Patient and technique survival of diabetics on peritoneal dialysis: one-center's experience and review of the literature

Background: Diabetes is the leading cause of end-stage renal disease (ESRD). This retrospective study investigated the long-term patient and technique survival and sought to identify the predictors of mortality in diabetic patients receiving PD. Methods: Patients, aged 17 years or more who commenced home PD between January 31, 1994, and December 31, 2001 were included. Clinical data were available for 358 patients out of 418 total patients who started PD during this period. They were followed until cessation of PD, death, or to January 3 1, 2003. Survival probabilities were generated according to the Kaplan-Meier method, and multivariate Cox proportional hazards models were used to assess predictors of survival. Results: A total of 35 8 patients were enrolled in the study. Among them, 139 patients (38.8%) were diabetics. The 1-, 2-, 3- and 5-year patient survival rates were 91%, 76%, 66% and 47% in diabetics and 94%, 89% 84% and 69% in non-diabetics, respectively. Median actuarial patient survival for diabetic patients (51.8 months; 95% CI 36.0-67.5 months) was significantly shorter than that of non-diabetic patients (log rank 14.117, p < 0.001). Death-censored technique survival rates at 1-, 2-, 3- and 5-year were 90%, 83%, 67% and 58% in diabetic, and 94%, 87%, 77% and 70% in non-diabetic patients, respectively. Similar to patient survival, the median technique survival time was significantly shorter for diabetic patients (63.9 months; 95% CI 35.7-92.2 months) than that of non-diabetic patients (log rank 4.884, p = 0.027). Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that advancing age was the only independent predictor of death in the diabetic patients, whereas higher age and wider pulse pressure were associated with mortality in non-diabetic patients. Conclusion: Long-term patient and technique survival for diabetic patients on PD seem to be improved compared to our previous report and other studies. The mortality of diabetic patients was predicted predominantly by advancing age. PD remains a viable form of long-term renal replacement therapy for diabetic patients with ESRD.