Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate the relation between pre-nephrology visit (PNV) and 1-yr patient survival after hemodialysis (HD) induction. DESIGN, SETTING PARTICIPANTS, & MEASUREMENTS: Data were analyzed from 8500 incident HD patients (on HD 90% of patients receiving PNV [first quartile] compared with facilities with <71% of patients receiving PNV [fourth quartile]; P = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: These results provide not only patient-level but also facility practice evidence that PNV is related to improved patient survival during the first year after initiation of HD, indicating the possible mortality benefits with more increased attention to PNV.