Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41492246›Full record

ReviewCurrent opinion in nephrology and hypertension2026

Time-limited trials for acute dialysis decision-making for critically ill older patients: rationale, communication strategies, and future research.

Fahad Saeed, Paul R Duberstein, Douglas B White, Kathleen D Liu, Ronald M Epstein, Kevin A Fiscella

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Current opinion in nephrology and hypertension, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Fahad SaeedDivision of Nephrology, Departments of Medicine and Public Health.
Paul R DubersteinDepartment of Health Behavior Society and Policy, Rutgers School of Public Health, Piscataway, New Jersey.
Douglas B WhiteDepartment of Critical Care Medicine, School of Medicine, and the Center for Bioethics and Health Law, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh.
Kathleen D LiuDepartments of Medicine and Anesthesia, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California.
Ronald M EpsteinDepartment of Family Medicine and Center for Communication and Disparities Research, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, New York, USA.
Kevin A FiscellaDepartment of Family Medicine and Center for Communication and Disparities Research, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, New York, USA.

Funding

Outcomes of a Palliative Care Intervention to Improve Kidney Therapy-Decision Making for Older People with Advanced CKDR01AG082891 · NIA · UNIVERSITY OF ROCHESTER · PI Fahad Saeed · 2024 to 2026
$2.0M
NIA NIH HHS R01 AG082891
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purpose of reviewProvide an overview of the rationale for implementing time-limited dialysis trials (TLT-Ds) in critically ill older adults with acute kidney injury treated with dialysis, the communication strategies required for proper implementation, and future research directions. RECENT

findingsAKI-D is linked to high mortality, reduced renal recovery, and a substantial chance of discharge to nursing homes in older adults. Many older people value independence and quality of life over longevity. Yet acute dialysis often remains the reflexive treatment option, while patients and families face prognostic uncertainty in the face of mortality. A TLT-D is an ethically sound, person-centered approach that aligns with many patients' preferences. Its benefits include providing a structured opportunity for clinicians, families, and patients to assess the biomedical efficacy of dialysis while allowing time for deliberation, prognostic clarity, and emotional processing. This can inform whether to continue acute dialysis or transition to comfort care or chronic dialysis within prespecified or evolving goals. SUMMARY: Acute dialysis decision-making for critically ill older adults needs improvement. Reflexive initiation followed by automatic transition to chronic dialysis may not align with many patients' goals. TLT-Ds can promote goal-concordant care. Further research is needed to guide their implementation and evaluate person-centered outcomes.

Indexed as

Acute Kidney InjuryClinical Decision-MakingClinical Trials as TopicRenal DialysisAgedAge FactorsCommunicationCritical IllnessHumansPatient PreferenceTime FactorsTreatment Outcomeacute dialysis for older patientsdialysis decision-makingdialysis in ICUshared decision-makingtime limited trial of dialysis

Identifiers

PMID41492246
PMCPMC13130212

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.