Patients referred to a nephrologist a year or more before they start dialysis have better odds of survival during the first year of treatment compared with patients who are referred later, even if they have diabetes or are age 70 or older, a study found. The study included 1,438 patients with an average age of 60 years. Of these, 23 percent had diabetes, 30 percent were age 70 and older, and 62 percent were male. The researchers examined patient survival according to the timing of referral.
Fifty-six percent of subjects were referred very early, 12 percent were referred early, and 32 percent were referred late. Compared with patients who were referred very early, those who were referred early and late had a 50 percent and 80 percent increased risk of death. Diabetes or advanced age did not add significantly to the risk of death associated with late referral.
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