Aims To investigate practice patterns in exit‐site care and identify the risk factors for exit‐site infection. Design A quantitative cross‐sectional design. Methods Data were collected in 12 peritoneal dialysis (PD) centres in 2018. Daily exit‐site care practice patterns and exit‐site status of patients receiving PD were assessed through interviews and questionnaires. Results/findings Most of the 1,204 patients adhered with the protocols about main aspects of exit‐site care, such as cleansing agents selection, frequency of cleansing, catheter fixation, and following the catheter protective measures. However, their adherence levels on hand hygiene, mask wearing, observing exit site, examining secretion, and communicating with PD staff were rather low. Eighty‐four patients' exit sites were evaluated as problematic exit site (PES). And 186 patients had catheter‐related infection (CRI) history. After multivariable logistic regression analysis, diabetes (OR = 1.631), traction bleeding history (OR = 2.697), antibiotic agents use (OR = 2.460), compliance on mask wearing (OR = 0.794), and observing exit site (OR = 0.806) were influencing factors of CRI history. Traction bleeding history (OR = 2.436), CRI history (OR = 10.280), and effective communication (OR = 0.808) with PD staff were influencing factors for PES. Conclusions The adherence levels on different aspects of exit‐site care were varied in patients having PD. Their self‐care behaviours did correlate with the exit‐site status. Impact The adherence level of patients’ exit‐site care practice needs attention of medical staff. Further studies about the optimal procedure in exit‐site care were warranted.

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Introduction: Autogenous radio-cephalic arteriovenous fistula (RCAVF) is preferred for chronic hemodialysis access. However, RCAVF still suffers from disappointing survival due to fistula dysfunction, with intimal hyperplasia (IH) as an underlying cause of this condition. The inconsistency of radial artery diameter (DRA) and cephalic vein diameter (DCV) is one of the factors affecting the shear disturbance, which is believed to trigger the onset of IH. However, there are no reports correlating the difference in DRA and DCV with RCAVF outcomes. Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study. Consecutive patients ( n = 233) with a new RCAVF created were included if they underwent duplex ultrasound examination to evaluate preoperatively the radial artery diameter (DRA) and cephalic venous diameter (DCV). We then calculated radial artery-cephalic vein diameter difference (DCV minus DRA, termed DCV-DRA hereafter) and evaluated the association of the preoperative DCV-DRA with primary patency of RCAVF at 12 months. Subgroup analysis was also performed to explore effect modification by age, gender, radial artery diameter, and cephalic vein diameter with DCV-DRA. Results: After adjusting for age, gender, weight, and mean arterial pressure, the preoperative DCV-DRA was associated with primary patency of RCAVF at 12 months (adjusted Odds ratio [aOR], 1.524 per 1-mm increase; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 1.048–2.218). The primary patency of RCAVF at 12 months was achieved in 69.4%, 71.8%,and 87.3% of patients with a preoperative DCV-DRA of ⩽−0.6 mm, (−0.5)–0.5 mm, and ⩾0.6 mm, respectively. P for trend was 0.029. Patients with DCV-DRA of ⩾0.6 mm had a much higher chance of 12-month patency than patients with DCV-DRA of ⩽−0.6 mm (aOR, 3.574; 95% CI, 1.276–10.010). Age, gender, radial artery diameter, and cephalic vein diameter did not modify the association of DCV-DRA with primary patency of RCAVF at 12 months. Conclusions: Preoperative DCV-DRA may be an under-recognized predictor of RCAVF patency.