Interdialytic Weight Gain and Hemoglobin Concentrations in the Japanese Dialysis Outcomes and Practice Patterns Study: Further Considerations

摘要

T he clinical excellence of Jap- anese hemodialysis practice can hardly be overestimated, as substantially better outcomes have consistently been reported for Japan in comparison with other nations. In a narrative review, 1 written on receiving the David M. Hume Memorial Award, Frie- drich K. Port recapitulated that better survival among Japanese versus US hemodialysis patients became evident as early as 1990, through comparison of registry data. 2 By initiating the interna- tional Dialysis Outcomes and Practice Patterns Study (DOPPS), Dr. Port and colleagues responded to the critical need of studying ways to improve care and out- comes for hemodialysis patients in the United States. In consequence, Japan was among the first coun- tries whose hemodialysis data were recorded and analyzed in DOPPS.