Social determinants of health and dialysis modality selection in patients with advanced chronic kidney disease: A retrospective cohort study.

Background: Social determinants of health are non-medical factors that impact health. For patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) progressing to kidney failure, the influence of social determinants of health on dialysis modality selection (haemodialysis vs. peritoneal dialysis (PD)) is incompletely understood.

Methods: Retrospective cohort study of 981 consecutive patients with advanced CKD referred to the Ottawa Hospital Multi-Care Kidney Clinic (Canada) who progressed to dialysis from 2010 to 2021. Multivariable logistic regression was used to measure odds ratios (OR) for the associations between social determinants of health (education, employment, marital status and residence) and modality of dialysis initiation.

Results: The mean age and estimated glomerular filtration rate were 64 and 18 mL/min/1.73 m², respectively. Not having a high school degree was associated with lower odds of initiating dialysis via PD compared to having a college degree (29% vs. 48%, OR 0.55 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.34-0.88)). Unemployment was associated with lower odds of initiating dialysis via PD compared to active employment (38% vs. 62%, OR 0.40 (95% CI 0.27-0.60)). Being single was associated with lower odds of initiating dialysis via PD compared to being married (35% vs. 48%, adjusted OR 0.52 (95% CI 0.39-0.70)). Living alone at home was associated with lower odds of initiating dialysis via PD compared to living at home with family (33% vs. 47%, adjusted OR 0.55 (95% CI 0.39-0.78)).

Conclusions: Social determinants of health including education, employment, marital status and residence are associated with dialysis modality selection. Addressing these 'upstream' social factors may allow for more equitable outcomes during the transition from advanced CKD to kidney failure.