Decision tools to help older adults choose dialysis
Developing Tools for Dialysis Decision Support in Older Adults
Tools to help older adults with advanced kidney disease and their doctors decide whether to start dialysis or manage without it.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Veterans Admin Palo Alto Health Care Sys NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Palo Alto, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11365620 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This project will create easy-to-understand decision tools for older patients using VA medical records and clinical data to show likely outcomes with and without dialysis. Researchers will apply advanced statistical methods that mimic clinical trials to estimate how dialysis may affect survival, function, and quality of life for people like you. The tools will include patient-centered outcomes and scenario planning to show different possible results and help clarify tradeoffs. The work focuses on Veterans receiving care in the VA system and aims to present information in ways that match each patient’s goals.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Older adults with advanced chronic kidney disease or newly facing the dialysis decision, especially Veterans receiving care in the VA system, are the likely candidates for this work.
Not a fit: People without advanced kidney disease, younger patients, or those already firmly committed to immediate dialysis may not gain direct benefit from these decision tools.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, these tools could give older patients clearer, personalized predictions about benefits and risks so they can choose care that better fits their goals.
How similar studies have performed: Some decision aids and prediction models for kidney disease have shown promise, but using causal inference and scenario planning specifically for dialysis choices in older adults is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
Palo Alto, United States
- Veterans Admin Palo Alto Health Care Sys — Palo Alto, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kurella Tamura, Manjula — Veterans Admin Palo Alto Health Care Sys
- Study coordinator: Kurella Tamura, Manjula
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.