Frequency of Early Predialysis Nephrology Care and Postdialysis Cardiovascular Events

Background Patients with kidney failure are at a high risk for cardiovascular events. Predialysis nephrology care has been reported to improve postdialysis survival, but its effects on postdialysis major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) have not been comprehensively studied. Study Design Observational cohort study. Setting & Participants We used data from the National Health Insurance Research Database in Taiwan. Adult patients who initiated maintenance dialysis therapy in 1999 to 2010 were enrolled. Predictor We created 3 subtypes of predialysis nephrology care based on the time between the first nephrology visit and the initiation of dialysis therapy: early frequent (duration ≥ 6 months; at least 1 nephrology visit every 3 months), early infrequent (duration ≥ 6 months,