Resource settings have a major influence on the outcome of maintenance hemodialysis patients in South India

Chronic kidney disease is reaching epidemic proportions and the number of patients on renal replacement therapy (RRT) is increasing worldwide and also in developing countries. To meet the challenge of providing RRT, a few charity organizations provide hemodialysis units for underprivileged patients, as the private hospitals are unaffordable for the majority. There is a paucity of information on the outcome of dialysis in these patients. Here, we describe the outcome of hemodialysis patients comparing the middle- and upper-class income group with the lower class income group. A retrospective analysis was carried out in 558 CKD patients initiated on maintenance hemodialysis in two different dialysis facilities. Group A (n=247) included those who belonged to the lowermost socioeconomic status and were undergoing dialysis in two nonprofit, charity (TANKER)-run dialysis units, and Group B (n=311) was undergoing dialysis in a nonprofit hospital setting where no subsidy was given. Those patients of a low socioeconomic status, especially those who are diabetics, have a higher death rate (Group A-38.1%, Group B-4.2%) and loss to follow-up (Group A-25.9%, Group B-0.3%) compared with those who are in the middle- and high-income group. Higher EPO use and hence higher hemoglobin levels (Group A-6.4 +/- 1.2, Group B-8.9 +/- 1.5 P < 0.001) were observed in those who were in the middle and the higher income group. Lower serum phosphorus level was observed in the low-socioeconomic group (Group A-4.7 +/- 1.5, Group B-5.5 +/- 1.9, P < 0.001). Patients belonging to the middle and higher socioeconomic group undergo more transplantations compared with the lower socioeconomic group (Group A-2.4%, Group B-65.6%).