Selected outcome criteria and adequacy of dialysis in diabetic and elderly patients on CAPD therapy.

There has been a gradual increase in the number of diabetic and elderly patients maintained on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) replacement therapy. Eighty randomly selected patients were studied over two years. Weekly normalized urea clearance (KT/Vurea), weekly creatinine clearance/1.73 m2 body surface area (BSA) (Ccr), and protein catabolic rate (PCR) were measured. Selected clinical outcome criteria were assessed. Weekly KT/Vurea was correlated with weekly Ccr (r = 0.538, p < 0.001), and weekly KT/Vurea was correlated with PCR (r = 0.393, p < 0.001). Patients were then stratified according to presence or absence of diabetes mellitus and age > 60 or < or = 60 years. Diabetic and nondiabetic patients had similar weekly KT/Vurea, weekly Ccr, PCR, serum albumin levels, weekly erythropoietin (EPO) requirements, peritonitis rates, and CAPD-related hospitalization rates. The total hospitalization rates, however, were higher in diabetic patients. Elderly and younger patients had similar weekly KT/Vurea, weekly Ccr, PCR, serum albumin levels, and weekly EPO requirements. Elderly patients, however, had higher peritonitis rates and higher total and CAPD-related hospitalization rates.