University of Cincinnati study: Comparing pregnancy rates in patients receiving two types of dialysis

“Childbirth is an essential part of a woman’s life. However, ESKD disrupts this important factor by reducing fertility, and pregnancy in women on dialysis is rare, and when pregnancy occurs, it is harmful to both mother and fetus. They face the risk of adverse outcomes,” said Sylvie Shah, MD, assistant professor of nephrology at the University of California. Lead author of the study. “However, this information can help patients and healthcare providers share decision-making regarding the management of their reproductive health.

“Because data on pregnancy among women receiving home dialysis are sorely lacking, we investigated pregnancy rates, racial and ethnic differences, and factors associated with pregnancy in this high-risk population.”

The study evaluated 26,837 women of childbearing age receiving home dialysis from January 1, 2005 to December 31, 2018 using data from the U.S. Kidney Data System. Overall, 437 pregnancies were confirmed. The annual pregnancy rate was almost 9 per 1,000 women, with a higher rate of home hemodialysis than peritoneal dialysis (16 vs. 7.5 PTPY). Black women were about 1.5 times more likely to become pregnant than white women. Younger age was also associated with a higher chance of pregnancy.

Dr. Shah said this study is unique in that it addresses a comprehensive racial group of home dialysis patients to better understand the incidence of pregnancy and factors associated with home dialysis patients. Ta. This study further considered patients with full Medicare coverage to avoid potential enrollment shortfalls that rely on voluntary reporting or patient recall.