Suboptimal dialysis initiation is associated with comorbidities and uraemia progression rate but not with estimated glomerular filtration rate

Early referral to nephrological care improves long-term survival and hospitalization after dialysis initiation, independent of optimal dialysis start - a call for harmonization of reimbursement policies

Early treatment of kidney disease can slow disease progression and reduce the increased risk of mortality associated with end-stage kidney disease. However, uncertainty exists whether early referral (ER) to nephrological care per se or an optimal dialysis start impacts patient outcome after dialysis initiation. We determined the effect of ER and suboptimal dialysis start on the 3-year mortality and hospitalizations after dialysis initiation. Between January 2015 and July 2018, 349 patients with ≥1 month of follow-up started dialysis at nine Romanian dialysis clinics. After excluding patients with COVID-19 during follow-up, 254 patients (97 ER and 157 late referral) were included in this retrospective study. The observational period was truncated at 3 years, death, or loss to follow-up. Clinical and laboratory data were retrieved from the quality database of the nephrological care providers. Patients were followed for a median (25-75%) of 36 (16-36) months. At dialysis start, ER patients had higher hemoglobin, phosphate, and albumin levels and started dialysis less often via a central dialysis catheter (p < 0.001 for each). Logistic regression analysis demonstrated an independent lower risk for frequent hospitalizations for ER patients (odds ratio 0.22 (95% confidence interval 0.1-0.485), p < 0.001), and Cox regression analysis revealed an improved survival (hazard ratio 0.540 (95% confidence interval 0.325-0.899), p = 0.02), both independent of optimal dialysis start. In conclusion, early referral to nephrological care was associated with improved survival and lower hospitalization rates during the three years after dialysis initiation, independent of optimal dialysis start. These results strongly support the reimbursement of nephrological care before dialysis initiation.

Survival, cumulative hospital days and infectious complications in urgent-start PD compared with urgent-start HD

BACKGROUND

Urgent-start peritoneal dialysis (PD) carries a similar efficacy and safety profile compared to urgent-start haemodialysis (HD) but is only sparsely applied due to resource issues and concerns of complication risks. Furthermore, few data exist on adverse outcomes associated with central venous catheter (CVC) insertions in urgent-start HD patients. Thus, we sought to compare patient and dialysis-related outcomes in patients undergoing urgent-start PD or HD.

METHODS

All patients initiating urgent-start PD in a tertiary research hospital in 2005-2018 were included in this retrospective, single-centre, comparative study and matched with urgent-start HD patients of similar age and chronic kidney disease aetiology. All urgent-start PDs were initiated within 72 h after catheter insertion, and urgent-start HDs were performed via a CVC. All analyses were performed at 3 months and at 1 year of follow-up, respectively.

RESULTS

Thirty-three patients who commenced urgent-start PD and 58 matched urgent-start HD control patients were included. Altogether, 26 patients (29%; PD: 36%, HD 24%) died within the 1-year follow-up, and patient survival was similar at 3 months (hazard ratio (HR): 1.15, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.35-3.81, p = 0.82) and at 1 year of follow-up (HR: 0.64, 95% CI: 0.30-1.39, p = 0.26) between the study groups. There were no differences in the total kidney replacement therapy (KRT)-related infection rate (p = 0.66) or cumulative first-year hospital care days (p = 0.43) between the treatment groups. Altogether, 139 CVCs were inserted during the 1-year follow-up. The number of CVCs per patient was associated with the emergence of blood culture-positive bacteraemia and increased cumulative first-year hospital care days.

CONCLUSIONS

Patient survival, cumulative first-year hospital care days and total KRT-related infection rate at 3 months and 1-year follow-up are similar between urgent-start PD and urgent-start HD patients. Furthermore, CVC insertion rate is associated with incident blood culture-positive bacteraemia and increased cumulative first-year hospital care days.

Serum Interleukin-6 is associated with hypocalcemia, hypoferritinemia and hyperkalemia in end-stage renal disease patients

Background: Both of chronic inflammation and mineral disturbance are major concerns in patients with chronic kidney disease, particularly end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Objectives: The present study aimed to investigate the association between circulating IL-6 and minerals dysregulation in patients diagnosed with ESRF and on a continuous hemodialysis regimen. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 74 patients undergoing continuous hemodialysis. Serum samples were tested for IL-6 using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Mineral were analyzed using an electrolyte analyzer and biochemical tests. Parameter correlations were analyzed using the Pearson’s correlation test. Results: Among the studies group, the male: female ratio was 1:0.72. IL-6 mean value was 13.77 pg/ml ±9.79 SD. IL-6 was significantly negatively correlated with circulating iron and calcium levels (r= - 0.229, P= 0.049; r= -0.252, P= 0.03, respectively). IL-6 was significantly positively correlated with K+ levels (r= 0.269,P= 0.02). Conclusion: The present study highlighted the substantial role of IL-6 in mineral dysregulation in hemodialysis patients, highlighting this cytokine as a potential therapeutic target for minimizing and monitoring the clinical effects of mineral disturbances, including cardiovascular and neurological complications.

Peritoneal dialysis in the modern era

The practice and clinical outcomes of peritoneal dialysis (PD) have demonstrated significant improvement over the past 20 years. The aim of this review is to increase awareness and update healthcare professionals on current PD practice, especially with respect to patient and technique survival, patient modality selection, pathways onto PD, understanding patient experience of care and use prior to kidney transplantation. These improvements have been impacted, at least in part, by greater emphasis on shared decision-making in dialysis modality selection, the use of advanced laparoscopic techniques for PD catheter implantation, developments in PD connecting systems, glucose-sparing strategies, and modernising technology in managing automated PD patients remotely. Evidence-based clinical guidelines such as those prepared by national and international societies such as the International Society of PD have contributed to improved PD practice underpinned by a recognition of the place of continuous quality improvement processes.

First-year mortality in incident dialysis patients: results of the Peridialysis study

Background

Controversy surrounds which factors are important for predicting early mortality after dialysis initiation (DI). We investigated associations of predialysis course and circumstances affecting planning and execution of DI with mortality following DI.

Methods

Among 1580 patients participating in the Peridialysis study, a study of causes and timing of DI, we registered features of predialysis course, clinical and biochemical data at DI, incidence of unplanned suboptimal DI, contraindications to peritoneal dialysis (PD) or hemodialysis (HD), and modality preference, actual choice, and cause of modality choice. Patients were followed for 12 months or until transplantation. A flexible parametric model was used to identify independent factors associated with all-cause mortality.

Results

First-year mortality was 19.33%. Independent factors predicting death were high age, comorbidity, clinical contraindications to PD or HD, suboptimal DI, high eGFR, low serum albumin, hyperphosphatemia, high C-reactive protein, signs of overhydration and cerebral symptoms at DI. Among 1061 (67.2%) patients who could select dialysis modality based on personal choice, 654 (61.6%) chose PD, 368 (34.7%) center HD and 39 (3.7%) home HD. The 12-months survival did not differ significantly between patients receiving PD and in-center HD.

Conclusions

First-year mortality in incident dialysis patients was in addition to high age and comorbidity, associated with clinical contraindications to PD or HD, clinical symptoms, hyperphosphatemia, inflammation, and suboptimal DI. In patients with a “free” choice of dialysis modality based on their personal preferences, PD and in-center HD led to broadly similar short-term outcomes.

Choice of dialysis modality among patients initiating dialysis: results of the Peridialysis study

Background

In patients with end-stage kidney disease (ESKD), home dialysis offers socio-economic and health benefits compared with in-centre dialysis but is generally underutilized. We hypothesized that the pre-dialysis course and institutional factors affect the choice of dialysis modality after dialysis initiation (DI).

Methods

The Peridialysis study is a multinational, multicentre prospective observational study assessing the causes and timing of DI and consequences of suboptimal DI. Clinical and biochemical data, details of the pre-dialytic course, reasons for DI and causes of the choice of dialysis modality were registered.

Results

Among 1587 included patients, 516 (32.5%) were judged unsuitable for home dialysis due to contraindications [384 ( 24.2%)] or no assessment [106 (6.7%); mainly due to late referral and/or suboptimal DI] or death [26 (1.6%)]. Older age, comorbidity, late referral, suboptimal DI, acute illness and rapid loss of renal function associated with unsuitability. Of the remaining 1071 patients, 700 (65.4%) chose peritoneal dialysis (61.7%) or home haemodialysis (HD; 3.6%), while 371 (34.6%) chose in-centre HD. Somatic differences between patients choosing home dialysis and in-centre dialysis were minor; factors linked to the choice of in-centre dialysis were late referral, suboptimal DI, acute illness and absence of a ‘home dialysis first’ institutional policy.

Conclusions

Given a personal choice with shared decision making, 65.4% of ESKD patients choose home dialysis. Our data indicate that the incidence of home dialysis potentially could be further increased to reduce the incidence of late referral and unplanned DI and, in acutely ill patients, by implementing an educational programme after improvement of their clinical condition.

A Novel Substrate-Inspired Fluorescence-Based Albumin Detection Improves Assessment of Clinical Outcomes in Hemodialysis Patients Receiving a Nursing Nutrition Intervention

Background

Albumin level does not precisely reflect nutritional status. We aimed to investigate the impact of a nutrition intervention on hemodialysis patients by use of fluorescence-based plasma albumin (FPA) detection.

Material/Methods

Eighty patients underwent maintenance hemodialysis for more than half a year and had a mean albumin <3.5 g/dL for over 3 months. The subjects were randomly divided into either a Control Group (CG) or an Intervention Group (IG). The IG received nutritional supplementation, and the CG group received routine nutritional support for 12 months. FPA and plasma albumin (PA) concentrations were measured. The fluorescence probe 1,3-Dichloro-7-hydroxy-9,9-dimethyl-2(9H)-acridone methyl biphenyl benzoate was used in FPA detection. Quality of life was estimated using WHOQOL-BREF (Quality of Life Scale developed through the World Health Organization), the 36-Item Short-Form Survey (SF-36), and the 6-minute walking test (6MWT).

Results

After a 6-month and a 12-month intervention, PA and FPA concentrations increased, and the increase in FPA concentration was higher than that of PA in the IG group (P<0.05). Comparatively, the parameters of quality of life and 6MWT were improved in the IG group (P<0.05) but there were only minor changes in the CG group (P>0.05). There is an obvious association between the changes in FPA concentration and the parameters of quality of life and 6MWT but not PA.

Conclusions

Use of the fluorescence probe improves the detection sensitivity of plasma albumin and provides a potential method to assess clinical outcomes in hemodialysis patients.