Parathyroid Hormone Serum Levels and Mortality among Hemodialysis Patients in the Gulf Cooperation Council Countries: Results from the DOPPS (2012-2018)

Background The prospective Dialysis Outcomes and Practice Patterns Study (DOPPS) has collected data since 2012 in all six Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries (Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and United Arab Emirates). We report the relationship of PTH with mortality in this largest GCC cohort of patients on hemodialysis studied to date. Methods Data were from randomly selected national samples of hemodialysis facilities in GCC-DOPPS phases 5 and 6 (2012-2018). PTH descriptive findings and case mix-adjusted PTH/mortality Cox regression analyses were based on 1825 and 1422 randomly selected patients on hemodialysis, respectively. Results Mean patient age was 55 years (median dialysis vintage, 2.1 years). Median PTH ranged from 259 pg/ml (UAE) to 437 pg/ml (Kuwait), with 22% having PTH < 150 pg/ml, 24% with PTH of 150-300 pg/ml, 34% with PTH 301-700 pg/ml, and 20% with PTH > 700 pg/ml. Patients with PTH > 700 pg/ml were younger; on dialysis longer; less likely to be diabetic; have urine > 200 ml/d; be prescribed 3.5 mEq/L dialysate calcium; had higher mean serum creatinine and phosphate levels; lower white blood cell counts; and more likely to be prescribed cinacalcet, phosphate binders, or IV vitamin D. A U-shaped PTH/mortality relationship was observed with more than two-and 1.5-fold higher adjusted HR of death at PTH > 700 pg/ml and < 300 pg/ml, respectively, compared with PTH of 301-450 pg/ml. Conclusions Secondary hyperparathyroidism is highly prevalent among GCC patients on hemodialysis, with a strong U-shaped PTH/mortality relationship seen at PTH < 300 and > 450 pg/ml. Future studies are encouraged for further understanding this PTH/mortality pattern in relationship to unique aspects of the GCC