A Community Health Worker Service to Address Acute Care Utilization Among Young and Middle-Aged Men and Women Receiving Dialysis in High-Poverty Communities

Among adults receiving in-center hemodialysis, young and middle-aged women (aged 18 to 49) have the highest hospitalization rates at 1.8 per person-year. Sex differences are most pronounced in this age group, even after accounting for multiple confounding factors, including comorbidities, primary insurance type, and length of time on dialysis. Sex differences exist across racial groups and within high-poverty communities. For example, women aged 18 to 49 who receive in-center hemodialysis and live in Baltimore City experience 2.9 hospital admissions per year compared to 1.2 admissions per year in men. Moreover, sex differences reflect underlying health - sex differences are markedly attenuated when comparing women and men with similar levels of systemic inflammation. Community health worker (CHW) models are an evidence-based approach to reduce acute care utilization, but have not been widely implemented in dialysis or targeted risk factors unique to young and middle-aged women receiving dialysis in high-poverty communities. The proposed study will address this gap by pilot testing a CHW service adapted for this population.

Inclusion Criteria: * Age 18 - 49 years * Receiving in-center or home dialysis from facilities in Baltimore City or from facilities in Baltimore County if poverty rates in the surrounding community are ≥20% * Initiated dialysis after age 18; able to provide informed consent. Exclusion Criteria: * Residence in a long-term care facility