Lai CC, et al. - Researchers assessed how the outcomes of patients with advanced chronic kidney disease (CKD) could be influenced by COPD. Using the Taiwanese National Health Insurance Research Database, they evaluated the links between COPD and the risk of long-term dialysis and all-cause mortality among all patients with advanced CKD from 2000 to 2010. They enrolled a total of 33,399 advanced CKD patients, of whom 31,536 did not have COPD (non-COPD group) and 1,863 had COPD (COPD group). Findings showed that COPD accounted for an increased risk of mortality among the advanced CKD patients, especially elderly and male patients. In contrast, no increase in the risk of end-stage renal disease was observed in association with the presence of COPD among the advanced CKD patients.