Why are Reported Relative Mortality Risks for Capd and Hd So Variable? (Inadequacies of the Cox Proportional Hazards Model)

Abstract

The relative risks of death for CAPD and HD reported in the literature and at recent meetings most likely reflect case-mix differences and varying percentages of adequately dialyzed patients within the compared populations. A prospective randomized comparison of CAPD and HD patients will be unlikely because of the expense. Therefore, we should attempt to improve the way that both CAPD and HD are practiced. There is no conclusive evidence that the choice of CAPD or HD per se yields a specific modality advantage for survival.