Lowering blood pressure saves lives in dialysis patients

For the first time, Australian researchers at the George Institute have identified that blood pressure lowering treatment significantly reduces the risk of death for dialysis patients, as published online in the Lancet.
 
Dialysis treatment replaces lost kidney function for people with kidney failure.

Kidney disease affects two million Australians, 10,000 of whom must undertake regular dialysis and have a one in eight chance of death each year, as well as a greatly increased risk of cardiovascular disease.

Until now, no treatments had been clearly proven to reduce this increased risk.
 
According to author, Dr Vlado Perkovic at the George Institute in Sydney, “Our systematic review assessed the effect of blood pressure lowering in patients on dialysis.

“We found that blood pressure lowering, significantly reduces the high death rate in patients on dialysis, preventing one in five deaths compared to people who did not receive the treatment. Patients on dialysis are at a greatly elevated risk of death, compared to the general population.”
 
“These results will change the way clinicians treat dialysis patients,” added Dr Perkovic.

“Our study shows blood pressure lowering treatment should routinely be considered for individuals undergoing dialysis to protect patients from the high rate of cardiovascular disease such as heart attack and stroke, and to reduce their risk of dying.

“The benefits of this treatment are very large, particularly as they appear similar across all groups of dialysis patients, including those with either normal or high blood pressure levels.”