Relationship between interdialytic weight gain and nutritional markers in younger and older hemodialysis patients

Characteristics and Influencing Factors of Intra-Dialysis Blood Pressure Variability in Hemodialysis Patients: A Retrospective Study

Objective

To investigate the correlation between background factors and blood pressure variability (BPV), and the prognostic value of intra-dialytic BPV metrics for cardiovascular death and all-cause mortality in hemodialysis (HD) patients.

Methods

A retrospective study of 264 hD patients was followed up for 36 months. The intra-dialytic BP during the 3-month period for each patient was used to calculate BPV metrics, including standard deviation (SD), coefficient of variation (CV), average real variability (ARV), blood pressure change (ΔBP), and percent change in blood pressure (ΔBP/pre-BP). The primary outcomes were CVD death and all-cause mortality.

Results

Age, body mass index (BMI), predialysis blood pressure, inter-dialytic weight gain rate (IDWG%), α- blockers, and cholesterol levels were positively correlated with intra-dialytic BPV. Hemoglobin and albumin are negatively associated with intra-dialytic BPV. In Cox regression analysis, SBP-ARV, ΔSBP, and ΔSBP/pre-SBP were independent risk factors for CVD death (HR: 1.087, 95% CI: 1.001-1.181, p = 0.047; HR: 1.072, 95% CI: 1.016-1.131, p = 0.011; HR: 1.107, 95% CI: 1.011-1.211, p = 0.028). SBP-ARV showed the largest AUC of 0.593 (p = 0.022) in predicting all-cause death. SBP-ARV, ΔSBP, and ΔSBP/pre-SBP showed relatively large area (AUC = 0.631, 0.639, and 0.620; p = 0.007, 0.004, and 0.013 respectively) in predicting CVD death.

Conclusion

Age, BMI, IDWG%, predialysis blood pressure, albumin, hemoglobin, α- blockers, and total cholesterol were significantly correlated with intra-dialytic BPV. SBP-ARV, ΔSBP, and ΔSBP/pre-SBP were independent risk factors for CVD mortality, and there were no differences in prognostic value among various BPV metrics.

The impact of the Christmas holiday effect on interdialytic weight gain in hemodialysis patients: A multicenter observational retrospective cohort study

INTRODUCTION

The 3-day interdialytic interval (IDI) is associated with high interdialytic weight gain (IDWG), but little is known about the effect of public or religious holidays on IDWG. Consequently, we evaluated the impact of the "Christmas holiday effect" on IDWG of hemodialysis patients.

METHODS

A retrospective cohort study of adult hemodialysis patients (over 18 years) was conducted across five dialysis units in Australia. Demographic and clinical data were collected from electronic medical records. IDWG was established for three time points; regular 3-day IDI, 2-day IDI preceding the Christmas holiday and a 3-day IDI that included the Christmas holiday. Paired t-tests and logistic regression were used to compare differences in mean IDWG before and after the Christmas holiday and to examine factors associated with high IDWG, respectively.

FINDINGS

Two hundred and fifty-two patients, 69% of whom were male, with mean (SD) age of 65.4 ± 15.3 years, were studied. Most had end-stage kidney disease due to diabetes (44%), and they had been on hemodialysis for a median of 25.5 (IQR, 60-10) months. There was a significant increase in absolute IDWG (MD 0.21 kg, 95% CI -0.07 to 0.36; P = 0.004) and relative IDWG (MD 0.3%, 95% CI 0.10-0.40; P = 0.01) after the holiday 3-day IDI compared with the regular 3-day IDI. Older age (OR 0.12; 95% CI 0.02-0.55) and a unit increase in hemoglobin (OR 0.94; 95% CI 0.89-0.99) were associated with lower odds of high relative IDWG while speaking a language other than English increased the odds for high relative IDWG (OR 5.03; 95% CI 1.12-22.65).

CONCLUSION

Absolute and relative IDWG increased significantly after the Christmas holiday. Individualizing dialysis needs may improve outcomes for these patients.

Non-adherence to Haemodialysis, Interdialytic weight gain and cardiovascular mortality: a cohort study

Background

Patients with chronic kidney diseases (CKD) on haemodialysis (HD) have high morbidity and mortality rates, which are also due to the inherent risks associated with nephropathy. Non-adherence (NA) to the different demands of the treatment can have consequences for the outcome of patients undergoing HD; nevertheless, there are still doubts about such repercussions. This study was conducted to evaluate the association between NA to conventional HD and all-cause mortality and cardiovascular mortality.

Methods

We prospectively evaluated mortality in a 6-year period in a cohort of 255 patients on HD in northeast Brazil. The evaluated parameters of NA to HD were interdialytic weight gain (IDWG) ≥ 4% of dry weight (DW), hyperphosphatemia and regular attendance at treatment, assessed as the correlation between the periods on HD completed and those prescribed. We used the Cox multivariate regression model to analyse survival and the predictors of all-cause mortality and cardiovascular mortality.

Results

With a median follow-up period of 1493 days and a mortality rate of 9.1 per 100 people-years, there were 87 deaths, of which 54% were cardiovascular deaths. IDWG ≥4% of DW was associated with a risk of all-cause mortality however presenting a borderline outcome for cardiovascular mortality, with hazard ratios of 2.02 (CI 95% 1.17–3.49, p = 0.012) and 2.09 (CI 95% 1.01–4.35, p = 0.047), respectively. No significant association was found between other parameters of NA and mortality. Subgroup analysis showed that for patients with IDWG ≥4% of DW, malnutrition, age and diagnosis of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases were associated with higher all-cause mortality.

Conclusions

IDWG ≥4% of DW was identified as an independent predictor of all-cause mortality and demonstrated a borderline outcome for cardiovascular mortality in patients on conventional HD. The occurrence of excessive IDWG in the presence of malnutrition represented a significant increase in the risk of death, indicating a subgroup of patients with a worse prognosis.

Association of Low Serum Potassium Levels and Risk for All-Cause Mortality in Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Dyskalemia is a risk factor for mortality in patients without CKD, but the effect of hypokalemia in patients with CKD remains uncertain. PubMed, Embase, Cochrane, and Ovid databases were searched from inception to December 31, 2017 for studies that reported all-cause and cardiovascular mortality or events in patients with CKD (any stage). Pooled hazard ratios (HR) and corresponding 95% CI were calculated. A total of 11 clinical studies enrolling 57 234 subjects with CKD were included in the meta-analysis. Compared with control serum potassium (SK) levels, low SK (SK <4.0 mEq/L) was associated with higher risk of all-cause mortality in a random-effects model (HR = 1.57; 95% CI: 1.25-1.97). Moderate low SK (<3.5 mEq/L) increased risk of all-cause mortality by 105%. Mild low SK (3.5~4.0 mEq/L) also increased all-cause mortality risk (HR = 1.18, 95% CI: 1.11-1.26). Low SK was also associated with increased cardiovascular mortality (HR = 1.40, 95% CI: 1.22-1.62) and ESRD risk (HR = 1.35, 95% CI: 1.18-1.54). SK <4.0 mEq/L was associated with higher mortality risk in CKD patients, especially in those with SK <3.5 mEq/L. Additional prospective studies will be necessary to explore this relationship, as well as whether correcting hypokalemia decreases mortality in patients with CKD.

Randomized comparative efficacy and safety study of intermittent simvastatin versus fenofibrate in hemodialysis

AIM

Compare the safety and efficacy of intermittent fenofibrate versus simvastatin in chronic hemodialysis patients.

PATIENTS & METHODS

Sixty patients received either fenofibrate 100 mg or simvastatin 20 mg after their dialysis session (parallel study). The safety and efficacy of drugs on lipid profile, oxidized low-density lipoprotein (Ox-LDL), glutathione peroxidase and C-reactive protein were compared before and after 16-week treatment.

RESULTS

After treatment, significant increase in glutathione peroxidase, significant decrease in total cholesterol, triglycerides, low density lipoprotein (LDL) and ox-LDL (p < 0.05) and no significant changes in C-reactive protein (p > 0.05) were observed in both groups. Both drugs were well tolerated with no serious side effects reported by the patients.

CONCLUSION

Both drugs have comparable efficacy and safety when used as intermittent low dose regimen in hemodialysis. Larger studies with longer follow-up periods are needed to confirm our new findings.

Low serum sodium is associated with protein energy wasting and increased interdialytic weight gain in haemodialysis patients

Background

Low serum sodium (Na) has been associated with decreased body mass index and increased cardiovascular mortality in haemodialysis (HD) patients. We examined the relationship between serum Na and selected nutritional parameters of protein energy wasting that are not affected from the hydration status in a cohort of HD patients.

Methods

Triceps skinfold thickness (TSF), mid-arm circumference (MAC), mid-arm muscle circumference (MAMC), handgrip strength (HGS) and subjective global assessment (SGA) were assessed in maintenance HD patients using standard techniques. MAMC was calculated with the formula MAMC (cm) = MAC (cm) −3.142 × TSF cm. Pre-dialysis serum Na values from routine monthly laboratory measurements were averaged for the last 6 months prior to the nutritional assessment.

Results

Altogether 172 patients with anthropometric data were included in the final analysis. Mean age was 66 ± 14, females 62 (36%) and diabetics 48 (28.9%). Patients with pre-dialysis serum Na below the mean value (136.2 mEq/L) had lower MAMC, HGS, SGA scores and albumin levels (23.50 ± 3.16 cm versus 24.58 ± 3.71 cm, P = 0.048; 21.7 ± 13.6 kg versus 28.0 ± 12.4 kg, P = 0.030; 5.1 ± 1.2 versus 5.7 ± 1.0, P = 0.012 and 31.65 ± 4.73 mg/L versus 32.25 ± 3.91 mg/L, P = 0.022, respectively) and higher interdialytic weight gains. Pre-dialysis serum Na correlated positively with MAMC, handgrip and SGA (Pearson's correlation r = 0.165, P = 0.031, r = 0.237, P = 0.022 and r = 0.195, P = 0.011, respectively).

Conclusion

This study demonstrates that low serum sodium is associated with protein energy wasting and increased interdialytic weight gain in HD patients.

CLCA2 as a p53-inducible senescence mediator

p53 is a tumor suppressor gene that is frequently mutated in multiple cancer tissues. Activated p53 protein regulates its downstream genes and subsequently inhibits malignant transformation by inducing cell cycle arrest, apoptosis, DNA repair, and senescence. However, genes involved in the p53-mediated senescence pathway are not yet fully elucidated. Through the screening of two genome-wide expression profile data sets, one for cells in which exogenous p53 was introduced and the other for senescent fibroblasts, we have identified chloride channel accessory 2 (CLCA2) as a p53-inducible senescence-associated gene. CLCA2 was remarkably induced by replicative senescence as well as oxidative stress in a p53-dependent manner. We also found that ectopically expressed CLCA2 induced cellular senescence, and the down-regulation of CLCA2 by small interfering RNA caused inhibition of oxidative stress-induced senescence. Interestingly, the reduced expression of CLCA2 was frequently observed in various kinds of cancers including prostate cancer, whereas its expression was not affected in precancerous prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia. Thus, our findings suggest a crucial role of p53/CLCA2-mediated senescence induction as a barrier for malignant transformation.

Health-and disease-related biomarkers in aging research

This article focuses on a synthesis of knowledge about healthy aging research in human beings and then synthesized nurse-led research in gerontology and geriatrics that use biomarkers. Healthy aging research has attracted considerable attention in the biomedical and basic sciences within the context of four major areas: (a) genetic variations as an expression of successful or unsuccessful aging; (b) caloric restriction as an intervention to slow the progression of aging; (c) immunological aging; (d) neurobiology of the aging brain. A systematic review of the literature was performed to identify nurse-led geriatric-related biomarker research. Nurse researchers who have chosen to integrate biomarkers as part of their research studies have been working in six focal areas, which are reviewed: health promotion within risk populations, cancer, vascular disease, Alzheimer's disease, caregiving, and complementary therapies. The article provides a discussion of contributions to date, identifying existing gaps and future research opportunities.

Low serum acylated ghrelin levels are associated with the development of cardiovascular disease in hemodialysis patients

BACKGROUND

Ghrelin has a protective effect on endothelial cells. Endothelial cell dysfunction is associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD) and CVD remains the leading cause of morbidity in hemodialysis (HD) patients. Acylated ghrelin (A-Ghr) is the functional form of ghrelin, so we hypothesized that A-Ghr is associated with the occurrence of CVD in HD patients.

METHODS

We conducted a prospective cohort study in 412 HD patients. The cohort was sub-grouped into low and high A-Ghr groups according to the median A-Ghr level of 4.88 pg/mL. The association between the low/high A-Ghr groups and the incidence of CVD were analyzed.

RESULTS

The HD patients in a low A-Ghr group had a greater risk of incidental CVD than those in a high A-Ghr ghrelin. This association remained significant after the adjustment for possible confounding factors, including age, gender, HD duration, BMI, diabetes, albumin, nPCR and Charlson's comorbidity index score.

CONCLUSION

It appears that a low serum A-Ghr level is associated with the development of CVD in HD patients.

Association of Malnutrition-Inflammation Score with quality of life and mortality in hemodialysis patients: a 5-year prospective cohort study

BACKGROUND

The Malnutrition-Inflammation Score (MIS), an inexpensive and easy-to-assess score of 0 to 30 to examine protein-energy wasting (PEW) and inflammation, includes 7 components of the Subjective Global Assessment, body mass index, and serum albumin and transferrin concentrations. We hypothesized that MIS risk stratification of hemodialysis (HD) patients in predicting outcomes is better than its components or laboratory markers of inflammation.

STUDY DESIGN

5-Year cohort study.

SETTING & PARTICIPANTS

We examined 809 stable HD outpatients and followed them for up to 5 years (October 2001 to December 2006).

PREDICTORS

MIS and other nutritional and inflammatory markers.

OUTCOMES & MEASUREMENTS

Prospective all-cause mortality, health-related quality of life using the 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36), and tests of body composition.

RESULTS

The MIS correlated with logarithm of serum interleukin 6 level (r = +0.26; P < 0.001), logarithm of C-reactive protein level (r = +0.16; P < 0.001), and several measures of nutritional status. Patients with a higher MIS had lower SF-36 scores. After multivariate adjustment for case-mix and other measures of PEW, HD patients in the second (3 to 4), third (5 to 7), and fourth (>or=8) quartiles of MIS had worse survival rates than those in the first (0 to 2) quartile (P < 0.001). Each 2-unit increase in MIS was associated with a 2-fold greater death risk, ie, adjusted death hazard ratio of 2.03 (95% confidence interval, 1.76 to 2.33; P < 0.001). Cubic spline survival models confirmed linear trends. Adding MIS to the constellation of age, sex, race/ethnicity, and vintage significantly improved the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve developed for predicting mortality (0.71 versus 0.67; P < 0.001).

LIMITATIONS

Selection bias and unknown confounders.

CONCLUSIONS

In HD patients, the MIS is associated with inflammation, nutritional status, quality of life, and 5-year prospective mortality. The mortality predictability of the MIS appears equal to serum interleukin 6 and somewhat greater than C-reactive protein levels. Controlled trials are warranted to examine whether interventions to improve the MIS can also improve clinical outcomes in HD patients.