Fig. 4

A Changes in the cumulative number of severe conditions, including (1) a systolic blood pressure of less than 90 mmHg at the start of the HD session; (2) a systolic blood pressure that dropped to less than 90 mmHg during the HD session; (3) a disturbed consciousness level (JCS ≥ 10); (4) an inability to consume food orally; (5) the use of oxygen inhalation; and (6) the use of vasopressors, were examined in 65 HD patients over 10 serial HD sessions prior to death. Data were collected from the 10th HD session before death (−10) until the last HD session (L). *P < 0.05 compared to the last HD session. B Cumulative numbers of severe conditions at the last HD session for patients classified according to the cause of the death. *P < 0.05 compared to patients with cardiovascular diseases. **P < 0.05 compared to patients with infectious diseases. C, D Changes in the cumulative number of severe conditions were examined in HD patients with malignancies (C, n = 10) and without malignancies (D, n = 55) over 10 serial HD sessions prior to death. Data were collected from the 10th HD session before death (−10) until the last HD session (L). *P < 0.05 compared to the last HD session. E The duration from the last HD session until death was examined in 65 HD patients. F The cumulative number of severe conditions at the last HD session was compared between patients for whom HD was withdrawn and patients for whom HD was continued. A–F Differences were tested using a Mann–Whitney test (F) or Kruskal–Wallis one-way ANOVA on Ranks with Dunn’s post hoc test (A–E)