Association of vascular access flow with short-term and long-term mortality in chronic haemodialysis patients: a retrospective cohort study

Objectives To investigate the impact of vascular access flow (Qa) on vascular and all-cause mortality in chronic haemodialysis (HD) patients. Design Observational cohort study. Setting Single centre. Participants Adult chronic HD patients at the HD unit of Shin Kong Wu Ho-Su Memorial Hospital between 1 January 2003 and 31 December 2003 were recruited. Patients were excluded if they had arteriovenous fistula or arteriovenous graft failure within 3 months before the date of Qa measurement, were aged Interventions The selected patients were evaluated with Qa and cardiac index (CI). They were divided into four groups according to three Qa cut-off points (500, 1000 and 1500 mL/min). Primary and secondary outcome measures Short-term and long-term vascular (cardiovascular or cerebrovascular) and all-cause mortality. Results Qa was positively correlated with CI ( r =0.48, p Conclusions Qa is moderately correlated with cardiac function, and a Qa level of