Abstract
Background. Concern lingers that dialysis therapy at for-profit (versus not-for-profit) hemodialysis facilities in the United States may be associated with higher mortality, even though 4 of every 5 contemporary dialysis patients receive therapy in such a setting. Methods. Our primary objective was to compare the mortality hazards of patients initiating hemodialysis at for-profit and not-for-profit centers in the United States between 1998 and 2003. For-profit status of dialysis facilities was determined after subjects received 6 months of dialysis therapy, and mean follow-up was 1.7 years. Results. Of the study population (N = 205,076), 79.9% were dialyzed in for-profit facilities after 6 months of dialysis therapy. Dialysis at for-profit facilities was associated with higher urea reduction ratios, hemoglobin levels (including levels above 12 and 13 g/dL [120 and 130 g/L]), epoetin doses, and use of intravenous iron, and less use of blood transfusions and lower proportions of patients on the transplant waiting-list (P < 0.05). Patients dialyzed at for-profit and at not-for-profit facilities had similar mortality risks (adjusted hazards ratio 1.02, 95% CI 0.99-1.06, P = 0.143). Conclusion. While hemodialysis treatment at for-profit and not-for-profit dialysis facilities is associated with different patterns of clinical benchmark achievement, mortality rates are similar.
Original language | English (US) |
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Article number | 6 |
Journal | BMC Nephrology |
Volume | 9 |
Issue number | 1 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - 2008 |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information:The data reported here have been supplied by the United States Renal Data System. This study was performed as a deliverable under Contract No. HHSN267200715002C (National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland). The authors thank James Kaufmann, PhD, and Nan Booth, MSW, MPH, for editorial assistance; Dana D. Knopic for help in preparing and submitting the manuscript; and Beth Forrest for regulatory assistance in the operation of the United States Renal Data System Coordinating Center.