TITLE:
Influence of Infections on the 36-Week Survival of Chronic Hemodialysis Patients at the Hemodialysis Unit of the General Hospital of Douala, Cameroon
AUTHORS:
Elimby Ngande Lionel Patrick Joel, Nguea Ndjame Arlette, Fouda Menye Epouse Ebana Hermine Danielle
KEYWORDS:
Survival, CKD, Hemodialysis, Kaplan-Meier Estimator, Cox Model
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Nephrology,
Vol.14 No.4,
December
31,
2024
ABSTRACT: Background: The absence of local data on the survival of hemodialysis patients complicates the optimization of their care in Cameroon, a country characterized by a high prevalence of chronic kidney disease (CKD). This study, conducted at the hemodialysis unit of the General Hospital of Douala (GHGD), aimed to address this gap by assessing the 36-week survival of hemodialysis patients with CKD, thus providing essential data to enhance clinical practices and inform public health decisions. Methods: We conducted a prospective study at GHGD over a period of 9 months, monitoring 262 hemodialysis patients. Sociodemographic data, comorbidities, the presence of infections, adherence to regular hemodialysis sessions, and the week of death were collected using a structured survey form. The Kaplan-Meier estimator and Cox regression model were used to analyze patient survival. Results: The mean age of the patients was 49 ± 14 years. Adherence to hemodialysis sessions (HR = 0.19, p Burkholderia cepacia (p = 0.006), and for those who were divorced (p = 0.001). Conclusion: Strengthening infection prevention and providing psychosocial support for patients with CKD are crucial measures to improve patient care and develop public health strategies tailored to local needs.