Hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis access related outcomes in the pediatric and adolescent population

Background: There is paucity of comparative data on the objective performance of arteriovenous fistulas (AVF), grafts (AVG), hemodialysis (HD) catheter and peritoneal dialysis (PD) catheter in the pediatric population. Methods: A retrospective analysis of all patients < 21 years in the United States Renal Database System who had an AVF, AVG, HD catheter or PD catheter placed for dialysis access between 1/2007 and 12/2014 was performed. Multivariable cox regression was used to evaluate mortality, patency (primary, primary-assisted and secondary), maturation and catheter survival. Results: The 11,575 patients studied comprised of 9445 (82%) HD, 1435 (12%) PD, 528 (4.6%) HD to PD and 167 (1.4%) PD to HD patients. The HD subcohort comprised of 1296 (13.7%) AVF initiates, 199 (2.1%) AVG initiates, 1347 (14.3%) AVF converts after initial HD catheter use, 292 (3.1%) AVG converts and 6311 (67%) patients who persistently utilized HD catheters. There was no difference between PD and HD in patients 0–5 (aHR: 1.36; 95% CI: 0.89–2.07; P = 0.15) and 6–12 years (aHR: 1.05; 95% CI: 0.72–1.52; P = 0.8). However, PD was associated with 73% and 76% increase in mortality relative to HD among patients in the 13–17 (aHR: 1.73; 95% CI: 1.35–2.21; P < 0.001) and 18–20 (aHR: 1.76; 95% CI: 1.38–2.24; P < 0.001) age categories. AVG was associated with 78% increase in mortality compared to AVF (aHR: 1.78; 95% CI: 1.41–2.25; P < 0.001). Persistent use of HD catheters was associated with 29% increase in mortality (aHR: 1.29; 95% CI: 1.07–1.57; P = 0.009) compared to initiation and persistent use of AVF. Conversion from HD catheter to AVF was associated with 66% decrease in mortality compared to persistent HD catheter use (aHR: 0.34; 95% CI: 0.28–0.40; P < 0.001). Primary, primary assisted and secondary patency were higher for AVF compared to AVG. Conclusion: There was no difference in risk adjusted mortality between HD and PD in children less than 13 years. PD is associated with higher mortality compared to HD in adolescents. Initiation of HD with AVF is associated with better patency and patient survival relative to AVG and persistent use of HD catheters in pediatric patients irrespective of transplant potential. Conversion from HD catheter to AVF or AVG in patients who inevitably initiate HD with a catheter is associated with better survival compared to persistent HD catheter use. Type of study: Retrospective cohort study. Level of evidence: Level II.