Incremental dialysis to improve health outcomes for kidney failure patients

The INCremental Dialysis to Improve Health Outcomes in People Starting Haemodialysis (INCH-HD) Study: a Randomised Controlled Trial

This study is testing if a new way of doing dialysis called incremental dialysis can help kidney failure patients feel better and improve their quality of life compared to the usual method.

Quick facts

• Phase: Not applicable
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 372 (estimated)
• Ages: 18 Years and up
• Sex: All
• Sponsor: The University of Queensland (Academic / other)
• Locations: 18 sites (Concord, New South Wales and 17 other locations)
• Trial ID: NCT04932148 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

The INCH-HD trial aims to evaluate whether incremental haemodialysis (HD) can preserve the quality of life for patients starting dialysis compared to conventional HD. This international, multicentre, prospective, adaptive, randomised, open-label trial will assess the non-inferiority of incremental HD in terms of quality of life outcomes measured at six months. The study addresses the high mortality and burden associated with traditional HD by exploring a potentially safer and more patient-friendly approach. Participants will be randomly assigned to either incremental or conventional HD to determine the best treatment strategy.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults aged 18 and older who are beginning haemodialysis as their first treatment for kidney failure.

Not a fit: Patients with very low urine output or those unlikely to remain on haemodialysis for at least one year may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could significantly enhance the quality of life for patients with kidney failure while potentially reducing mortality rates.

How similar studies have performed: Observational studies suggest that incremental haemodialysis may offer advantages, but robust evidence for this approach is still lacking.

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Adults (≥ 18 years of age) and
2. Commencing HD as their initial dialysis therapy and
3. Able to give informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Urine output \<0.5Litres/day
2. Unlikely to be on HD for ≥1 year.

Where this trial is running

Concord, New South Wales and 17 other locations

• Concord Repatriation General Hospital — Concord, New South Wales, Australia (Recruiting)
• Northern Beaches Hospital — Frenchs Forest, New South Wales, Australia (Not_yet_recruiting)
• St George Hospital — Kogarah, New South Wales, Australia (Recruiting)
• Liverpool Hospital — Liverpool, New South Wales, Australia (Recruiting)
• John Hunter Hospital — New Lambton Heights, New South Wales, Australia (Recruiting)
• Port Macquarie Hospital — Port Macquarie, New South Wales, Australia (Recruiting)
• Royal North Shore Hospital — Saint Leonards, New South Wales, Australia (Not_yet_recruiting)
• Bundaberg Hospital — Bundaberg, Queensland, Australia (Recruiting)
• Cairns Hospital — Cairns, Queensland, Australia (Recruiting)
• Redland Hospital — Cleveland, Queensland, Australia (Not_yet_recruiting)
• Logan Hospital — Logan City, Queensland, Australia (Recruiting)
• Toowoomba Hospital — Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia (Recruiting)
• Princess Alexandra Hospital — Woolloongabba, Queensland, Australia (Recruiting)
• Royal Adelaide Hospital — Adelaide, South Australia, Australia (Recruiting)
• Monash Health — Melbourne, Victoria, Australia (Recruiting)
• Eastern Health — Melbourne, Victoria, Australia (Recruiting)
• Fiona Stanley Hospital — Murdoch, Washington, Australia (Not_yet_recruiting)
• University Health Network- University of Toronto — Toronto, Ontario, Canada (Not_yet_recruiting)

Study contacts

• Principal investigator: Peter Kerr, Prof — University of Queensland, Monash University
• Study coordinator: Lisan Mulvey

Conditions Kidney Failure; Incremental HD; Incident HD