Relationship between the prognostic expectations of seriously ill patients undergoing hemodialysis and their nephrologists.

ABSTRACT:

Importance

Patients undergoing hemodialysis have an annual mortality rate exceeding 20%, comparable to many types of cancer. Past research has shown that patients with cancer overestimate their likelihood of survival relative to their physicians, but this relationship has not been examined in patients with noncancer diagnoses. Perceptions of prognosis and transplant candidacy may influence goals of care.

Objectives

To compare the perceptions of hemodialysis patients and their nephrologists concerning prognosis and the likelihood of transplant; to follow actual survival; and to explore the relationship between patients' expectations and their goals of care.

Design

We completed a medical record abstraction to estimate 1-year mortality risk among patients who underwent d

SUBMITTER: Wachterman MW 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3982381 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature