Home dialysis basics

The benefits of home dialysis

Since home dialysis was first developed in the 1960s, thousands of people living with end-stage renal disease have benefited from the lifestyle and clinical benefits it can offer. In addition to being a safe and effective alternative to in-center treatment, at home dialysis offers a flexibility not possible at a dialysis center.

As with in-center dialysis programs, at home dialysis treatments are directed by a patient's physician and customized to meet individual needs. People on at home dialysis maintain close relationships with their doctors and work closely with a health care team to monitor and oversee their ongoing care as they would if they visited a dialysis center for their treatments.

The lifestyle benefits of home dialysis

Most dialysis treatment in America today requires patients to go to a dialysis clinic three times per week to receive three to four-hour treatments. Home hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis allow convenience and flexibility by allowing kidney patients to have more control over when they get their dialysis treatments. Whether it's additional time spent working, with family or pursuing other interests, at home dialysis allows patients to arrange dialysis treatments around their own schedule. If patients want to dialyze right after getting home from work, after dinner or while spending time with their family or overnight while they sleep, the choice is theirs.

Home dialysis also saves time because there is no need to drive back and forth to a dialysis center three days per week. This can be a big advantage for those patients who live far away from the nearest dialysis facility or depend on family or friends to help with transportation.

Performing dialysis at home also provides an opportunity for home dialysis patients to learn more about their medical condition and take more responsibility for their care. By taking control of their dialysis treatments and spending less time being taken care of by nurses, many patients feel a greater sense of control over their care. This increased personal involvement can empower patients to maintain their independence and influence their quality of life every day.

The clinical benefits of home dialysis

Research has shown that patients who perform dialysis at home may experience better quality of life and better clinical results - especially those who take advantage of their home setting to have more frequent or extended dialysis. Many patients choose to perform their treatments at night while they sleep, getting the benefits of extended treatment without losing time with family and friends.

As with any form of dialysis, a patient's nephrologist directs a patient's specific care and treatment. Home dialysis allows doctors to customize the frequency and length of treatment to best meet individual needs. Clinical benefits reported from dialyzing more frequently or for longer periods of time include:

Improvements in quality of life and well-being - Patients that dialyze at home tend to have a more positive attitude about their treatment and their disease in general.
Increased diet flexibility - Dialysis patients are usually restricted from eating foods high in potassium and phosphorus, but the increased frequency of dialysis may allow for a diet with fewer restrictions.
Better blood pressure control
Reduced need for medications - Studies have shown that nocturnal at home hemodialysis can cut the need for medication by as much as 90% in some cases.
Improved sleep
Reduced fatigue and nausea
Fewer fistula complications - Patients undergoing more frequent dialysis treatments tend to experience fewer problems with their fistula.
Reduced frequency of hospitalization - Patients receiving more frequent or longer treatments tend to spend less time receiving hospital care.
Increased survival rates - Recent studies have found that more frequent dialysis can significantly increase the survival rates of patients with irreversible kidney failure.

Summary

Home dialysis can help people receive the treatment they need and maintain the freedom they value - at a time when they might not feel like they have control. Because they have more flexibility in managing their treatment, home dialysis patients tend to see a positive impact in their ongoing care as well as how they live.