Hematocrit Levels and Hospitalization Risks in Hemodialysis Patients

Abstract . The association between hematocrit level and future hospitalization risks in hemodialysis patients has not been fully investigated on a national level. A total of 71,717 prevalent Medicare hemodialysis patients who survived a 6-mo entry period from July 1 through December 31, 1993 were studied, and their risk of hospitalizations was evaluated the next year. Five hematocrit groups were defined from Medicare recombinant human erythropoietin-treated patients: p = 0.0001) and a 7 to 18% increased risk with disease severity adjustment ( p = 0.0001). Patients in the 33 to p = 0.0001), with and without adjustment for disease severity. It is concluded that patients with hematocrits of