Published in:
01-03-2019 | Peritoneal Dialysis | Nephrology - Original Paper
Socioeconomic status and mortality among dialysis patients: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors:
Sibei Tao, Xiaoxi Zeng, Jing Liu, Ping Fu
Published in:
International Urology and Nephrology
|
Issue 3/2019
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Abstract
Background
The reported association between individual indicators of socioeconomic status (SES) and mortality in dialysis patients was inconsistent in previous studies. We performed a meta-analysis to identify the association between SES and mortality of dialysis population.
Methods
The meta-analysis was conducted in accordance with MOOSE guidelines. Cohorts evaluating the association between SES indicators (income, education and occupation) and mortality in dialysis patients were included. Random-effects models were used to pool the adjusted relative risk (RR) from individual studies. Heterogeneity was assessed by Cochrane’s Q and the I2 statistic. Subgroup analyses and sensitivity analyses were performed to identify sources of heterogeneity and to evaluate the robustness of findings.
Results
Fourteen studies were finally included. In hemodialysis patients, increased mortality was associated with lower level of income (RR = 1.08, 95%CI [1.01–1.16], P = 0.035; I2 = 87.9%, P < 0.001) and occupation (RR = 1.63, 95%CI [1.11–2.38], P = 0.013; I2 = 0.0%, P = 0.601). However, no significant association was identified for education (RR = 1.43, 95%CI [0.92–2.25]; P = 0.112; I2 = 68.3%,P = 0.001). In patients receiving peritoneal dialysis, lower level of income (RR = 1.80, 95%CI [1.12–2.88],P = 0.015; I2 = 75.9%, P = 0.042), education (RR = 1.27, 95%CI [1.13–1.43], P < 0.001; I2 = 0.0%, P = 0.684), and occupation (RR = 3.42, 95% CI [1.35–8.70], P = 0.010) were risk factors for increased mortality. Subgroup analysis showed the association between SES indicators and mortality in hemodialysis differed according to geographic locations and study designs.
Conclusion
Lower SES (measured by income, education, and occupation) tends to be associated with higher mortality in patients receiving maintenance dialysis. But the magnitude of the associations varied for different individual indicators of SES.