Patient Preferences of Chronic Kidney Disease Treatment

Recent studies have found that patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) consider nonclinical outcomes—such as time on dialysis, convenience, and impact on family—more important than clinical outcomes (including life expectancy) when choosing between alternative treatments for kidney failure. In order to explore how patients perceive different renal replacement therapies (RRTs), researchers from University of Sydney, The George Institute for International Health, and Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, all in Sydney, Australia conducted interviews of 95 patients who were undergoing treatment for stage 5 CKD.