DOPPS data shows ultrafiltration rates tapering off in patients with ESKD

New data released from the Dialysis Outcomes and Practice Patterns Study Program shows that ultrafiltration rates, declining since 2010 in U.S. dialysis clinics, have tapered off and have stabilized since 2016.

Dialysis Outcomes and Practice Patterns Study (DOPPS) researchers retrieved the data from the Dialysis Practice Monitor (DPM), a tracking tool that samples dialysis facilities in the United States. The DPM presents clinical data from more than 9,000 patients who receive chronic in-center hemodialysis in a national sample of more than 160 dialysis facilities.

Based on a sampling from the DOPPS facilities, 9% of patients have an ultrafiltration rate (UFR) greater than 13 ml/kg/hour and 26% have a UFR greater than 10 ml/kg/hour, DOPPS reported in a press release.

“High UFR values have been associated with increased mortality, and the reporting of UFR values will be a new ESRD Quality Incentive Program (QIP) measure beginning in Program Year 2020,” DOPPS researchers said. “UFR values declined from 2010 until 2016 and have been generally stable since.”

Other Dialysis Practice Monitor research shows a greater number of small dialysis organizations and independent dialysis providers are gaining access to the anemia drug PEGylated epoetin beta (Mircera, Roche Pharmaceuticals).

“Since April 2018, use of PEGylated epoetin beta among this subgroup has increased to 19% in February 2019 (compared to 51% within our large dialysis organization sample),” according to the release.

New DOPPS data compares IV iron use, hemoglobin and ferritin levels among sample clinics using PEGylated epoetin beta and other erythropoiesis stimulating agents.

DOPPS will present recent DPM findings during a Web Ex on Thursday, June 20, at 3 p.m. EST. The conference will be moderated by Bruce Robinson, MD, MS, FACP, principal investigator of the program. To register, click here.

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