Genovesi et al reported risk factors impacting sudden cardiac death in a dialysis patient. Sudden cardiac death is a common cause of death for these patients. The authors are from multiple institutions in Europe and Turkey.
Criteria for sudden cardiac death:
(1) death due to cardiac cause
(2) either death within 1 hour of symptom onset ("witnessed") or within 24 hours of the last proof of life ("unwitnessed")
The risk factors may vary between:
(1) hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis
(2) the intra- and extra-dialysis periods
Risk factors during hemodialysis:
(1) low concentration of potassium in the dialysate (< 2 mmol/L)
(2) low concentration of calcium in the dialysate (< 1.25 mmol/L)
(3) absence of an automated external defibrillator
Other risk factors:
(1) ischemic heart disease
(2) bradyarrhythmia (does not benefit from ICD)
(3) tachyarrhythmia without ICD
(4) electrolyte imbalance
(5) reduced left ventricular ejection fraction
(6) diabetes
(7) prolongation of the QT interval
