The Proven Benefits of More Frequent Home Hemodialysis

At NxStage, we’ve seen first-hand how patients have enjoyed improved health and a better quality of life through more frequent home hemodialysis. 
But don’t take our word for it. Many studies have shown that the benefits of home hemodialysis go far beyond convenience. The benefits below are based on published data.

All forms of hemodialysis, including treatments performed in-center and at home, involve some risks. In addition, there are certain risks unique to treatment in the home environment. Patients differ and not everyone will experience the reported benefits of more frequent home hemodialysis. Talk to your doctor to see if more frequent home hemodialysis with NxStage is right for you.

Certain risks associated with hemodialysis treatment are increased when performing nocturnal therapy due to the length of treatment time and because therapy is performed while the patient and care partner are sleeping.

Review the complete Risks and Responsibilities.

Click on the benefits below to learn more.

  • More energy<sup>1-4</sup>

    More energy1-4
    More energy<sup>1-4</sup>

    More energy1-4

    More frequent treatments can improve vitality and give you more energy to do the things you love. Many people who receive in-center dialysis are unable to work, go to school, contribute to their household, or enjoy their favorite activities because they do not feel well enough or cannot fit work and other activities into their in-center dialysis schedules.

    1. Finkelstein FO, Schiller B, Daoui R, et al. At-home short daily hemodialysis improves the long-term health-related quality of life. Kidney Int. 2012;82(5): 561-569.
    2. Heidenheim PA, Muirhead N, Moist L, Lindsay RM. Patient quality of life on quotidian hemodialysis. Am J Kidney Dis. 2003;42(1)(suppl 1):S36-S41.
    3. Ting GO, Kjellstrand C, Freitas T, Carrie BJ, Zarghamee S. Long-term study of high-comorbidity ESRD patients converted from conventional to short daily hemodialysis. Am J Kidney Dis. 2003;42(5):1020-1035.
    4. Goldfarb-Rumyantzev AS, Leypoldt JK, Nelson N, Kutner NG, Cheung AK. A crossover study of short daily hemodialysis. Nephrol Dial Transplant. 2006;21:166-175.
  • Fewer fluid and diet restrictions<sup>1,2</sup>

    Fewer fluid and diet restrictions1,2
    Fewer fluid and diet restrictions<sup>1,2</sup>

    Fewer fluid and diet restrictions1,2

    One of the biggest complaints patients have with dialysis is being restricted on the amount of fluid they’re allowed to drink. In addition to fluid limits, your diet may also be strictly controlled to limit the amount of toxins and electrolytes you retain. With more frequent home hemodialysis, you normally have less fluid and toxin build-up, since the blood is cleaned more frequently.

    • This may result in fewer fluid and dietary restrictions
    • More frequent hemodialysis may also improve your appetite
    1. Spanner E, Suri R, Heidenheim AP, Lindsay RM. The impact of quotidian hemodialysis on nutrition. Am J Kidney Dis. 2003;42(1 suppl):30-35.
    2. Galland R, Traeger J, Arkouche W, Cleaud C, Delawari E, Fouque D. Short daily hemodialysis rapidly improves nutritional status in hemodialysis patients. Kidney Int. 2001;60(4):1555-1560.
  • More likely to receive a kidney transplant<sup>1</sup>

    More likely to receive a kidney transplant1
    More likely to receive a kidney transplant<sup>1</sup>

    More likely to receive a kidney transplant1

    For many people with kidney failure, transplant is considered the best treatment

    • People doing more frequent home hemodialysis using the NxStage System One may have an increased chance of receiving a kidney transplant compared to standard in-center dialysis
    1. Weinhandl E, Liu J, Gilbertson D, Arneson T, Collins A. Transplant incidence in frequent hemodialysis and matched thrice-weekly hemodialysis patients. Poster presented at National Kidney Foundation Spring Clinical Meeting, 2012.
  • Ability to keep working or go back to work<sup>1,2</sup>

    Ability to keep working or go back to work1,2
    Ability to keep working or go back to work<sup>1,2</sup>

    Ability to keep working or go back to work1,2

    For most people, working every day provides a daily routine, more consistent income, employment benefits, healthy interaction with other people, a sense of purpose, and an ongoing feeling of accomplishment.

    However, with standard in-center hemodialysis, many people find themselves unable to work. More frequent home hemodialysis provides:

    • Flexibility in scheduling treatments so you can return to work or school
    • Quicker recovery after treatment and an increase in energy that make it possible to be productive in your job
    1. Kraus MA, Cox CG, Summitt CL, et al. Work and travel in a large Short Daily Hemodialysis (SDHD) program. Abstract presented at American Society of Nephrology Annual Conference, 2007.
    2. Tennankore K, Nadeau-Fredette AC, Chan CT. Intensified home hemodialysis: clinical benefits, risks and target population. Nephrol Dial Transplant. 2014;29(7):1342-1349.
  • Better sleep<sup>1</sup>

    Better sleep1
    Better sleep<sup>1</sup>

    Better sleep1

    Nearly half of the patients on dialysis report poor sleep quality. When you sleep poorly, your quality of life is lower, and you may use more medications and antidepressants.

    • More frequent home hemodialysis with the NxStage System One may improve your sleep quality
    • You may experience fewer sleep-related problems such as sleep apnea, disturbances, and daytime sleepiness
    1. Jaber BL, Schiller B, Burkart JM, et al. Impact of short daily hemodialysis on restless legs symptoms and sleep disturbances. Clin J Am Soc Nephrol. 2011;6(5):1049-1056.
  • Better blood pressure control with fewer medications<sup>1,2</sup>

    Better blood pressure control with fewer medications1,2
    Better blood pressure control with fewer medications<sup>1,2</sup>

    Better blood pressure control with fewer medications1,2

    One of the kidney's functions is to help control blood pressure by managing the amount of fluid inside the body and blood vessels. Extra fluid, which builds up between dialysis sessions, can increase your blood pressure. In fact, most people on dialysis have high blood pressure and are prescribed several medications to control it.

    • More frequent hemodialysis is associated with improved blood pressure control and reduced blood pressure medications
    • One study found that people who used the System One for 12 months with more frequent home treatments, reduced their number of prescribed blood pressure medications, on average, by almost half. Some no longer needed blood pressure medication at all
    1. FHN Trial Group. In-center hemodialysis six times per week versus three times per week. N Engl J Med. 2010;363(24): 2287-2300.
    2. Jaber BL, Collins AJ, Finkelstein FO, et al. Daily hemodialysis (DHD) reduces the need for antihypertensive medications. Abstract presented at American Society of Nephrology Conference, October 29, 2009.
  • Less stress on your heart<sup>1</sup>

    Less stress on your heart1
    Less stress on your heart<sup>1</sup>

    Less stress on your heart1

    Up to 75 percent of people with chronic kidney disease suffer from a heart complication called left ventricular hypertrophy. And one of the main causes of left ventricular hypertrophy is fluid build-up. With only three treatments at a dialysis center a week, fluid levels “yo-yo” up and down and can cause stress on the heart.

    • Home hemodialysis is typically performed more frequently, which means there is less time for fluid to build up between treatments, and less fluid to be taken out at each treatment
    1. Jefferies HJ, Virk B, Schiller B, Moran J, McIntyre CW. Frequent hemodialysis schedules are associated with reduced levels of dialysis-induced cardiac injury (myocardial stunning). Clin J Am Soc Nephrol. 2011;6(6):1326-1332.
  • Improved survival<sup>1</sup>

    Improved survival1
    Improved survival<sup>1</sup>

    Improved survival1

    More frequent treatments with home hemodialysis have been shown to result in:

    • Less fluid-build-up in your body that can cause stress on your heart
    • Lower risk of death from kidney failure and a longer life expectancy compared to patients who receive in-center dialysis
    1. Weinhandl ED, Lie J, Gilbertson DT, Arneson TJ, Collins AJ. Survival in daily home hemodialysis and matched thrice-weekly in-center hemodialysis patients. J Am Soc Nephrol. 2012;23(5):895-904.

More frequent treatments can improve vitality and give you more energy to do the things you love. Many people who receive in-center dialysis are unable to work, go to school, contribute to their household, or enjoy their favorite activities because they do not feel well enough or cannot fit work and other activities into their in-center dialysis schedules.

  1. Finkelstein FO, Schiller B, Daoui R, et al. At-home short daily hemodialysis improves the long-term health-related quality of life. Kidney Int. 2012;82(5): 561-569.
  2. Heidenheim PA, Muirhead N, Moist L, Lindsay RM. Patient quality of life on quotidian hemodialysis. Am J Kidney Dis. 2003;42(1)(suppl 1):S36-S41.
  3. Ting GO, Kjellstrand C, Freitas T, Carrie BJ, Zarghamee S. Long-term study of high-comorbidity ESRD patients converted from conventional to short daily hemodialysis. Am J Kidney Dis. 2003;42(5):1020-1035.
  4. Goldfarb-Rumyantzev AS, Leypoldt JK, Nelson N, Kutner NG, Cheung AK. A crossover study of short daily hemodialysis. Nephrol Dial Transplant. 2006;21:166-175.

One of the biggest complaints patients have with dialysis is being restricted on the amount of fluid they’re allowed to drink. In addition to fluid limits, your diet may also be strictly controlled to limit the amount of toxins and electrolytes you retain. With more frequent home hemodialysis, you normally have less fluid and toxin build-up, since the blood is cleaned more frequently.

  • This may result in fewer fluid and dietary restrictions
  • More frequent hemodialysis may also improve your appetite
  1. Spanner E, Suri R, Heidenheim AP, Lindsay RM. The impact of quotidian hemodialysis on nutrition. Am J Kidney Dis. 2003;42(1 suppl):30-35.
  2. Galland R, Traeger J, Arkouche W, Cleaud C, Delawari E, Fouque D. Short daily hemodialysis rapidly improves nutritional status in hemodialysis patients. Kidney Int. 2001;60(4):1555-1560.

For many people with kidney failure, transplant is considered the best treatment

  • People doing more frequent home hemodialysis using the NxStage System One may have an increased chance of receiving a kidney transplant compared to standard in-center dialysis
  1. Weinhandl E, Liu J, Gilbertson D, Arneson T, Collins A. Transplant incidence in frequent hemodialysis and matched thrice-weekly hemodialysis patients. Poster presented at National Kidney Foundation Spring Clinical Meeting, 2012.

For most people, working every day provides a daily routine, more consistent income, employment benefits, healthy interaction with other people, a sense of purpose, and an ongoing feeling of accomplishment.

However, with standard in-center hemodialysis, many people find themselves unable to work. More frequent home hemodialysis provides:

  • Flexibility in scheduling treatments so you can return to work or school
  • Quicker recovery after treatment and an increase in energy that make it possible to be productive in your job
  1. Kraus MA, Cox CG, Summitt CL, et al. Work and travel in a large Short Daily Hemodialysis (SDHD) program. Abstract presented at American Society of Nephrology Annual Conference, 2007.
  2. Tennankore K, Nadeau-Fredette AC, Chan CT. Intensified home hemodialysis: clinical benefits, risks and target population. Nephrol Dial Transplant. 2014;29(7):1342-1349.

Nearly half of the patients on dialysis report poor sleep quality. When you sleep poorly, your quality of life is lower, and you may use more medications and antidepressants.

  • More frequent home hemodialysis with the NxStage System One may improve your sleep quality
  • You may experience fewer sleep-related problems such as sleep apnea, disturbances, and daytime sleepiness
  1. Jaber BL, Schiller B, Burkart JM, et al. Impact of short daily hemodialysis on restless legs symptoms and sleep disturbances. Clin J Am Soc Nephrol. 2011;6(5):1049-1056.

One of the kidney's functions is to help control blood pressure by managing the amount of fluid inside the body and blood vessels. Extra fluid, which builds up between dialysis sessions, can increase your blood pressure. In fact, most people on dialysis have high blood pressure and are prescribed several medications to control it.

  • More frequent hemodialysis is associated with improved blood pressure control and reduced blood pressure medications
  • One study found that people who used the System One for 12 months with more frequent home treatments, reduced their number of prescribed blood pressure medications, on average, by almost half. Some no longer needed blood pressure medication at all
  1. FHN Trial Group. In-center hemodialysis six times per week versus three times per week. N Engl J Med. 2010;363(24): 2287-2300.
  2. Jaber BL, Collins AJ, Finkelstein FO, et al. Daily hemodialysis (DHD) reduces the need for antihypertensive medications. Abstract presented at American Society of Nephrology Conference, October 29, 2009.

Up to 75 percent of people with chronic kidney disease suffer from a heart complication called left ventricular hypertrophy. And one of the main causes of left ventricular hypertrophy is fluid build-up. With only three treatments at a dialysis center a week, fluid levels “yo-yo” up and down and can cause stress on the heart.

  • Home hemodialysis is typically performed more frequently, which means there is less time for fluid to build up between treatments, and less fluid to be taken out at each treatment
  1. Jefferies HJ, Virk B, Schiller B, Moran J, McIntyre CW. Frequent hemodialysis schedules are associated with reduced levels of dialysis-induced cardiac injury (myocardial stunning). Clin J Am Soc Nephrol. 2011;6(6):1326-1332.

More frequent treatments with home hemodialysis have been shown to result in:

  • Less fluid-build-up in your body that can cause stress on your heart
  • Lower risk of death from kidney failure and a longer life expectancy compared to patients who receive in-center dialysis
  1. Weinhandl ED, Lie J, Gilbertson DT, Arneson TJ, Collins AJ. Survival in daily home hemodialysis and matched thrice-weekly in-center hemodialysis patients. J Am Soc Nephrol. 2012;23(5):895-904.
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