Home Dialysis Central update
[Vol.6, No.11, November 23, 2009]
It's nearly Thanksgiving! This is a great time to reflect on all we're thankful for—we hope it's a lot. If you're thankful for home dialysis options, share your enthusiasm with postcards, pens, magnets, posters, buttons, etc. from our Home Dialysis Central store!
NEW Home Dialysis Central feature: Ask the Experts!
We're thrilled to announce two NEW Home Dialysis Central expert message boards—one for Australian nephrologist and HHD advocate Dr. John Agar, and one for long-time renal social worker Beth Witten. You can see what types of questions they'll address in their intros. Check them out!
Submit your bundling comments to Medicare
Members of Congress believe each letter they receive stands for 200 people who won't take the time to write. Make sure your voice is heard! You have until December 16 to submit comments about how the proposed ESRD bundle will affect you. Learn more in our Topic of the Month—which links to the online comment site—or contact us for a copy of MEI's professional comments.
Webinar: H1N1 flu
We're in the thick of flu season—and there still isn't enough vaccine to go around. Learn how to protect yourself! If you missed Bill Peckham's fantastic webinar about H1N1 flu, watch the recording. Scroll down on the home page to Webinars. Bill also wrote an article on the same topic.
FREEDOM study results boost NxStage stock
Compared to those on standard in-center HD, folks doing short daily HD treatments with NxStage used just half the blood pressure pills (1/3 of participants didn't need any)—and had 40% higher expected survival. What's not to like? These interim results sent NxStage stock up almost 5%. Read the article.
Why not meals during dialysis?
In the early days of dialysis, meal trays were common—but today, many clinics don't allow any food—even though nearly half of those on dialysis have diabetes. Dr. Kamyar Kalanter-Zadeh points out that malnutrition is less common and survival on dialysis is higher in Europe—where food is still served. (Home dialyzers can eat whenever they like, of course...) Read his letter!
Eat, eat! You're too skinny!
Did your Grandma tell you this? She may have been right if you're on dialysis. Dr. Kalanter-Zadeh (he's been busy!) has also done a study looking at 5-year survival among 671 people on standard HD. Body fat seems to be protective. Those who were skinniest were at an increased risk of death, even compared to patients with the highest body fat levels. Read the article.
In African-Americans, low vitamin D levels raise kidney disease risk
More than 60% of African-Americans have Vitamin D levels low enough to put them at risk for kidney disease—and dialysis—found a study of 13,000 Americans. Cancer, reduced immune function, high blood pressure, and heart disease are also linked with low Vitamin D levels. Read the abstract.
Indie rock band drummer goes on tour—with PD
In 2006, Pat Spurgeon, drummer with Rogue Wave, had just achieved his dream of being able to tour with a rock band when his kidneys failed. The group adjusted its tour schedule, and Pat started PD. Now they're working on their fourth album—and a film documents the band's story. Learn all about it!
Nocturnal HD may boost sensitivity to anemia drugs
Same hemoglobin—with lower ESA doses. That's what a DaVita study of 418 people doing in-center nocturnal found. Getting twice the dialysis (or more) really does make a difference! Read the article.
On dialysis? Avoid gadolinium contrast dye
A new study puts the risk of developing nephrogenic systemic fibrosis (NSF)—a life-threatening problem of skin thickening linked with MRI contrast dye—at 77 times higher in people on dialysis. The dye has a black box warning, but it's best to protect yourself. Read the article.
After 6 years, Shane was at the end of her rope
"I was so depressed going to the clinic, being in that atmosphere of sickness," Shane remembers. "I was 38 years old, and I needed a change. I wanted some normalcy in my life, so I prayed for some other way I could get my dialysis." Read her story.
Topic of the month: Keep the options open!
It's here! You may recall from our Q&A that we've been waiting for Medicare to release a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking. Now they have, and it tells us what they plan to put in a new "bundled" payment for dialysis treatments. Comments are due on November 16, and hearing from YOU can make a difference. Learn what can affect you and how to make your comment. Read the article.
How does my employer group health plan work with Medicare?
Click here to learn the answers to this & other questions about Medicare payment for PD and home hemo.
Read all about it!
Review home dialysis-related news. This week's stories include:
- Deadline for filing comments on ESRD bundle proposal nears
- Harvey Wells takes to the road with his Nxstage machine
- Stem cells offer new hope for kidney disease patients
- Acute kidney injury patients more likely to need dialysis within 5 years
Featured link: NocturnalDialysis.org
Dr. John Agar helped put together this site, which covers lots of aspects of nocturnal HD. Be sure to read the "How Dialysis Works" section for a great description that involves football (soccer)! Check it out!