What concentration of Dialysate Bicarbonate is best for patients’ health?
Why is the Dialysate Bicarbonate (Dial-Bicarb) trial important?
Kidney disease places a heavy burden on patients, their families and caregivers, and the health care system. For persons whose kidneys have failed, dialysis represents a treatment that can prolong life. Over 2 million people worldwide rely on dialysis to sustain their health. However, those on dialysis can face a poor quality of life, high morbidity and mortality, and high health care costs. Understanding optimal treatment conditions, including components of the fluid used in dialysis, could ease these burdens.
The fluid used in dialysis is known as dialysate. Dialysate is a critical component of hemodialysis, made of water, electrolytes and salts. Despite its importance, little evidence is available to guide the optimal formulation of dialysate.
All people have bicarbonate added to their dialysate. Adding bicarbonate (commonly known as baking soda) helps to balance the acidity levels in a person’s blood. Some dialysis units use a lower bicarbonate concentration while other dialysis units use a higher concentration. Health care providers do not know the optimal dialysate bicarbonate concentration for patients’ health.
The Dialysate Bicarbonate Trial (Dial-Bicarb NCT06270134) is seeking to find the optimal dialysate bicarbonate concentration for patients’ health. You can read more about the trial, including the design, outcomes, and impact here.
VIDEO TRANSCRIPT: “Hello, everyone. Around two million people around the world depend on dialysis. Dialysis is a treatment that helps people whos kidneys aren’t working by removing waste and extra fluid from their blood. During this treatment, a special fluid, called dialysate is used, which always includes bicarbonate to help balance blood acidity. Some dialysis centres use more bicarbonate, while others use less. The Dial-Bicarb trial is a study aiming to figure out the best concentration of bicarbonate (also known as baking soda) to add to dialysis fluid to help patients stay healthy. Dial-Bicarb will take place in dialysis units across Ontario, and patients will be randomly assigned to a higher or lower dialysis concentration.”
“ I feel it is important to do what I can to leave the renal community a little better than it was when I first came into it.“
– Brenden Cote, Patient Partner
Dial-Bicarb Timeline
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