatinine, and potassium levels between the before and after switch results of the 3/7 group which switched from 2/7.

Urea, creatinine, and potassium levels can guide the decision to compose a hemodialysis schedule. However, patients' future weekly treatment schedules cannot be predicted by biochemical parameters obtained at the start of hemodialysis.

Keywords: Hemodialysis, dialysis frequency, chronic kidney disease, biochemical parameters