#443 LEVIL evaluates the impact of HDx on HR-QoL and symptoms, including durability-of-effect and variability

Abstract

Abstract Background and Aims Current hemodialysis (HD), utilizing conventional high-flux dialyzers, is handicapped by clearance limitations (larger-sized uremic toxins), which contribute to poor health-related quality-of-life (HR-QoL) and symptom-burden. Recent international consensus and guideline-setting efforts have explicitly prioritized identification and management of symptoms and subjective experience, whilst also acknowledging the lack of tools available to fully appreciate and continuously monitor these challenges. This study aimed to utilize dynamic patient-reported-outcome-measurement tool (PROM), London Evaluation of Illness (LEVIL-developed in-house), to iteratively interrogate patient-experience and to confirm previously reported HR-QoL benefits of the use of expanded hemodialysis (HDx) using medium cut-off dialyzer (extending the spectrum of uremic toxins being addressed). Furthermore, this study aimed to extend appreciation of effects on patient subjective experience to include durability-of-effects, variability of symptom-measures and impact of HDx withdrawal. Methods We conducted a multi-centre interventional study in 47 patients established on conventional thrice weekly centre-based HD in Ontario, Canada. Study protocol was 15-months in length with five phases 1) one-month observation (high-flux-HD), 2) three-months HDx 3) two-month wash-out (high-flux-HD), 4) six-months HDx, 5) three-month wash-out (high-flux-HD). HR-QoL and symptom-burden were evaluated using LEVIL throughout study. Results HDx-therapy improved HR-QoL [p 0.0006 (19% from baseline)] and a variety of symptoms including general wellbeing [p 0.005 (23%)], energy [p 0.004 (33%)], sleep-quality [p 0.001 (33%)], pruritus [0.003 (30%)], pain [p 0.01 (19%)], restless leg syndrome [p 0.0006 (15%)], mood [p 0.02 (12%)], appetite [ p 0.03 (9%)], breathlessness [p 0.001 (9%)], and HD-recovery [p 0.004 (26%)]. Response was more pronounced in those with poorer HR-QoL and higher symptom-burden. Improvements were durable over time with continued use with less symptom-variability (range 10-35% improvement). Improvements diminished gradually with return to high-flux-HD. The drivers of poor HR-QoL were largely general-wellbeing, energy, sleep-quality, pruritus, and bodily pain. Conclusion Use of a dynamic PROM effectively allowed appreciation of HR-QoL burden in HD-patients. Use of HDx-therapy results in improved patient subjective outcomes that are durable and associated with significantly lower variation in important symptom-domains than patients experience with receiving conventional high-flux-HD.