Baseline Uric Acid-to-HDL Cholesterol Ratio Predicts Peritoneal Membrane Failure in Peritoneal Dialysis Patients

TL;DR

High uric acid-to-HDL cholesterol ratio at the start of dialysis predicts peritoneal membrane failure in patients.

Contribution

The study introduces the uric acid-to-HDL cholesterol ratio as a novel predictive biomarker for peritoneal membrane failure.

Findings

Baseline UHR was significantly higher in patients who developed membrane failure.

A UHR cut-off of 14 was identified for risk stratification.

UHR >14 was independently associated with increased membrane failure risk.

Abstract

Background/Objectives: Peritoneal membrane failure remains a major limitation of peritoneal dialysis (PD). Systemic inflammation contributes to membrane dysfunction, yet simple predictive biomarkers are lacking. The uric acid-to-HDL cholesterol ratio (UHR) represents a novel integrative marker of metabolic-inflammatory burden, but its association with membrane failure has not been investigated. Methods: This retrospective cohort study included adult patients who initiated PD between 1997 and 2023. Baseline UHR was calculated from laboratory measurements obtained within the first three months after PD initiation. The primary outcome was peritoneal membrane failure, defined as permanent transfer to hemodialysis due to ultrafiltration failure, inadequate solute clearance, or progressive membrane dysfunction. Receiver operating characteristic, Kaplan–Meier, and Cox regression analyses were used to evaluate the association between UHR and membrane failure. Results: Among 214 patients, 62 (29%) developed membrane failure during follow-up. Baseline UHR was significantly higher in patients with membrane failure. A UHR cut-off value of 14 was identified for risk stratification. In multivariable Cox regression analysis, UHR >14 was independently associated with an increased risk of membrane failure (hazard ratio 1.836, 95% CI 1.040–3.241). A history of kidney transplantation prior to PD initiation also emerged as a strong independent predictor of membrane failure. Conclusions: Elevated baseline UHR is independently associated with peritoneal membrane failure in PD patients. As a simple and readily available biomarker, UHR may support early risk stratification and individualized management. Prospective multicenter studies are warranted to validate these findings.

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