Miskulin DC, Athienites NV, Yan G, Martin AA, Ornt DB, Kusek JW, Meyer KB, Levey AS, Hemodialysis (HEMO) Study Group. Comorbidity assessment using the Index of Coexistent Diseases in a multicenter clinical trial. Kidney Int 2001 Oct;60(4):1498-510.
Abstract
The Hemodialysis (HEMO) Study is a multicenter trial designed to determine whether hemodialysis dose and membrane flux affect survival. Comorbid conditions are also important determinants of survival, and thus, an accurate and reliable method to assess comorbidity was required. Comorbidity was being assessed at baseline and annually in the HEMO Study using the Index of Coexistent Disease (ICED). We describe the instrument, its implementation in the HEMO Study, and the results of comorbidity assessment in the first 1000 randomized patients in the trial.