Published online May 6, 2017. doi: 10.5527/wjn.v6.i3.119
Peer-review started: February 9, 2017
First decision: March 7, 2017
Revised: April 1, 2017
Accepted: April 23, 2017
Article in press: April 25, 2017
Published online: May 6, 2017
Processing time: 95 Days and 20.1 Hours
Chronic renal disease is associated with advanced age, diabetes, hypertension, obesity, musculoskeletal problems and cardiovascular disease, the latter being the main cause of mortality in patients receiving haemodialysis (HD). Cooled dialysate (35 °C-36 °C) is recently employed to reduce the incidence of intradialytic hypotension in patients on chronic HD. The studies to date that have evaluated cooled dialysate are limited, however, data suggest that cooled dialysate improves hemodynamic tolerability of dialysis, minimizes hypotension and exerts a protective effect over major organs including the heart and brain. The current evidence-based review is dealing with the protective effect of cold dialysis and the benefits of it in aspects affecting patients’ quality of care and life. There is evidence to suggest that cold dialysis can reduce cardiovascular mortality. However, large multicentre randomized clinical trials are urgently needed to provide further supporting evidence in order to incorporate cold dialysis in routine clinical practice.
Core tip: Cooled dialysate (35 °C-36 °C) is recently employed to reduce the incidence of intradialytic hypotension in patients on chronic haemodialysis. The studies to date that have evaluated cooled dialysate are limited, however, data suggest that cooled dialysate improves hemodynamic tolerability of dialysis and exerts a protective effect over major organs. There is evidence to suggest that cold dialysis can reduce cardiovascular mortality and improve patients’ levels of post-dialysis fatigue further improving general health and quality of life.