Comprehensive Clinical Profile and Hemodialysis Outcomes in Patients Attending a Tertiary Care Hospital

Abstract

Background

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) can lead to serious conditions such as anemia and cardiovascular disease, posing a growing global health challenge. End-stage renal disease (ESRD) requires treatments such as dialysis or kidney transplantation. Despite the widespread impact and rising prevalence of CKD and ESRD, comprehensive data remains limited in India. This study seeks to investigate the clinical, socio-demographic, and etiological profiles of CKD patients undergoing hemodialysis at a tertiary care hospital, with the goal of enhancing understanding and improving patient care.

Methodology

This retrospective cohort study, conducted at a tertiary care center, included 500 CKD patients undergoing hemodialysis, with comprehensive medical records. Data collected covered demographics (age, sex, education, and occupation), CKD etiology, disease duration, hemodialysis duration, viral marker status, blood transfusions, and vascular access details. With continuous variables reported as mean ± standard deviation (SD) and categorical variables as counts (percentages), statistical analysis was carried out using SPSS version 21 (IBM Corp., Armonk, New York, USA). The connections were examined using the Pearson Chi-square test, with P≤0.05 being deemed significant.

Results

The study revealed that hypertension was the primary cause of CKD in 58% of patients, followed by diabetes mellitus in 13%. A significant 93% of patients tested negative for viral markers such as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), and hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg). Hemodialysis duration varied, with 68% of patients undergoing dialysis for one to five years. Most patients had two (40%) or three (58%) dialysis sessions per week, and 84% had only one arteriovenous (AV) fistula surgery. Blood transfusions were common, with 62% of patients receiving between one and five transfusions. The gender distribution showed more males (372) than females (201), and the majority of patients were aged between 41 and 60 years.

Conclusion

This study highlights the importance of early detection and management of CKD, emphasizing preventive health measures, enhanced diagnostic capabilities, and sufficient resource allocation to reduce the disease burden. It also calls for further research into unknown CKD causes and strategies to improve patient care and outcomes.