The benefits of performing assisted peritoneal dialysis at a day care center for elderly patients

[Purpose] Assisted peritoneal dialysis (assisted PD) is a useful treatment for elderly patients with end-stage renal disease; however, in Japan, only visiting nurses are available to provide assisted PD. We conducted a one-year observational study of the assisted PD provided to users of a day care center for elderly patients. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of providing assisted PD at day care centers for elderly patients with end-stage renal disease. [Subjects and Methods] Eleven patients who used the day care center received assisted PD. Three patients stopped receiving assisted PD at the day care center, as they were transitioned to hemodialysis, admitted to a nursing home, or hospitalized due to a chronic subdural hematoma, respectively. The remaining 8 patients (4 males, 4 females; mean age: 78±78.52 years, mean body mass index: 22.3±3.2) who continued receiving assisted PD for one year were enrolled. The health status of the PD patients, their laboratory data, and the incidence rates of adverse events over one year were analyzed. Furthermore, we also calculated the cost of providing PD-related medical care at the day care center and the cost of providing standard PD care according to the Japan national health insurance system. In addition, the patients’ families were asked to complete a questionnaire about their satisfaction with the assisted PD. [Results] No adverse events were observed in any patient during the one-year study period. All of the subjects underwent stable dialysis, and the patients’ families exhibited high levels of satisfaction. However, the cost of providing PD-related medical care at the day care center was not satisfactory. [Conclusion] Assisted PD can be effectively provided to elderly PD patients in day care centers. However, further investigations of the economics of providing such care are required.