DENVER--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 23, 2009-- DaVita Inc. (NYSE: DVA), a leading provider of kidney care services for those diagnosed with chronic kidney disease (CKD), in conjunction with DaVita Clinical Research®, today announced that company representatives will deliver 43 abstracts—40 posters and three oral presentations—at this year’s American Society of Nephrology’s (ASN) Renal Week to be held in San Diego, Calif., from Oct. 27 – Nov. 1, 2009.

The world’s largest nephrology meeting, ASN’s Renal Week celebrates leaders in nephrology research, clinical care and education. The meeting serves as a platform for the nation’s leading renal health care providers to learn about new developments in the field of nephrology and CKD. This year DaVita® will deliver three oral presentations:

• Prescribing and Patient Factors Contributing to Adequate Hemodialysis Dose in Obese Patients
• Nocturnal Hemodialysis improves hemoglobin sensitivity to Erythropoietin Therapy
• Potassium Intake and Five-Year Mortality in Maintenance Hemodialysis Patients

“DaVita is continuing to lead the renal community in generating important new knowledge to improve outcomes for patients with kidney disease,” said Allen R. Nissenson, MD, FACP, Chief Medical Officer for DaVita. “This commitment to high-quality clinical research is clearly evident in the 43 abstracts being presented at Renal Week this year.”

Posters to be presented demonstrate a commitment to superior clinical outcomes, patient care, nutrition and more:

Access

• Age and Access: A Large Dialysis Provider’s Perspective on an Advancing ESRD Population
• Reducing the Catheter Rate: Results from the DaVita/SCAN Health Plan Medicare Demonstration Project

Adherence

• Effect of IMPACT™ Program on Clinical Indicators of Incident Hemodialysis Patients
• The Influence of participation in a Refill Management System within a Specialty Pharmacy on Control of Secondary Hyperparathyroidism among Prevalent Hemodialysis Patients
• The Influence of a Specialty Pharmacy on Control of Secondary Hyperparathyroidism among Prevalent Hemodialysis Patients

CKD

• Clinical Outcomes of Patients Completing Early CKD Education
• First-Year Dialysis Outcomes in Patients Previously Enrolled in a Structured Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) Program: Matched Cohort Analysis

Disparity

• Clinical Characteristics Differ among Hemodialysis Patients of Various Racial and Ethnic Groups
• Potential Impacts of Proposed Bundling System on Active Vitamin D Administration for African American Hemodialysis Patients

Fluid Management/Hypertension (SDHD)

• Hypertension and Fluid Dynamics in Patients Undergoing Short Daily versus Conventional Hemodialysis

Hospitalization (Modality)

• Impact of Dialysis Modality on Hospitalization in Patients with ESRD

Infection

• Improving Influenza Vaccination Rates among Dialysis Patients: Results of a Quality Management Program in a Large Dialysis Population

Laboratory Operations

• Evidence of Between-Laboratory Bias Raises Questions about Reliability of Potential Test Results to Be Used in Pay-for-Performance

Mortality

• Higher Scores on a Weighted, Facility-Specific Performance Measure Predict Mortality and Hospitalization in Hemodialysis Patients
• Effect of IMPACT™ Program on Mortality Among Incident Hemodialysis Patients
• Comparison of Patient Mortality Among the Leading Four Dialysis Modalities
• Association of Cumulative Dose of Erythropoietin over Three Years and Survival in Maintenance Hemodialysis Patients
• Mortality Predictability of Three-Year Time—Averaged Iron Markers in Polycystic Kidney Disease Patients on Maintenance Hemodialysis
• Serum Creatinine and Five-Year Survival in 138,773 Maintenance Hemodialysis Patients
• Improved Clinical Outcomes in Hemodialysis Patients Prescribed Cinacalcet Hydrochloride
• Higher Doses of Administered Paricalcitol Is Associated with Greater Five-Year Survival in African American Hemodialysis Patients Compared to Other Races
• Examining Survival Benefits of Higher Doses of Paricalcitol in Hemodialysis Patients: Propensity Score Matching and Overadjustment Bias
• Obesity Is Associated with Even Greater Survival Advantage in African American Hemodialysis Patients Compared to Other Races
• Survival of High Body Mass Index Based on the Five-Year Average of All Thrice-Weekly Measured Post-Dialysis Dry Weight in over 120,000 Hemodialysis Patients
• Hemoglobin and Survival in Polycystic Kidney Disease Patients on Maintenance Hemodialysis
• Assessment of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Death Notification Form to Adjudicate Sudden Cardiac Death

Nutrition

• Impact of Malnutrition-Inflammation Score (MIS) on Protein Intake and Erythropoietin Responsiveness in a Large Hemodialysis Population
• In-Center Nocturnal Hemodialysis Patients Show Improved Protein and Phosphorus Status
• Association of LDL Particle Size and Survival in Maintenance Hemodialysis Patients
• Association of Serum Alkaline Phosphatase and Bone Mineral Density in Maintenance Hemodialysis Patients
• Association of Circulating Lipopolysaccharide Binding Protein and Survival in Long-Term Hemodialysis Patient
• High Phosphorus Intake Is Associated with Poor Survival in Maintenance Hemodialysis Patients
• High Mid-Arm Muscle Circumference Is Independently Associated with GREATER Survival in Maintenance Hemodialysis Patients
• Dialysate Potassium Concentration and Risk of Peridialytic Cardiac Arrest Among Hyperkalemic Hemodialysis Patients
• Relative Contributions of Inflammation and Protein Intake to Hypoalbuminemia in Maintenance Hemodialysis Patients
• Association of Paricalcitol Dose with Higher Circulating Lipopolysaccharide Binding Protein (LBP) in Hemodialysis Patients
• Association of Body Fat and Survival in Hemodialysis Patients
• Association of Lean Body Mass with Serum Creatinine in Hemodialysis Patients

Mineral and Bone Disorders

• Vitamin D Deficiency Is Strongly Associated with Inflammation in African American ESRD Patients
• Longitudinal Trends in Therapy of Disordered Mineral Metabolism in the US

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DaVita and DaVita Clinical Research are registered trademarks of DaVita Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

About DaVita Inc.

DaVita Inc., a FORTUNE 500® company, is a leading provider of kidney care in the United States, providing dialysis services and education for patients with chronic kidney failure and end stage renal disease. DaVita has been recognized as the only FORTUNE 500® company on WorldBlu’s annual List of Most Democratic Workplaces™. As of June 30, 2009, DaVita operated or provided administrative services at 1,493 outpatient dialysis facilities and acute units in approximately 700 hospitals located in 43 states and the District of Columbia, serving approximately 116,000 patients. As part of DaVita’s commitment to building a healthy, caring community, DaVita develops, participates in and donates to numerous programs dedicated to transforming communities and creating positive, sustainable change for children, families and our environment. For more information about DaVita, its kidney education materials and its community programs, please visit www.davita.com.

Source: DaVita Inc.

DaVita Inc.
Craig Handzlik, (310) 536-2542
Craig.Handzlik@DaVita.com