Foothills Medical Centre in Calgary, Canada, is offering a new overnight hemodialysis program, which causes fewer adverse symptoms and increases patient satisfaction, according to a CTV News report.
Nocturnal hemodialysis is an eight-hour treatment three days a week, which is gentler on the body compared to the standard four-hour treatment of daytime hemodialysis four days a week, according to Jennifer MacRae, MD, medical director of hemodialysis and home hemodialysis in the Southern Alberta Renal Program, in the report.
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Additionally, the more gradual hemodialysis seems to increase patients' tolerance of dialysis, reduce symptom severity and increase quality of life, Dr. MacRae said in the report.
Caitlin Tighe, a patient receiving nocturnal hemodialysis, said in the report she has higher energy levels and feels better all around.
Overnight hemodialysis also requires less nursing staff, according to a CBC News report. During the day, one nurse can oversee three patients, but at night one nurse can oversee five patients.
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