Racial differences in utilization and outcomes of hemodialysis access in the Unites States

Objective: To evaluate patterns of use and outcomes of arteriovenous fistulas and prosthetic grafts within racial categories in a large population based cohort of hemodialysis (HD) patients in the United States. Methods: A retrospective analysis of white, black, and Hispanic patients in the prospectively maintained United States Renal Database System who had an autogenous fistula or prosthetic graft placed for HD access between January 2007 and December 2014 was performed. Analysis of variance, chi(2), t-tests, Kaplan-Meier, log-rank tests, multivariable logistic, and Cox regression analyses were used to evaluate maturation, patency, infection, and mortality. Results: This study of 359,942 patients, composed of 285,781 autogenous fistulas (79.4%) and 74,161 prosthetic grafts (20.6%) placed in 213,877 white (59.4%), 115,727 black (32.2%), and 30,338 Hispanic (8.4%) patients. There was a 11% increase in the risk-adjusted odds of HD catheter use as bridge to autogenous fistula placement in blacks (adjusted odds ratio, 1.11; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.08-1.14; P < .001) and a 9% increase in Hispanics (adjusted odds ratio, 1.09; 95% CI, 1.05-1.14; P < .001) compared with whites. Fistula maturation for HD access for whites vs blacks vs Hispanics was 77.0% vs 76.3% vs 77.8% (P = .35). After adjusting for covariates, fistula maturation was higher for blacks (adjusted hazard ratio, 1.09; 95% CI, 1.06-1.13; P < .001) and Hispanics (adjusted hazard ratio, 1.13; 95% CI, 1.06-1.20; P < .001) compared with whites. There was no significant difference in prosthetic graft maturation for blacks and Hispanics compared with whites. Primary, primary-assisted, and secondary patency were highest for Hispanic and least for black autogenous fistula recipients. Primary, primary-assisted, and secondary patency was also highest for Hispanic patients who received prosthetic grafts. Prosthetic grafts were associated with a decrease in patency and patient survival compared with fistulas in all racial categories. Mortality was lower for blacks and Hispanics relative to white patients. Initiation of HD with a catheter and conversion to autogenous fistula was associated with decrease in patency and patient survival compared with initiation with a fistula in all racial groups. Conclusions: Autogenous fistulas are associated with better patency and patient survival compared with prosthetic grafts for all races studied. The use of HD catheter before fistula placement is more prevalent in Hispanic and black patients and is associated with worse patency and patient survival irrespective of race. Fistula and graft patency is highest for Hispanic patients. Patient survival is higher for Hispanic and black patients relative to whites. These associations suggest potential benefit with initiation of HD via autogenous fistula and minimizing temporizing catheter use, irrespective of race.