Introduction:
In a resource limited setting, as an approach to support incremental hemodialysis, the use of alkali therapy can improve the self reported patient outcomes and metabolic acidosis.
Methods:
In this retrospective study, patients who are underdialyzed and had symptoms of metabolic acidosis while being on hemodialysis, were started with alkali therapy (sodium bicarbonate 500 mg oral thrice per day, uptitrated to maintain pre HD serum bicarbonate levels above 22 meq/L). The outcome measured was their pre and post SF36 levels before and 3 months after starting therapy.
Results:
Overall, 91 patients were started on oral alkali therapy. The median age of patients was 45(IQR) years, with 60 percent males. Co morbid conditions include hypertension (56%), diabetes(45%), and heart disease(13%). Overall, 41 patents were on thrice weekly and 50 were on twice weekly schedule. The mean potassium, calcium, phosphorus, PTH, Vitamin D, magnesium was 4.1, 11, 4, 156, and 2.4 respectively. There was a significant improvement in SF36 scores in pre and post 3 months values( value<.001).
Conclusions:
In this pilot study, alkali therapy in chronic hemodialysis patients improves quality of life, and can delay need for increasing the frequency of hemodialysis in resource limited regions.
I have no potential conflict of interest to disclose.
I did not use generative AI and AI-assisted technologies in the writing process.