NxStage Medical (NSDQ:NXTM) touted a new study showing that frequent home hemodialysis delivers a better quality of life and lower risk of death than peritoneal dialysis, citing research by the Chronic Disease Research Group.
Results from the CDRG study, which matched 4,460 home hemodialysis patients with a cohort of 4,460 peritoneal dialysis patients, were presented this week at the American Society of Nephrology’s Kidney Week in Philadelphia.
The study showed that the home hemodialysis had a 16% lower risk of death, 8% lower risk of hospitalization and 38% lower risk of therapy attrition than the peritoneal dialysis group. Home hemodialysis patients were also significantly less likely to be hospitalized for cardiovascular or infection-related issues, according to NxStage-funded research presented by CDRG epidemiologist Eric Weinhandl.
"This study provides evidence that HHD is not only a viable alternative to PD, but may be a better alternative for some patients electing to perform home dialysis," Weinhandl said in a statement. "Moreover, the study challenges the commonly held conception that therapy attrition is higher with HHD than with PD."
NxStage makes the System 1 home hemodialysis device, which it bills as the 1st and only "truly portable hemodialysis system" cleared for home use by the FDA. It’s designed to be used with NxStage’s PureFlow dialysis prep system, which allows patients to make dialysate from ordinary tap water.