The Influence of Renal Centre and Patient Sociodemographic Factors on Home Haemodialysis Prevalence in the UK

BACKGROUND: In the United Kingdom, socioeconomic disadvantage has been associated with lower use of home dialysis, mostly peritoneal dialysis. In this study, we explore the role of a patient's sociodemographic, socioeconomic differences and the centre's influence on home haemodialysis (HD) prevalence.

METHODS: Data is derived from the cross-sectional arm of the UK multi-centre study investigating barriers and enablers of home HD (BASIC-HHD study). Centres were classified as low- (<3%), medium- (5-8%) and high-prevalence groups (>8%). Sociodemographic and socioeconomic status data were ascertained. Patients were enrolled in hospital HD (n = 213), home HD (n = 93) and predialysis groups (n = 222).

RESULTS: The treating renal centre to which the patient belonged was significantly associated with a patient's modality in prevalent HD groups and modality-choice in the "predialysis" group, in confounder-adjusted multivariable analyses. Non-white ethnicity was associated with lower odds of self-care dialysis modality choice (OR 0.21, 95% CI 0.07-0.62) and lower odds of home HD uptake in the prevalent HD group (OR 0.24, 95% CI 0.07-0.80). Other significant associations of home HD uptake in the HD cohort included lower age (OR 0.59, 95% CI 0.39-0.89), higher education (OR 2.99, 95% CI 1.25-7.16), home ownership (OR 0.26, 95% CI 0.09-0.70), childcare responsibility (OR 0.22, 95% CI 0.08-0.66) and unrestricted mobility (OR 0.31, 95% CI 0.11-0.91).

CONCLUSION: "Centre" effect accounts for variation in home HD prevalence between renal units after accounting for sociodemographic parameters and co-morbidities. Unit practices and attitudes to home HD are likely to have a dominating impact on home HD prevalence rates and these aspects need to be explored systematically at the organisational level.