Pre-Storm Dialysis Saves Lives

Scheduling dialysis before a major storm can lower the odds of hospitalization or death in the month after the storm, according to a study by HHS. Early dialysis was associated with a 20% lower risk of an emergency department visit and 21% lower risk of hospitalization in the week of the storm, as well as 28% lower risk of death 30 days after the storm.

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Researchers from the HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR) used data on 13,836 patients who received dialysis in New Jersey and New York City, the areas hardest hit by Hurricane Sandy in 2012. Before the hurricane made landfall, 60% of patients with end-stage renal disease received early treatment in 70% of the facilities in the storm area.

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The study is part of the ASPR’s broader effort to better protect at-risk populations, such as children and “medically vulnerable” residents, during disasters. The authors of the study recommend that dialysis facilities conduct disaster drills to test emergency and communications plans and assess the staff’s ability to coordinate early dialysis. Drills also help determine whether patients are prepared for their part in disaster-ready treatment by knowing how, where, and when to get their early and emergency care.