Kato C, Fujii N, Miyakoshi C, et al. - Researchers investigated hemodialysis patients with secondary hyperparathyroidism, to examine the link between altering patterns of phosphorus, calcium and intact parathyroid hormone concentrations and all-cause mortality in this patient population. Experts categorized each parameter into three groups (low [L], middle [M] and high [H]), and formed nine groups defining changing patterns between two consecutive visits at 3-month intervals (eg, L-L and M-H). The middle category was defined as 4.0–7.0 mg/dL, 8.5–9.5 mg/dL, and 200–500 pg/mL for phosphorous, calcium, and for intact parathyroid hormone, respectively. Findings revealed that lower mortality was observed in relation to changes in the 3-month patterns of phosphorus and calcium toward the middle category. The importance of avoiding hypercalcemia was also suggested.