How Long Can A Person Live On Dialysis?

Caring for someone with chronic kidney disease (CKD) or chronic kidney failure can come with many unknowns. One of the most common questions is: How long can someone live on dialysis? 

While it’s natural to focus on life expectancy, it’s also important to understand what factors influence a person’s quality of life on dialysis. This article will guide you through:

• The basics of dialysis
• Expected lifespan
• How you, a caregiver, can help your care recipient during this stage of their life

Looking for more information about caring for someone with end stage kidney failure? Check if you have free access to Trualta. 

What Is Dialysis?

Dialysis is a treatment that replaces some of the kidneys’ functions. When the kidneys can no longer filter toxins and extra fluid from the blood due to acute kidney damage, kidney disease, or kidney failure, dialysis helps remove those toxins and keep the body in balance.

There are two main types of dialysis:

1. Hemodialysis: A filtering machine called a dialyzer is used to remove the blood from the body, filter out toxins and extra fluid, and return the blood to the body. This can be done in dialysis centers, hospitals, or at home. The frequency of treatment depends on each person’s needs. However, a treatment plan can typically look like hemodialysis 3 times a week, for about 4 hours each time.
2. Peritoneal dialysis: Blood is filtered inside the body through the use of the abdomen’s lining. A catheter placed in the abdomen helps the belly fill with a cleansing fluid. Blood naturally flows to the area with the fluid, and it gets cleansed. The fluid mixture filled with toxins then gets extracted from the body through the same initial catheter. This treatment can be performed anywhere, so long as all the supplies are available.

Dialysis doesn’t cure kidney disease, but it can help kidney patients live longer and feel better by managing symptoms of renal failure.

Life Expectancy On Dialysis

The length of time a person can live on dialysis varies from individual to individual. On average, people on dialysis live 5 to 10 years, though many exceed this and live 20 or even 30 years. These numbers are just averages, not predictions. 

Your care recipient’s outcome depends on factors like:

• Age
• Other health conditions
• Overall health and self-care

`The survival rate while on dialysis varies greatly by age. For example, people who start dialysis before age 50 are much more likely to live longer than those who start after. 

What Affects Life Quality on Dialysis?

While life expectancy is a key concern, quality of life on dialysis is just as important. While dialysis can be tiring, time-consuming, or even uncomfortable, many people continue to live meaningful, purposeful lives with the right approaches.

As a caregiver, you can influence your care recipient’s quality of life while on dialysis in several ways. You can:

• Manage treatment schedules to ensure your care recipient doesn’t miss a session.
• Help with transportation to dialysis treatments.
• Prepare a kidney-friendly diet for nutrition that supports kidney health.
• Prioritize regular physical activity and exercise.
• Provide emotional support like a listening ear, validating emotions, and seeking professional mental health services as soon as needed.
• Building a health care team that provides individualized care and listens to and responds to concerns.
• Watch for complications by flagging warning signs like nausea, vomiting, muscle cramping, or low blood pressure. 

Considerations For The Future 

In certain cases of advanced illness or in older adults, a difficult decision may be made to stop dialysis. Because of the amount of time a dialysis patient may have to spend in hospitals or dialysis centers, and low life expectancy rates, a kidney patient may decide to forgo dialysis altogether and opt for comfort care instead.

Advanced planning is important in ensuring your care recipient receives the best comfort and care for as long as possible. You can explore options like hospice care in your area, which can be offered in a centre, hospital, or even at home.

Remember to have open conversations with your care recipient and their healthcare team about goals of care and expectations if your care recipient decides to stop dialysis or decline it altogether.

Take Care Of Yourself As A Caregiver

Dialysis can be time-consuming, worrisome, and full of unknowns. The load can quickly grow heavy and be difficult to manage. Remember: it’s important to ask for help when you need it, too. Preventing caregiver burnout is one of the biggest ways to ensure that you can help your care recipient effectively.

Key Takeaways

• What dialysis does: Replaces some kidney functions by filtering toxins and extra fluid from the blood. It doesn’t cure kidney disease, but it helps people live longer and feel better.
• Types of dialysis:
  • Hemodialysis: blood is filtered outside the body with a machine, often 3 times a week for several hours.
  • Peritoneal dialysis: blood is filtered inside the body using the lining of the abdomen and a cleansing solution.
• Life expectancy: On average, dialysis patients live 5–10 years, though many live 20–30 years. Outcomes depend on age, other health conditions, and overall health.
• Quality of life factors: Dialysis can be tiring and time-intensive, but with support, many people live meaningful lives. Caregivers can help by:
  • Keeping treatment schedules on track
  • Assisting with transportation
  • Supporting a kidney-friendly diet and exercise
  • Offering emotional support and connecting with mental health resources
  • Monitoring for complications and communicating with the care team
• Future considerations: In advanced illness or older age, some may choose to stop dialysis and focus on comfort care or hospice. Advanced planning and open conversations about goals of care are essential.
• Caregiver well-being: Supporting someone on dialysis can be demanding. Prevent caregiver burnout by asking for help, sharing responsibilities, and prioritizing your own health.

Looking for more caregiver resources? Check to see if you have free access to Trualta.

References

1. National Kidney Foundation. (2014). Coping with symptoms while on dialysis. 
2. National Kidney Foundation. (2023). Dialysis.
3. Ontario Renal Network. (2017). Discussing prognosis with patients on dialysis.