The spectrum of infection-related morbidity in hospitalized haemodialysis patients

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Abstract
Background. Infection is a common cause of mortality and morbidity in haemodialysis patients. Few prospective studies have examined the clinical consequences of infection-related hospitalizations in haemodialysis patients or the risk factors predictive of clinical outcomes. Methods. The outcomes of all first infection-related hospitalizations of patients enrolled in the HEMO Study were categorized in terms of mortality, requirement for intensive care unit (ICU) stay and length of hospitalization. In addition, the association of hospitalization outcomes with clinical and laboratory parameters was evaluated. Results. Among the 783 first infection-related hospitalizations, 57.7% had a severe outcome (death, ICU stay or hospitalization ≥7 days). The likelihood of a severe outcome increased with patient age (PPPConclusion. In summary, infection-related hospitalizations are associated with substantial morbidity. Patient age, serum albumin and infectious disease category are independently correlated with the hospitalization outcome, and can be used to estimate the likelihood of serious outcomes at the time of hospital admission.