Hemodiafiltration linked to fewer CVD hospitalizations
November 08, 2025
1 min read
Key takeaways:
- In a large, real-world study, risk for CVD-related hospitalization was 25% lower with hemodiafiltration vs. hemodialysis.
- Risk was 40% for fluid management hospitalizations.
HOUSTON — Compared with high-flux hemodialysis, use of hemodiafiltration was associated with significantly fewer hospital admissions and shorter length of stay for causes related to CVD, fluid management and infections.
Data were presented at ASN Kidney Week.
“Hospitalization continues to be the major contributor to the health care costs for the patients with end-stage kidney disease, and among all the cost-specific causes of hospitalization, cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of hospitalization, followed by infection,” Yan Zhang, PhD, senior expert in real-world data analysis at the Renal Research Institute in New York, told Healio.
In a real-world study, Zhang and colleagues analyzed data from 2019 to 2022 from the European Clinical Database on 71,669 patients from Europe, the Middle East and Africa who had end-stage kidney disease. Participants were patients of Fresenius Medical Care. Of the cohort, 39,477 patients used hemodiafiltration (HDF) and 32,192 high-flux hemodialysis for at least 90 days before being included in the study. After weighting, the mean age of the patients was 67 years with 3.7 years on dialysis; they had similar vascular access modalities, diabetes and CVD histories, according to Zhang.
Overall, about 42% of hospitalizations were due to CVD, 13% were related to fluid management issues — with heart failure included in both CVD and fluid management issues — and 35% were due to infection, according to Zhang.
Compared with hemodialysis, HDF was associated with 27% lower risk for hospital admissions related to CVD and 25% lower risk for additional hospital days. HDF was associated with 40% lower risk for admission and 34% lower risk for hospital days due to fluid management. Risks for infection-related admissions and hospital days were 16% and 22% lower, respectively, for HDF compared with hemodialysis.
Zhang said this large, multinational study confirmed results of smaller studies with convenience populations and pooled analyses.
“[Beyond] these specific outcomes are findings as to the growing body of evidence showing that HDF provides a wider spectrum of clinical benefits for dialysis patients, not only improving survival, but also enhancing the overall health outcomes and also quality of care,” Zhang said.
Sources/Disclosures
Source:
Zhang Y, et al. TH-OR052. Presented at: ASN Kidney Week; Nov. 5-9, 2025; Houston.
Reference:
- Zhang Y, et al. SA-PO0383. Presented at: ASN Kidney Week; Nov. 5-9, 2025; Houston.
Disclosures:
Zhang reports being employed by the Renal Research Institute.
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