Assisted peritoneal dialysis: Position paper for the ISPD

Peritoneal dialysis (PD) should be offered to every eligible individual with kidney failure who is considering maintenance dialysis. Many individuals prefer PD because it can be provided in their homes and offers them more independence than in-centre haemodialysis (HD). PD is prioritised in many regions because it has similar health outcomes and is often less costly than in-centre HD.1–3 However, a significant number of individuals with kidney failure are elderly, frail or have other physical or cognitive disabilities, which may limit their ability to perform self-care PD. Individuals may also lack family support for PD. Providing assistance may overcome these barriers, permitting more individuals to receive PD, so assisted PD is a crucial strategy that increases patient choice and provides more equitable access to home dialysis. The objectives of this review are to define the scope of assisted PD for this statement, describe major aspects of assisted PD and provide recommendations to expand its availability internationally.