About DOPPs

Founded in 1996, the Dialysis Outcomes and Practice Patterns Study (DOPPS) was one of the first large-scale international prospective cohort studies in nephrology. DOPPS was designed to identify links between variation in dialysis practices and patient outcomes, with the goal of informing clinical guidelines and health policy.

Over three decades, DOPPS enrolled patients from more than 1,000 hemodialysis facilities across more than 20 countries, collecting rich longitudinal clinical data, facility practice patterns, and patient-reported outcomes.

The study’s consortium funding model — supported by industry, professional societies, and public funders — was innovative and ensured both independence and sustainability.

After seven completed phases of prospective data collection, with phase 8 ongoing in Japan, DOPPS primary data collection has largely concluded. Its data and scientific contributions continue to shape the field, and the DOPPS legacy now powers a broader real-world evidence platform at Arbor Research.

Key Contributions to the Field

Vascular Access
DOPPS demonstrated that international differences in hemodialysis patient mortality were largely explained by differences in vascular access type, with catheter use associated with substantially higher mortality than arteriovenous fistula use. These findings directly informed the U.S. Fistula First Initiative and shaped global vascular access policy.

Dialysis Treatment Time
DOPPS showed that longer dialysis sessions were independently associated with improved survival, even after accounting for Kt/V and ultrafiltration rate. This evidence influenced global practice and policy discussions around optimal hemodialysis session length.

Quality of Life and the Patient Experience
DOPPS pioneered the systematic collection and analysis of patient-reported outcomes (PROs) in dialysis, revealing that post-dialysis recovery time varies widely across patients and is a critical but under-addressed aspect of the dialysis experience.

Practice Patterns Monitoring
DOPPS gave rise to the DOPPS Practice Monitor (DPM), a freely available public dashboard tracking contemporary trends in hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis care in the United States.

Ancillary and Industry-Sponsored Research
DOPPS served as a platform for a number of ancillary studies commissioned by industry and academic partners, leveraging the DOPPS cohort for targeted evidence generation on topics ranging from mineral and bone disorder management to anemia treatment patterns.