Chiayi, Taiwan dialysis patients face bone loss, heart risks; elderly offered peritoneal dialysis

Long‑term dialysis patients in Chiayi may develop severe secondary hyperparathyroidism, causing rapid bone loss, fractures and vascular calcification that raise cardiovascular disease risk. Dr. Xu Yuzhen of Chiayi Christian Hospital advises monitoring parathyroid hormone levels and, when levels exceed 800 pg/mL, recommends surgical removal of the overactive gland. The procedure lasts about two hours, with postoperative monitoring for low calcium and temporary voice changes.

For older patients, peritoneal dialysis is presented as a home‑based alternative to hemodialysis. Dr. Yan Zhengjie, director of the hospital’s blood purification center, stresses that age alone is not a barrier; suitability depends on the patient’s ability to perform the exchange, family support and home environment. Training lasts around ten days with one‑on‑one instruction, and patients are followed via phone, video and messaging. An 80‑year‑old patient successfully continued peritoneal dialysis for three years after his wife learned the technique.