Five-Year Mortality Analysis in Hemodialysis Patients in a Single-Center in Dubai

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to determine the mortality among patients on hemodialysis (HD). This observational cohort study was conducted at Dubai Hospital during the period between January 2012 and December 2016. All adults’ patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) on HD irrespective of their age, gender, and duration of dialysis were enrolled. Mortality among these patients along with certain information like age at the time of death, gender, cause of ESRD, comorbidities, and serology report, were collected. Out of a total of 411 patients, 112 (27.3%) patients died during the study period, 56% were male and their median age at the time of initiation of dialysis and at the time of death was 59.38 ± 13.5 and 63.8 ± 13.6, respectively. Thirteen patients suffered early mortality; i.e., died within 365 days of initiation of dialysis. Diabetes mellitus (DM) was the most common cause of ESRD (73%) among the deceased populations, whereas hypertension was the most prevalent comorbidity in our study group. Anemia (46%), hypoalbuminemia (54%), and hypoparathyroidism (72%), whereas high ferritin (63%) and abnormal phosphorus (61.6%) were predominant biochemical parameters in the deceased patients. The leading cause of death was cardiovascular in 48 patients (42.85%) followed by infection/sepsis (21 patients, 18.75%), unknown causes/sudden death (including sudden death at home) in 18 patients (16.07%) and cerebrovascular events in seven patients (6.2%). Other causes include gastrointestinal hemorrhage, liver disease, and pulmonary embolism. In general, older age group, DM, prolonged duration on dialysis and cardiac diseases were the common causes of mortality in our study population. We found that the conventional risk factors such as old age, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, duration on dialysis, dialysis adequacy, low hemoglobin and low albumin, abnormal phosphorus, and high ferritin are comparatively prevalent in our study patients. Monitoring and timely intervention of these risk factors can help in reducing mortality in future.