Changing trends in dialysis modalities utilization and mortality in children, adolescents and young adults with acute kidney injury, 2010–2017

The aim of the study was to assess trends in the relative use of dialysis modalities in the hospital-based pediatric cohort and to determine risk factors associated with in-hospital morality among pediatric patients receiving dialysis for acute kidney injury (AKI). Patients aged < 20 years who received dialysis between 2010 and 2017 were identified from electronic health records databases of a Taiwan’s healthcare delivery system. The annual uses of intermittent hemodialysis (HD), continuous and automated peritoneal dialysis (PD) and continuous kidney replacement therapy (CKRT) were assessed using Cochran-Armitage Tests for trend. Among patients who received their first dialysis as inpatients for AKI, a multivariate logistic regression model was employed to assess mortality risks associated with dialysis modalities, patient demographics, complexity of baseline chronic disease, and healthcare service use during their hospital stays. Kidney dialysis was performed 37.9 per patient per year over the study period. Intermittent hemodialysis (HD) (73.3%) was the most frequently used dialysis modality. In the inpatient setting, the relative annual use of CKRT increased over the study period, while HD use concomitantly declined (P < 0.0001). The overall in-hospital mortality rate after dialysis for AKI was 33.6%, which remained steady over time (P = 0.2411). Patients aged < 2 years [adjusted odds ratio: (aOR) 3.36; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.34–8.93] and greater vasoactive regimen use (aOR: 17.1; 95% CI: 5.3–55.21) were significantly associated with dialysis-related mortality. Overall treatment modality used for dialysis in pediatric patients increased slowly in the study period, and HD and CRKT modality uses largely evolved in the inpatient setting. Younger ages and use of more vasoactive medication regimens were independently associated with increased early mortality in patients on AKI-dialysis.