Limited Access to Pre-Dialysis Care Associated with Lower Rates of Usable AV Dialysis Access at Dialysis Initiation for Hispanic Patients

Summary: Getting ready for dialysis is a big deal. The safest and best way to do it is by having a doctor create an "AV access" in the arm before dialysis even starts. This is much better than using a chest tube (called a CVC). However, a recent study found a major unfairness in the system.

Hispanic patients are much less likely to see a kidney doctor before starting dialysis compared to white patients. Because they miss out on this early care, they are also less likely to have that safer AV access ready on day one. In fact, missing these early doctor visits causes about a third of this gap! The crazy part? Once Hispanic patients finally start dialysis and get regular kidney care, they quickly catch up and get the better AV access during their first year. Hospitals need to fix this by helping Hispanic patients see kidney doctors before their kidneys completely fail.

For more details, see the-hospitalist at the-hospitalist.org/hospitalist/article/40668/nephrology/limited-access-to-pre-dialysis-care-associated-with-lower-rates-of-usable-av-dialysis-access-at-dialysis-initiation-for-hispanic-patients/ (opens in new tab)