Adherence of pediatric patients to automated peritoneal dialysis

Common mental health conditions and considerations in pediatric chronic kidney disease

The mental health of youth with chronic kidney disease (CKD) has been increasingly recognized as an area of clinical need. The development of mental health concerns is influenced by a range of physiological, psychological, and environmental factors. Some of these factors are common across child development, but some are more unique to youth with CKD. Mental health concerns are associated with increased risk for a range of poor medical outcomes (e.g., adherence, risk of transplant rejection) and quality of life concerns. In this educational review, we discuss the current evidence base regarding the development of mental health concerns in youth with CKD. The review covers multiple domains including mood and anxiety disorders, traumatic stress, and neurodevelopmental disorders. Estimated prevalence and hypothesized risk factors are outlined, and the potential impact of mental health on medical care and functional outcomes are reviewed. Finally, we introduce options for intervention to support positive mental health and offer recommendations for building access to mental health care and improving the mental health education/training of medical professionals.

Taking care of myself in a different and broken world: self-care practices of adolescents on dialysis

PURPOSE

Being on dialysis is a traumatic situation particularly during adolescence. Therefore, adolescents must have self-care support according to their special needs. The goal of this study was to describe the adolescents´ self-care practices when they are on dialysis. This paper reports only the adolescents´ selfcare practices based on the health care team guidelines but adjusted to their beliefs and habits.

METHODS

The methodology of the study was interpretive phenomenology. In-depth interviews were conducted with 15 adolescents; Smith´s IPA procedure was used for data analysis.

RESULTS

Being on dialysis meant to the adolescents living in a different and broken world. Self-care practices included: 1) coexisting with the dialysis slavery or being attached to a machine day or night, 2) struggling with the maddening thirst experience, 3) Deciding what, when and how much food to eat, 4) taking care of an alien that helps to survive, 5) taking the medicines when feeling in need of them.

CONCLUSION

The adolescents tried to care for themselves adjusting their care activities to the health team´s recommendations. However, they also adjusted those practices to their beliefs and habits, which allows them to live with dialysis in a less traumatic way.

Care of the pediatric patient on chronic peritoneal dialysis

Peritoneal dialysis is the most commonly prescribed dialysis modality for infants and young children with kidney failure worldwide. Provision of high-quality care for the pediatric patient on chronic peritoneal dialysis requires a multidisciplinary approach and a strong collaboration with the patient and their caregiver. This article not only reviews current recommendations and advances in the care of pediatric patients on peritoneal dialysis with a focus on the provision of high-quality care and improvement in outcomes, but it also draws attention to health care disparities that exist locally and globally.

Outcomes and perception of cloud-based remote patient monitoring in children receiving automated peritoneal dialysis: a prospective study

BACKGROUND

Remote patient monitoring (RPM) for automated peritoneal dialysis (APD) may improve clinical outcomes. Paediatric data, however, remain extremely scarce.

METHODS

We conducted a prospective observational study of children (0-18 years) receiving APD with cloud-based RPM over two 24-week periods (pre- and post-RPM). Primary outcomes were unplanned hospitalizations and fluid management. Children receiving APD without RPM (non-RPM) were included as control.

RESULTS

Seven patients (6 females) receiving APD were enrolled in the RPM programme at 11.3 years (IQR 2.6-17.1). Main indications for RPM included history of fluid overload (n = 3) and non-adherence (n = 2). Ten children were included in the non-RPM group (6 females; 16.9 years, IQR 12.8-17.6). Four patients (57.1%, 95% CI 22.5-100%) experienced fewer unplanned hospitalizations and 5 patients (71.4%, 95% CI 34.1-100%) had shorter hospital stays during the post-RPM period. The hospitalization rates and length of stay were reduced by 45% and 42%, respectively. The higher hospitalization rates among the RPM group, compared to the non-RPM group, were no longer observed following implementation of RPM. There was a significant increase in ultrafiltration (565.6 ± 248.7 vs. 501.7 ± 286.6 ml/day, p = 0.03) and reduction in systolic blood pressure (114.1 ± 12.6 vs. 119.9 ± 11.19 mmHg, p = 0.02) during the post-RPM period. All patients demonstrated satisfactory adherence. Although quality of life (PedsQL 3.0 ESRD module) was not different pre- and post-RPM, all patients agreed in the questionnaires that the use of RPM improved their quality of life and sense of security.

CONCLUSIONS

In conclusion, RPM in children receiving APD is associated with fewer and shorter unplanned hospitalizations, improved fluid management and favourable adherence to PD. A higher resolution version of the Graphical abstract is available as Supplementary information.

End-stage kidney disease in infancy: an educational review

An increasing number of infants with end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) are surviving and receiving renal replacement therapy (RRT). Unique clinical issues specific to this age group of patients influence their short- and long-term outcomes. This review summarizes current epidemiology, clinical characteristics, ethical dilemmas, management concerns, and outcomes of infants requiring chronic dialysis therapy. Optimal care during infancy requires a multidisciplinary team working closely with the patient's family. Nutritional management, infection prevention, and attention to cardiovascular status are important treatment targets. Although mortality rates remain higher among infants on dialysis compared to older pediatric dialysis patients, outcomes have improved over time. Most importantly, infants who subsequently receive a kidney transplant are now experiencing graft survival rates that are comparable to older pediatric patients.

Care of the Pediatric Patient on Chronic Dialysis

Optimal care of the pediatric end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patient on chronic dialysis is complex and requires multidisciplinary care as well as patient/caregiver involvement. The dialysis team, along with the family and patient, should all play a role in choosing the dialysis modality which best meets the patient's needs, taking into account special considerations and management issues that may be particularly pertinent to children who receive peritoneal dialysis or hemodialysis. Meticulous attention to dialysis adequacy in terms of solute and fluid removal, as well as to a variety of clinical manifestations of ESRD, including anemia, growth and nutrition, chronic kidney disease-mineral bone disorder, cardiovascular health, and neurocognitive development, is essential. This review highlights current recommendations and advances in the care of children on dialysis with a particular focus on preventive measures to minimize ESRD-associated morbidity and mortality. Advances in dialysis care and prevention of complications related to ESRD and dialysis have led to better survival for pediatric patients on dialysis.

An overview of disparities and interventions in pediatric kidney transplantation worldwide

Despite the stated goals of the transplant community and the majority of organ allocation systems, persistent racial disparities in pediatric kidney transplantation exist throughout the world. These disparities are evident in both living and deceased donor kidney transplantation and are independent of any clinical differences between racial groups. The reasons for these persistent disparities are multifactorial, reflecting both patient and provider barriers to care. In this review, we examine the most current findings regarding disparities in pediatric kidney transplantation and consider interventions which may help reduce those disparities.

Medication adherence and growth in children with CKD

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Poor growth is a consequence of CKD, but can often be partially or fully prevented or corrected with the use of a number of medications. The extent of nonadherence with medications used to treat or mitigate growth failure in CKD has not been examined prospectively in children with CKD.

DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS, & MEASUREMENTS

The prevalence of both prescription of and nonadherence to recombinant human growth hormone (rhGH), phosphate binders, alkali, active vitamin D, nutritional vitamin D, iron, and erythrocyte-stimulating agents was summarized over the first seven visits of the Chronic Kidney Disease in Children cohort study. The association between self-reported nonadherence to each medication group and the mean annual change in age- and sex-specific height z score was quantified using seven separate linear regression models with generalized estimating equations.

RESULTS

Of 834 participants, 597 reported use of at least one of these medication groups and had adherence data available. Nonadherence ranged from 4% over all visits for erythrocyte-stimulating agents to 22% over all visits for nutritional vitamin D. Of the study participants, 451 contributed data to at least one of the analyses of adherence and changes in height z score. Children nonadherent to rhGH had no change in height z score, whereas those adherent to rhGH had a significant improvement of 0.16 SDs (95% confidence interval, 0.05 to 0.27); the effect size was slightly larger and remained significant after adjustment. Among participants with height≤3rd percentile and after adjustment, adherence to rhGH was associated with a 0.33 SD (95% confidence interval, 0.10 to 0.56) greater change in height z score. Nonadherence with other medication groups was not significantly associated with a change in height z score.

CONCLUSIONS

Self-reported nonadherence to rhGH was associated with poorer growth velocity in children with CKD, suggesting an opportunity for intervention and improved patient outcome.

Non-adherence in patients on peritoneal dialysis: a systematic review

BACKGROUND

It has been increasingly recognized that non-adherence is an important factor that determines the outcome of peritoneal dialysis (PD) therapy. There is therefore a need to establish the levels of non-adherence to different aspects of the PD regimen (dialysis procedures, medications, and dietary/fluid restrictions).

METHODS

A systematic review of peer-reviewed literature was performed in PubMed, PsycINFO and CINAHL databases using PRISMA guidelines in May 2013. Publications on non-adherence in PD were selected by two reviewers independently according to predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. Relevant data on patient characteristics, measures, rates and factors associated with non-adherence were extracted. The quality of studies was also evaluated independently by two reviewers according to a revised version of the Effective Public Health Practice Project assessment tool.

RESULTS

The search retrieved 204 studies, of which a total of 25 studies met inclusion criteria. Reported rates of non-adherence varied across studies: 2.6-53% for dialysis exchanges, 3.9-85% for medication, and 14.4-67% for diet/fluid restrictions. Methodological differences in measurement and definition of non-adherence underlie the observed variation. Factors associated with non-adherence that showed a degree of consistency were mostly socio-demographical, such as age, employment status, ethnicity, sex, and time period on PD treatment.

CONCLUSION

Non-adherence to different dimensions of the dialysis regimen appears to be prevalent in PD patients. There is a need for further, high-quality research to explore these factors in more detail, with the aim of informing intervention designs to facilitate adherence in this patient population.

Surgical outcomes analysis of pediatric peritoneal dialysis catheter function in a rural region

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to analyze the experience with peritoneal dialysis (PD) at a high-volume, single center institution that supports a rural population.

METHODS

From 2000 to 2010, 88 children (median age: 1.98 years, [range: 2 days-20.2 years]) received 134 PD catheters for the management of acute and chronic renal failure. The primary outcome of interest was the incidence of primary PD catheter failure (replacement or revision within 60 days). Operative technique, longitudinal outcomes, and time intervals to transplantation were analyzed.

RESULTS

Median time to transplant from the institution of dialysis was 1.4 years [range: 0.3-6.4 years]. Primary catheter failure occurred in 24.6% of cases. Infants less than 6 months of age demonstrated an increased incidence of primary catheter failure (p = 0.02). The operative technique for catheter placement was not associated with the incidence of primary failure. Postoperative complications included peritonitis (22.7%), omental plugging (11.9%), pericatheter drainage (9.0%), and exit site infection (3.0%).

CONCLUSION

Peritoneal dialysis provides a safe and effective renal replacement therapy for regional pediatric centers that serve a rural population. However, primary catheter failure rates remain high at 24.6%. The surgical technique for placement had no effect on this failure rate in our patient population. Infants less than 6 months of age are at increased risk for primary catheter failure and warrant intensive surveillance.