Determinants of venous catheter hemodialysis onset and subsequent switch to arteriovenous fistula: An epidemiological study in Lazio region.

The observed high rate of AVF at the start of hemodialysis and of the switch from CVC to AVF in the first year, although declining since 2008, is a positive outcome. However, over one-third of patients maintain the CVC as vascular access for the first year because of unmodifiable factors, such as gender, age, comorbidity. The present study suggests that logistics/management and assistance/welfare problems may contribute to the delay or lack of AVF placement in incident hemodialysis patients or within the first year of dialysis.