A decade of arteriovenous fistula creations in the ⩾75 years population: Equal opportunity or sub-optimal use of resources

Michael Corr; Astha Pachchigar; Michael O'Neill; Rebecca Higgins; Stephen O'Neill; Jennifer Hanko; Agnes Masengu

doi:10.1177/11297298221147571

A decade of arteriovenous fistula creations in the ⩾75 years population: Equal opportunity or sub-optimal use of resources

J Vasc Access. 2023 Jan 6:11297298221147571. doi: 10.1177/11297298221147571. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Michael Corr^{1

2}, Astha Pachchigar³, Michael O'Neill³, Rebecca Higgins², Stephen O'Neill^{1

2}, Jennifer Hanko², Agnes Masengu²

Affiliations

¹ Centre of Public Health, Queen's University, Belfast, UK.
² Regional Nephrology & Transplant Unit, Belfast Health and Social Care Trust, Belfast, UK.
³ School of Medicine, Queen's University, Belfast, UK.

PMID: 36609176
DOI: 10.1177/11297298221147571

Abstract

Background: The optimal vascular access in the elderly remains contentious in the context of increasingly limited resources and anticipated survival on hemodialysis. Research focus has shifted to include the impact of vascular access on quality of life. This study explored clinical outcomes in individuals aged ⩾75 years who had an arteriovenous fistula (AVF) created in a single center over a 10-year period.

Materials and methods: Demographic and clinical data concerning AVFs created January 2009-December 2019 were identified from a prospective database for retrospective analysis. Outcome measures were AVF patency and failure to mature rates plus overall patient and vascular access survival. The Vascular Access Specific Quality of life measure (VASQoL) was completed in a contemporary cohort aged ⩾75 years established on HD in October 2021.

Results: AVF outcomes were available for 272 patients (93%). The failure to mature (FTM) rate was 36% with the significant predictors of AVF FTM being the creation of a radiocephalic AVF (OR 8.13, 95% CI 8.02-8.52, p < 0.01), female gender (OR 4.84, 95% CI 4.70-5.41, p < 0.01), and a history of peripheral vascular disease (OR 5.25, 95% CI 5.22-6.00, p value = 0.02). Functional patency was associated with a median 12-month survival benefit compared to those whose fistula FTM (p < 0.01). The median patency duration for a functionally patent AVF was 3 years. Elderly patients with a fistula reported a lower quality of life in VASQoL scoring than those with central venous catheters.

Conclusions: In this cohort, AVF creation in individuals aged ⩾75 years AVFs was associated with comparable AVF patency rates to younger patients. AVF functional patency was associated with superior patient survival compared to those with AVF FTM. A multi-disciplinary surveillance program may help reduce AVF loss. Further work on how vascular access choice impacts quality of life in elderly patients is required.

Keywords: AV fistula; Dialysis; catheters; dialysis access; economics and health services; ultrasonography—Doppler evaluation.