Race, Ethnicity, and End-of-Life Care in Dialysis Patients in the United States.

ABSTRACT:

Background

End-of-life care is a prominent consideration in patients on maintenance dialysis, especially when death appears imminent and quality of life is poor. To date, examination of race- and ethnicity-associated disparities in end-of-life care for patients with ESRD has largely been restricted to comparisons of white and black patients.

Methods

We performed a retrospective national study using United States Renal Data System files to determine whether end-of-life care in United States patients on dialysis is subject to racial or ethnic disparity. The primary outcome was a composite of discontinuation of dialysis and death in a nonhospital or hospice setting.

Results

Among 1,098,384 patients on dialysis dying between 2000 and 2014, the primary outcome was less lik

SUBMITTER: Foley RN 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6115657 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature