Hemodialysis vs. Peritoneal Dialysis for End-Stage Renal Disease

Peritoneal dialysis (PD) is underused in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). In this retrospective study of patients with ESRD from seven centers in Ontario, Canada, researchers examined survival among patients who received either peritoneal dialysis or hemodialysis (HD).

Among about 2100 ESRD patients (mean age, 64) beginning dialysis, nearly 1400 were deemed eligible for either modality according to structured medical assessments; about one third chose PD. During median follow-up of 1.5 years, 24% of patients died. Survival rates in the PD and HD groups were similar, after adjustment for numerous medical and demographic variables.