What is known about the dialysis withdrawal?
There is heterogeneity in the literature in how to define deaths due to dialysis withdrawal.
However, estimates from USRDS suggest that approximately 20% of patients with ESKD die due to withdrawal from dialysis.
Based on a retrospective analysis, patients who discontinued dialysis had a mean survival of 7 days after enrollment into hospice.
This is significantly shorter than patients who enroll for reasons unrelated to renal failure. Clinical characteristics that predicted shortened survival include male sex, low functional status, referral from a hospital, and the presence of peripheral edema.