Abstract: SA-PO0351
Results from Patient-Reported Outcomes in Taiwan: Physical Composite Score Less than or Equal to 40 Is Associated with Two-Fold Higher Risk of Hospitalization
Session Information
- Dialysis: Epidemiology and Facility Management
November 08, 2025 | Location: Exhibit Hall, Convention Center
Abstract Time: 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Category: Dialysis
- 801 Dialysis: Hemodialysis and Frequent Dialysis
Authors
- Law, David, Fresenius Medical Care Taiwan Co Ltd, Taipei City, Taiwan
- Feng, Tung-Ping, National Taiwan University, Taipei City, Taiwan
- Chang, Ray-E, National Taiwan University, Taipei City, Taiwan
- Chen, Ting-Hung, National Taiwan University, Taipei City, Taiwan
- Chan, Cindy, Fresenius Medical Care Hong Kong Ltd, Hong Kong, Hong Kong
- Saxena, Sugandha, Fresenius Medical Care India Pvt Ltd, New Delhi, DL, India
- Cheung, Yan Yi, Fresenius Medical Care Singapore Pte Ltd, Singapore, Singapore
- Cromm, Krister, Fresenius Medical Care Deutschland GmbH, Bad Homburg, HE, Germany
- Nikam, Milind, Fresenius Medical Care Dubai, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Background
Taiwan has the highest incidence of end-stage kidney disease. In this study, we aimed to understand patient reported outcomes (PROMs) and their relationship with hospitalization.
Methods
This study surveyed 712 hemodialysis patients (HD) at Fresenius Medical Care Taiwan from June to August 2023. Eligible patients were ≥20 years old, undergoing regular HD. Electronic PROMs and SurveyCake™ collected responses on Kidney Disease Quality of Life Instrument, intradialytic symptoms, and post-dialysis recovery time. Negative binomial regression was used to analyze the PROM's association with hospitalization events and duration using R (v4.1.1).
Results
Of the 602 HD patients surveyed (age 65.5 ± 11.7 years, 54% male), the 6-month hospitalization rate was 26.7 events per 100 patients (mean duration 2.8 days).
Physical composite score (PCS) was associated with hospitalization events and duration after adjustment for patient and clinical factors (Table 1). Patients were grouped by PCS score (≤40 vs. >40), given its normal distribution with a mean and median of 40 (Fig. 1A). The PCS >40 group had a lower adjusted hospitalization incidence rate ratio (IRR: 0.55, 95% CI: 0.36,0.84) than the ≤40 group (Fig. 1B). A score of 40 could thus identify patients at risk of hospitalization within 6 months.
Apart from PCS score, pre-dialytic diastolic blood pressure was also associated with hospitalization events and duration (Table 1), while no such association was found with systolic blood pressure.
Conclusion
In this cohort, lower PCS is significantly associated with higher hospitalization incidence and duration. PROMs may help identify at-risk patients so that preventative measures can be better designed and targeted.
Funding
- Commercial Support – Fresenius Medical Care