SHORTER FREQUENT DIALYSIS

BENEFITS OF SHORTER, MORE FREQUENT DIALYSIS

Shorter, more frequent hemodialysis is a different way of doing hemodialysis. Instead of having to go to a dialysis center 3 times a week for treatments that are about 4-5 hours long, plus recovery time that can take up to 8-9 hours; a person doing home hemodialysis does his or her treatments at home. There are different types and schedules of home hemodialysis, but the most common is more frequent home hemodialysis, in which the patient does shorter treatments (about 2.5  hours) more often (5 times per week) at home. The typical recovery time for this type of treatment is about 1/2 hour.

Frequent dialysis keeps the amount of toxins and water build-up to a minimum, which makes the treatment shorter and may reduce or eliminate many side effects dialysis patients typically experience. The patient and a care partner (usually a family member or friend) are trained by the dialysis center nurses to do their treatments safely at home. Doing dialysis more often is closer to how healthy kidneys work. Many patients report – and various studies have confirmed – that compared to three-times-weekly in-center hemodialysis, frequent home hemodialysis may offer the following health and quality of life benefits:

• Lower risk of death

• Less stress on the heart

• Better blood pressure control with fewer medications

• Much quicker recovery time after treatment, typically half hour compared to up to 8-9 hours in traditional dialysis

• Improved appetite and the ability to drink more

• Fewer depressive symptoms

• Better mental and physical health

• More energy and vitality

• Feeling of being in control of treatment and life

• Ability to travel