The clinical epidemiology of young adults starting renal replacement therapy in the UK: presentation, management and survival using 15 years of UK Renal Registry data

Incidence and outcomes of kidney replacement therapy for end-stage kidney disease due to primary glomerular disease in Europe: findings from the ERA Registry

BACKGROUND

Primary glomerular disease (PGD) is a major cause of end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) leading to kidney replacement therapy (KRT). We aimed to describe incidence (trends) in individuals starting KRT for ESKD due to PGD and to examine their survival and causes of death.

METHODS

We used data from the European Renal Association (ERA) Registry on 69 854 patients who started KRT for ESKD due to PGD between 2000 and 2019. ERA primary renal disease codes were used to define six PGD subgroups. We examined age and sex standardized incidence, trend of the incidence and survival.

RESULTS

The standardized incidence of KRT for ESKD due to PGD was 16.6 per million population (pmp), ranging from 8.6 pmp in Serbia to 20.0 pmp in France. Immunoglobulin A nephropathy (IgAN) and focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) had the highest incidences, of 4.6 pmp and 2.6 pmp, respectively. Histologically non-examined PGDs represented over 50% of cases in Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Romania and were also common in Greece, Estonia, Belgium and Sweden. The incidence declined from 18.6 pmp in 2000 to 14.5 pmp in 2013, after which it stabilized. All PGD subgroups had 5-year survival probabilities above 50%, with crescentic glomerulonephritis having the highest risk of death [adjusted hazard ratio 1.8 (95% confidence interval 1.6-1.9)] compared with IgAN. Cardiovascular disease was the most common cause of death (33.9%).

CONCLUSION

The incidence of KRT for ESKD due to PGD showed large differences between countries and was highest and increasing for IgAN and FSGS. Lack of kidney biopsy facilities in some countries may have affected accurate assignment of the cause of ESKD. The recognition of the incidence and outcomes of KRT among different PGD subgroups may contribute to a more individualized patient care approach.

Psychosocial Health Among Young Adults With Kidney Failure: A Longitudinal Follow-up of the SPEAK (Surveying Patients Experiencing Young Adult Kidney Failure) Study

Rationale & Objective

There have been no longitudinal studies examining the evolution of psychosocial health of young adults with kidney failure as they age. We aimed to address this in the Surveying Patients Experiencing Young Adult Kidney Failure-2 (SPEAK-2) study.

Study Design

5-year follow-up longitudinal survey of the original SPEAK cohort.

Setting & Participants

16- to 30-year-olds in the UK receiving kidney replacement therapy (KRT) between 2015 and 2017 who participated in the SPEAK study.

Exposure

Kidney failure and KRT modality.

Outcomes

Psychosocial health and lifestyle behaviors.

Analytical Approach

Within-cohort changes in psychosocial health were analyzed using the paired t test, Wilcoxon signed-rank test and McNemar's test. We compared responses to the age-matched population and examined the impact of changes in KRT modality on psychological health using linear regression for continuous outcome variables as well as logistic, ordered logistic and multinomial logistic regression for binary, ordered categorical and unordered categorical variables, respectively.

Results

We obtained 158 survey responses; 129 had previously responded to SPEAK. Of these, 90% had a kidney transplant. Compared to the general population, respondents were less likely to be married or have children and were more likely to be living with their parents. Respondents had nearly 15 times greater odds of being unable to work due to health (odds ratio [OR] = 14.41; 95% confidence interval [CI], 8.0-26.01; P < 0.001). Respondents had poorer quality of life and mental wellbeing and were more likely to report psychological problems (OR = 5.37; 95% CI, 3.45-8.35; P < 0.001). A negative association between remaining on or moving to dialysis and psychosocial health was observed, although this was attenuated when controlling for the psychosocial state in SPEAK.

Limitations

Low response rate resulting in imprecise and potentially biased estimates and impact of COVID-19 pandemic while survey was active on psychosocial health.

Conclusions

Young adults with kidney failure have persistent poorer psychosocial health compared to their healthy peers as they age. Our findings also suggest a potential causal relationship between KRT modality and psychosocial health.

Kidney-transplanted Adolescents-Nonadherence and Graft Outcomes During the Transition Phase: A Nationwide Analysis, 2000-2020

BACKGROUND

The transition from pediatric to young adult care is a vulnerable period for the renal transplant patient. We aimed to identify medication nonadherence (noninitiation, nonimplementation, and nonpersistence) and graft loss rates among adolescents and young adults and elucidate the influence of the transition phase on transplant outcomes.

METHODS

A retrospective nationwide cohort analysis of all renal transplantations in Norway from 2000 to 2020 was performed. Data were retrieved from the Norwegian Renal Registry, and adherence data from hospital charts. Patients transplanted aged <50 y, with functioning graft at 6 mo, were included. Recipients transplanted aged <26 y were compared with recipients transplanted aged 26-50 y. Graft loss, acute rejection, and development of de novo donor-specific antibodies were assessed in relation to the transition phase, defined as 14-26 y.

RESULTS

Data from 1830 kidney recipients were included: 371 (20%) transplanted <26 y (64% male, 68% living donor) versus 1459 transplanted 26-50 y (63% male, 44% living donor). There were 298 graft losses, 78 (21%) in the <26-y group versus 220 (15%) in the 26- to 50-y group. During the transition phase, 36 grafts were lost, 29 (81%) after transfer to the adult service. Medication nonadherence was the reason for 58% (21 of 36) of the losses during the transition phase, versus 12% (27 of 220) in the 26- to 50-y group ( P < 0.001). The 5-y graft survival rate was 89% (95% confidence interval, 85%-92%) and 94% (92%-95%), respectively ( P = 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

Nonadherence was verified as the main cause of kidney graft loss in the transition phase.

Age at Mortality in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Who Underwent Kidney Transplantation: An Analysis of Data from the Korean National Health Insurance and Statistical Information Service, 2006 to 2018

BACKGROUND

Although the clinical outcomes of diabetes have improved, diabetes remains the principal cause of end-stage renal disease. The aim of the study is to investigate whether mortality trends in individuals with type 2 diabetes and kidney transplantation (KT) have changed.

METHODS

This study analyzed data from the National Health Insurance Service claims database linked to death records from the National Statistical Information Service in Korea. Information from a total of 2521 deaths of KT recipients was collected from 2006 to 2018.

RESULTS

The age at death of KT recipients increased from 57.4 years in 2006 to 65.2 years in 2018, with a mean change of +0.65 years/year (p < 0.001). The overall age at death increased by 0.55 and 0.66 years/year in the type 2 diabetes and non-diabetes populations, respectively. The age at death was significantly higher in the type 2 diabetes group, and was maintained during the study period. The proportion of death due to malignancy and cerebrovascular and heart disease was maintained, that due to type 2 diabetes decreased and that due to pneumonia increased. Neither diabetes nor hypertension determined the age at death, and the age at KT was the most prominent factor affecting age at death in KT recipients.

CONCLUSIONS

The age at death in KT recipients increased over the 12 years between 2006 and 2018, with similar trends in the type 2 diabetes and non-diabetes groups. The age at KT was higher in patients with type 2 diabetes, and was the main contributor to the age at death in KT recipients.

Kidney transplantation waiting times and risk of cardiovascular events and mortality: a retrospective observational cohort study in Taiwan

OBJECTIVES

Patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) are at a high risk of cardiovascular events (CVEs), and kidney transplantation (KT) has been reported to improve risk of CVEs and survival. As the association of KT timing on long-term survival and clinical outcomes remains unclear, we investigated the association of different KT waiting times with clinical outcomes.

DESIGN

Retrospective observational cohort study.

SETTING

We conducted an observational cohort study using data from the National Health Insurance Research Database in Taiwan. Adult patients who initiated KT therapy from 1997 to 2013 were included.

PARTICIPANTS

A total of 3562 adult patients who initiated uncomplicated KT therapy were included and categorised into four groups according to KT waiting times after ESRD: group 1 (<1 year), group 2 (1-3 years), group 3 (3-6 years) and group 4 (>6 years).

PRIMARY OUTCOME MEASURES

The main outcomes were composite of all-cause death, non-fatal myocardial infarction or non-fatal stroke, based on the primary diagnosis in medical records during hospitalisation.

RESULTS

Compared with group 1, the adjusted risk of primary outcome events (all-cause death, non-fatal myocardial infarction or non-fatal stroke) increased by 1.67 times in group 2 (95% CI: 1.40 to 2.00; p<0.001), 2.17 times in group 3 (95% CI: 1.73 to 2.71; p<0.001) and 3.10 times in group 4 (95% CI: 2.21 to 4.35; p<0.001). The rates of primary outcome events were 6.7%, 13.4% and 14.0% within 5 years, increasing to 19.5%, 26.3% and 30.8% within 10 years in groups 1, 2 and 3, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results demonstrate that early KT is associated with superior long-term cardiovascular outcomes compared with late KT in selected patients with ESRD receiving uncomplicated KT, suggesting that an early KT could be a better treatment option for patients with ESRD who are eligible for transplantation.

Effect of Utilizing More Than 20-Year Older Deceased Donor Kidneys for Young Recipients: An Analysis of the UK Registry

OBJECTIVES

Despite the wider acceptance of expanded criteria kidneys and the advances in immunosuppression, clinicians remain sceptical when it comes to accepting kidneys from significantly older donors, especially for the young adult recipient population (age ≤40 years).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We utilized prospectively maintained data from the United Kingdom Registry and analyzed the deceased donor renal transplant outcomes for 2 cohorts: (1) young recipients who received either a younger kidney or a kidney from a donor who was less than 20 years older (group <20; n = 2072) and (2) young recipients who received a kidney from donors who were 20 or more years older (group ≥20, n = 764). We used life tables for survival and performed Cox regression analysis to identify significant variables.

RESULTS

Median follow-up was 2918 days. The univariate analysis for graft loss showed the strongest predictors to be donor age, recipient age, recipient ethnicity, and delayed graft function, which retained their significance in the multivariate model. Graft survival rates were 94% versus 90% at 1 year, 86% versus 75% at 5 years, and 75% versus 63% at 10 years for group <20 versus group ≥20, respectively. Respective patient survival rates were comparable for both cohorts: 99% versus 98% at 1 year, 97% versus 96% at 5 years, and 91% versus 91% at 10 years.

CONCLUSIONS

Our analysis showed that allografts from ≥20-year-older deceased donors are beneficial and should be considered for transplant in younger recipients. Allograft survival may be worse compared with survival with younger allografts; however, young recipients do potentially better and survive longer compared with remaining on dialysis.

Decision-making experiences of young adults with long-term conditions

BACKGROUND

Young adults with long-term conditions can struggle to accept their diagnosis and can become overwhelmed with managing their condition. Suboptimal transfer from paediatric to adult services with a resultant disengagement with the service can result in less involvement in care and decision-making. Shared decision-making can improve involvement in health decisions and increase satisfaction with treatment/therapy and care.

OBJECTIVES

An integrative literature review was conducted to explore and understand young adults' experiences of decision-making in health care.

DESIGN

An integrative literature review.

DATA SOURCES

CINAHL, EMCARE, PsycINFO, HMIC, EMBASE, Web of Science, PubMed, MEDLINE, EBSCOHOST and COCHRANE databases were searched for relevant literature published between January 1999 and January 2020.

FINDINGS

Thirteen primary research papers met the inclusion criteria. Four main themes were identified: (1) Information delivery and communication; (2) participation in decision-making; (3) social factors influencing decision-making and (4) emotional impact of decision-making.

CONCLUSIONS

Young adults with long-term conditions have specific decision-making needs which can impact their emotional health. Research with a specific focus on young adults' experiences of decision-making in health care is needed.

Associations with kidney transplant survival and eGFR decline in children and young adults in the United Kingdom: a retrospective cohort study

Background

Although young adulthood is associated with transplant loss, many studies do not examine eGFR decline. We aimed to establish clinical risk factors to identify where early intervention might prevent subsequent adverse transplant outcomes.

Methods

Retrospective cohort study using UK Renal Registry and UK Transplant Registry data, including patients aged < 30 years transplanted 1998–2014. Associations with death-censored graft failure were investigated with multivariable Cox proportional hazards. Multivariable linear regression was used to establish associations with eGFR slope gradients calculated over the last 5 years of observation per individual.

Results

The cohort (n = 5121, of whom n = 371 received another transplant) was 61% male, 80% White and 36% had structural disease. Live donation occurred in 48%. There were 1371 graft failures and 145 deaths with a functioning graft over a 39,541-year risk period. Median follow-up was 7 years. Fifteen-year graft survival was 60.2% (95% CI 58.1, 62.3).

Risk associations observed in both graft loss and eGFR decline analyses included female sex, glomerular diseases, Black ethnicity and young adulthood (15–19-year and 20–24-year age groups, compared to 25–29 years). A higher initial eGFR was associated with less risk of graft loss but faster eGFR decline. For each additional 10 mL/min/1.73m² initial eGFR, the hazard ratio for graft loss was 0.82 (95% CI 0.79, 0.86), p < 0.0001. However, compared to < 60 mL/min/1.73m², higher initial eGFR was associated with faster eGFR decline (> 90 mL/min/1.73m²; − 3.55 mL/min/1.73m²/year (95% CI -4.37, − 2.72), p < 0.0001).

Conclusions

In conclusion, young adulthood is a key risk factor for transplant loss and eGFR decline for UK children and young adults. This study has an extended follow-up period and confirms common risk associations for graft loss and eGFR decline, including female sex, Black ethnicity and glomerular diseases. A higher initial eGFR was associated with less risk of graft loss but faster rate of eGFR decline. Identification of children at risk of faster rate of eGFR decline may enable early intervention to prolong graft survival.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12882-020-02156-2.

Psychosocial Health and Lifestyle Behaviors in Young Adults Receiving Renal Replacement Therapy Compared to the General Population: Findings From the SPEAK Study

RATIONALE & OBJECTIVE

Patients in late adolescence and early adulthood receiving renal replacement therapy (RRT) face disruption to normal activities, which affects well-being. We aimed to define psychosocial and lifestyle outcomes for young adults on RRT compared to the general population.

STUDY DESIGN

We undertook a cross-sectional survey (the SPEAK [Surveying Patients Experiencing Young Adult Kidney Failure] Study) using validated measures and general population comparator data from the Health Survey for England and Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children. Additional clinical information was obtained from the UK Renal Registry.

SETTING & PARTICIPANTS

16- to 30-year-olds receiving RRT.

OUTCOMES

Psychosocial health and lifestyle behaviors.

ANALYTICAL APPROACH

We compared outcomes between populations using age- and sex-adjusted regression models, weighted to account for response bias by sex, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status. Our findings were used to update recent meta-analyses.

RESULTS

We recruited 976 young adults and 64% responded to the survey: 417 (71%) with kidney transplants and 173 (29%) on dialysis therapy. Compared to the general population, young adults on RRT were less likely to be in a relationship and have children and more likely to live in the family home, receive no income, and be unable to work due to health. They had poorer quality of life, worse well-being, and twice the likelihood of a psychological disturbance (OR, 2.7; 95% CI, 2.0-3.7; P<0.001). They reported less smoking, alcohol and drug abuse, and crime. In a meta-analysis, our study showed the greatest differences in quality of life compared to the general population.

LIMITATIONS

Cross-sectional study design, meaning that we could not track the impact of treatment changes on the outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS

This study involving a large cohort of young adult transplant recipients and dialysis patients provides evidence of worse psychosocial outcomes but more positive lifestyle behaviors in young adults on RRT compared to the age-matched general population.