Underprescription of Renin–Angiotensin System Blockers in Moderate to Severe Chronic Kidney Disease

Prescribing Trends of Renin-Angiotensin System Inhibitors and Mortality among Acute Coronary Syndrome Patients: Insights from the Malaysian National Cardiovascular Disease Registry

Background

Despite guideline recommendations, suboptimal prescription rates of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEIs) and angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) have been observed in patients with acute coronary syndrome.

Objective

This study aimed to examine the temporal trends, variations, and mortality outcomes among acute coronary syndrome patients prescribed ACEIs/ARBs in the multi-ethnic population of Malaysia.

Methodology

This retrospective study utilized data from the Malaysian National Cardiovascular Disease-Acute Coronary Syndrome registry, encompassing consecutive patient records from 2008 to 2017 (N = 60,854). Ten-year temporal trends of on-discharge ACEIs/ARBs prescription were examined. Demographics, clinical characteristics and 1-year all-cause mortality outcomes were compared between patients prescribed and not prescribed ACEIs/ARBs.

Results

The 10-year prescription rate of on-discharge ACEIs/ARBs was 52.8% (n = 32,140), with a significant decline over the years [linear trend test, P = 0.008; SD = 0.03; SE = 0.001; 95% CI = 0.55-0.64]. Patients aged ≥65 years (aOR = 0.79; 95% CI = 0.73-0.86) were less likely to be prescribed ACEIs/ARBs than those aged <65 years. In addition, patients with comorbid diabetes mellitus (DM) (aOR = 0.85; 95% CI = 0.79-0.92) and chronic kidney disease (CKD) (aOR = 0.34; 95% CI = 0.30-0.40) were significantly less likely to receive ACEIs/ARBs. IPW-adjusted survival analysis revealed a 38% lower 1-year all-cause mortality rate in patients prescribed on-discharge ACEIs/ARBs (HR = 0.62; 95% CI = 0.56-0.69; P < 0.001).

Conclusion

Acute coronary syndrome patients with concomitant DM and CKD were less likely to receive on-discharge ACEIs/ARBs in Malaysia. Suboptimal prescription rates of ACEIs/ARBs persisted over the 10-year period, despite improved 1-year survival in ACS patients prescribed ACEIs/ARBs.

Renal Outcomes Following Transcatheter Mitral Valve Repair - Analysis of COAPT Trial Data

The prevalence of valvular heart disease in the United States has been estimated at 4.2-to-5.6 million, with mitral regurgitation (MR) being the most common lesion. Significant MR is associated with heart failure (HF) and death if left untreated. When HF is present, renal dysfunction (RD) is common and is associated with worse outcomes (ie, it is a marker of HF disease progression). Additionally, a complex interplay exists in patients with HF who also have MR, as this combination further impairs renal function, and the presence of RD further worsens prognosis and often limits guideline-directed management and therapy (GDMT). This has important implications in secondary MR because GDMT is the standard of care. However, with the development of minimally invasive transcatheter mitral valve repair, mitral transcatheter edge-to-edge repair (TEER) has become a new treatment option for secondary MR that is now incorporated into current guidelines published in 2020 that listed mitral TEER as a class 2a recommendation (moderate recommendation with benefit >> risk) as an addition to GDMT in a subset of patients with left ventricular ejection fraction <50%. The Cardiovascular Outcomes Assessment of the MitraClip Percutaneous Therapy for Heart Failure Patients with Functional Mitral Regurgitation (COAPT) trial, which demonstrated favorable outcomes in secondary MR by adding mitral TEER to GDMT versus GDMT alone, was the evidence base for these guidelines. Considering these guidelines and the understanding that concomitant RD often limits GDMT in secondary MR, there is emerging research studying the renal outcomes from the COAPT trial. This review analyzes this evidence, which could further influence current decision-making and future guidelines.

Prescription of guideline-directed medical therapies in patients with diabetes and chronic kidney disease from the CURE-CKD Registry, 2019-2020

AIM

Guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT) is designed to improve clinical outcomes. The study aim was to assess GDMT prescribing rates and prescribing-persistence predictors in patients with diabetes and chronic kidney disease (CKD) from the Center for Kidney Disease Research, Education, and Hope Registry.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Data were obtained from adults ≥18 years old with diabetes and CKD between 1 January 2019 and 31 December 2020 (N = 39 158). Baseline and persistent (≥90 days) prescriptions for GDMT, including angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor/angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB), sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitor and glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist were assessed.

RESULTS

The population age (mean ± SD) was 70 ± 14 years, and 49.6% (n = 19 415) were women. Baseline estimated glomerular filtration rate (2021 CKD-Epidemiology Collaboration creatinine equation) was 57.5 ± 23.0 ml/min/1.73 m2 and urine albumin/creatinine 57.5 mg/g (31.7-158.2; median, interquartile range). Baseline and ≥90-day persistent prescribing rates, respectively, were 70.7% and 40.4% for ACE inhibitor/ARB, 6.0% and 5.0% for SGLT2 inhibitors, and 6.8% and 6.3% for GLP-1 receptor agonist (all p < .001). Patients lacking primary commercial health insurance coverage were less likely to be prescribed an ACE inhibitor/ARB [odds ratio (OR) = 0.89; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.84-0.95; p < .001], SGLT2 inhibitor (OR 0.72; 95% CI 0.64-0.81; p < .001) or GLP-1 receptor agonist (OR 0.89; 95% CI 0.80-0.98; p = .02). GDMT prescribing rates were lower at Providence than UCLA Health.

CONCLUSIONS

Prescribing for GDMT was suboptimal and waned quickly in patients with diabetes and CKD. Type of primary health insurance coverage and health system were associated with GDMT prescribing.

Real-World Modifications of Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System Inhibitors in Patients with Hyperkalemia Initiating Sodium Zirconium Cyclosilicate Therapy: The OPTIMIZE I Study

INTRODUCTION

Hyperkalemia (HK) may result in disruptions of guidelines-concordant renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system inhibitors (RAASi), a standard of care in persons with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Such disruptions-dose reduction or discontinuation-diminish the benefits of RAASi, placing patients at risk of serious events and renal dysfunction. This real-world study evaluated RAASi modifications among patients who initiated sodium zirconium cyclosilicate (SZC) for HK.

METHODS

Adults (≥ 18 years) initiating outpatient SZC (index date) while on RAASi were identified from a large US claims database (January 2018-June 2020). RAASi optimization (maintain same or up-titration of RAASi dosage), non-optimization (down-titration of RAASi dosage or discontinuation), and persistence were descriptively summarized following index. Predictors of RAASi optimization were assessed using multivariable logistic regression models. Analyses were conducted by subgroups, including patients without end-stage kidney disease (ESKD), with CKD, and with CKD + diabetes.

RESULTS

A total of 589 patients initiated SZC during RAASi therapy (mean age 61.0 years, 65.2% male), and 82.7% patients (n = 487) kept RAASi after index (mean follow-up  = 8.1 months). Most patients (77.4%) optimized RAASi therapy after initiating SZC; 69.6% maintained the same dosage while 7.8% had up-titrations. A similar rate of RAASi optimization was observed among subgroups without ESKD (78.4%), with CKD (78.9%), and with CKD + diabetes (78.1%). At 1-year post-index, 73.9% of all patients who optimized RAASi were still on therapy, while only 17.9% of patients who did not optimize therapy were still on a RAASi. Among all patients, predictors of RAASi optimization included fewer prior hospitalizations (odds ratio = 0.79, 95% CI [0.63-1.00]; p < 0.05) and fewer prior emergency department (ED) visits (0.78 [0.63-0.96]; p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Consistent with clinical trial findings, nearly 80% of patients who initiated SZC for HK optimized their RAASi therapy. Patients may require long-term SZC therapy to encourage continuation of RAASi therapy especially after inpatient and ED visits.

An analysis of DPV and DIVE registry patients with chronic kidney disease according to the finerenone phase III clinical trial selection criteria

BACKGROUND

The FIDELIO-DKD and FIGARO-DKD randomized clinical trials (RCTs) showed finerenone, a novel non-steroidal mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist (MRA), reduced the risk of renal and cardiovascular events in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and chronic kidney disease (CKD). Using RCT inclusion and exclusion criteria, we analyzed the RCT coverage for patients with T2DM and CKD in routine clinical practice in Germany.

METHODS

German patients from the DPV/DIVE registries who were ≥ 18 years, had T2DM and CKD (an estimated glomerular filtration rate [eGFR] < 60 mL/min/1.73 m² OR eGFR ≥ 60 mL/min/1.73m² and albuminuria [≥ 30 mg/g]) were included. RCT inclusion and exclusion criteria were then applied, and the characteristics of the two populations compared.

RESULTS

Overall, 65,168 patients with T2DM and CKD were identified from DPV/DIVE. Key findings were (1) Registry patients with CKD were older, less often male, and had a lower eGFR, but more were normoalbuminuric vs the RCTs. Cardiovascular disease burden was higher in the RCTs; diabetic neuropathy, lipid metabolism disorders, and peripheral arterial disease were more frequent in the registry. CKD-specific drugs (e.g., angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors [ACEi] and angiotensin receptor blocker [ARBs]) were used less often in clinical practice; (2) Due to the RCT's albuminuric G1/2 to G4 CKD focus, they did not cover 28,147 (43.2%) normoalbuminuric registry patients, 4,519 (6.9%) albuminuric patients with eGFR < 25, and 6,565 (10.1%) patients with microalbuminuria but normal GFR (≥ 90 ml/min); 3) As RCTs required baseline ACEi or ARB treatment, the number of comparable registry patients was reduced to 28,359. Of these, only 12,322 (43.5%) registry patients fulfilled all trial inclusion and exclusion criteria. Registry patients that would have been eligible for the RCTs were more often male, had higher eGFR values, higher rates of albuminuria, more received metformin, and more SGLT-2 inhibitors than patients that would not be eligible.

CONCLUSIONS

Certain patient subgroups, especially non-albuminuric CKD-patients, were not included in the RCTs. Although recommended by guidelines, there was an undertreatment of CKD-patients with renin-angiotensin system (RAS) blockers. Further research into patients with normoalbuminuric CKD and a wider prescription of RAS blocking agents for CKD patients in clinical practice appears warranted.

Prescription Rates and Prognostic Implications of Optimally Targeted Guideline-Directed Medical Treatment in Heart Failure and Atrial Fibrillation: Insights From The MISOAC-AF Trial

ABSTRACT

Heart failure (HF) and atrial fibrillation (AF) commonly coexist in real-life clinical practice. Among patients with HF with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) or HF with mildly reduced ejection fraction (HFmrEF), guidelines call for evidence-based target doses of renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system inhibitors and beta-blockers. However, target doses of guideline-directed medical treatment (GDMT) are often underused in real-world conditions, including HF-AF comorbidity. This retrospective cohort study of a randomized trial (Motivational Interviewing to Support Oral AntiCoagulation adherence in patients with nonvalvular AF) included hospitalized patients with AF and HFrEF or HFmrEF. Optimally targeted GDMT was defined as intake of evidence-based target doses of renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system and beta-blockers at 3 months after discharge. Rates of optimally targeted GDMT achievement across the baseline estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) were assessed. Independent predictors of nontargeted GDMT and its association with all-cause mortality and the composite of cardiovascular death or HF hospitalization were assessed by regression analyses. In total, 374 patients with AF and HFrEF or HFmrEF were studied. At 3 months after discharge, 30.7% received target doses of GDMT medications. The rate of optimally targeted GDMT was reduced by 11% for every 10 mg/min/1.73 m 2 decrease in baseline eGFR [adjusted β = 0.99; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.98-0.99] levels. After a median 31-month follow-up period, 37.8% patients in the optimally targeted GDMT group died, as compared with 67.8% (adjusted hazard ratio: 1.49; 95% CI, 1.05-2.13) in the nontargeted GDMT group. The risk of cardiovascular death or HF hospitalization was also higher in these patients (adjusted hazard ratio: 1.60; 95% CI, 1.17-2.20). Target doses of all HF drugs were reached in roughly one-third of patients with AF and HFrEF or HFmrEF 3 months after hospital discharge. Nontargeted GDMT was more frequent across lower eGFR levels and was associated with worse outcomes.

Short-Term Changes in Serum Potassium and the Risk of Subsequent Vascular Events and Mortality: Results from a Randomized Controlled Trial of ACE Inhibitors

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Hyperkalemia after starting renin-angiotensin system inhibitors has been shown to be subsequently associated with a higher risk of cardiovascular and kidney outcomes. However, whether to continue or discontinue the drug after hyperkalemia remains unclear.

DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS, & MEASUREMENTS

Data came from the Action in Diabetes and Vascular Disease: Preterax and Diamicron Modified Release Controlled Evaluation (ADVANCE) trial, which included a run-in period where all participants initiated angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor-based therapy (a fixed combination of perindopril and indapamide). The study population was taken as patients with type 2 diabetes with normokalemia (serum potassium of 3.5 to <5.0 mEq/L) at the start of run-in. Potassium was remeasured 3 weeks later when a total of 9694 participants were classified into hyperkalemia (≥5.0 mEq/L), normokalemia, and hypokalemia (<3.5 mEq/L) groups. After run-in, patients were randomized to continuation of the angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor-based therapy or placebo; major macrovascular, microvascular, and mortality outcomes were analyzed using Cox regression during the following 4.4 years (median).

RESULTS

During active run-in, 556 (6%) participants experienced hyperkalemia. During follow-up, 1505 participants experienced the primary composite outcome of major macrovascular and microvascular events. Randomized treatment of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor-based therapy significantly decreased the risk of the primary outcome (38.1 versus 42.0 per 1000 person-years; hazard ratio, 0.91; 95% confidence interval, 0.83 to 1.00; P=0.04) compared with placebo. The magnitude of effects did not differ across subgroups defined by short-term changes in serum potassium during run-in (P for heterogeneity =0.66). Similar consistent treatment effects were also observed for all-cause death, cardiovascular death, major coronary events, major cerebrovascular events, and new or worsening nephropathy (P for heterogeneity ≥0.27).

CONCLUSIONS

Continuation of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor-based therapy consistently decreased the subsequent risk of clinical outcomes, including cardiovascular and kidney outcomes and death, regardless of short-term changes in serum potassium.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRY NAME AND REGISTRATION NUMBER

Action in Diabetes and Vascular Disease: Preterax and Diamicron Modified Release Controlled Evaluation (ADVANCE), NCT00145925.

RAAS Inhibitor Prescription and Hyperkalemia Event in Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease: A Single-Center Retrospective Study

Hyperkalemia is common in patients treated with renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system inhibitors (RAASis), and it represents the main cause of the large gap reported between guideline recommendations and real-world practice in chronic kidney disease (CKD). We conducted a CKD-population-based restrospective study to determine the prevalence of patients with CKD treated with RAASis, incidence of hyperkalemia in patients with CKD treated with RAASis, and proportion of patients with RAASi medication change after experiencing incident hyperkalemia. Among 809 patients with CKD analyzed, 556 (68.7%) were treated with RAASis, and RAASi prescription was greater in stages 2-4 of CKD. Hyperkalemia occurred in 9.2% of RAASi-treated patients, and the adjusted rate of hyperkalemia among patients with stage 4-5 CKD was 3-fold higher compared with patients with eGFR > 60 ml/min/1.73 m2. RAASi treatment was discontinued in 55.3% of the patients after hyperkalemia event (74.2% discontinued therapy, 3.2% received a reduced dose, and 22.6% reduced the number of RAASi drugs). This study shows that the incidence of hyperkalemia is frequently observed in patients with CKD patients with RAASis, and that rates increase with deteriorating levels of kidney function from stages 1 to 3. RAASi medication change following an episode of hyperkalemia occurred in almost half of the patients after experiencing hyperkalemia.

Hyperkalemia in Chronic Kidney Disease in the New Era of Kidney Protection Therapies

Despite recent therapeutic advances, chronic kidney disease (CKD) is one of the fastest growing global causes of death. This illustrates limitations of current therapeutic approaches and, potentially, unidentified knowledge gaps. For decades, renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) blockers have been the mainstay of therapy for CKD. However, they favor the development of hyperkalemia, which is already common in CKD patients due to the CKD-associated decrease in urinary potassium (K⁺) excretion and metabolic acidosis. Hyperkalemia may itself be life-threatening as it may trigger potentially lethal arrhythmia, and additionally may limit the prescription of RAAS blockers and lead to low-K⁺ diets associated to low dietary fiber intake. Indeed, hyperkalemia is associated with adverse kidney, cardiovascular, and survival outcomes. Recently, novel kidney protective therapies, ranging from sodium/glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors to new mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists have shown efficacy in clinical trials. Herein, we review K⁺ pathophysiology and the clinical impact and management of hyperkalemia considering these developments and the availability of the novel K⁺ binders patiromer and sodium zirconium cyclosilicate, recent results from clinical trials targeting metabolic acidosis (sodium bicarbonate, veverimer), and an increasing understanding of the role of the gut microbiota in health and disease.

Diagnosis and management of heart failure from hospital admission to discharge: A practical expert guidance

Heart failure (HF) has high event rates, mortality, and is challenging to manage in clinical practice. Clinical management is complicated by complex therapeutic strategies in a population with a high prevalence of comorbidity and general frailty. In the last four years, an abundance of research has become available to support multidisciplinary management of heart failure from within the hospital through to discharge and primary care as well as supporting diagnosis and comorbidity management. Within the hospital setting, recent evidence supports sacubitril-valsartan combination in frail, deteriorating or de novo patients with LVEF≤40%. Furthermore, new strategies such as SGLT2 inhibitors and vericiguat provide further benefit for patients with decompensating HF. Studies with tafamidis report major clinical benefits specifically for patients with ATTR cardiac amyloidosis, a remaining underdiagnosed and undertreated disease. New evidence for medical interventions supports his bundle pacing to reduce QRS width and improve haemodynamics as well as ICD defibrillation for non-ischemic cardiomyopathy. The Mitraclip reduces hospitalisations and mortality in patients with symptomatic, secondary mitral regurgitation and ablation reduces mortality and hospitalisations in patients with paroxysmal and persistent atrial fibrillation. In end-stage HF, the 2018 French Heart Allocation policy should improve access to heart transplants for stable, ambulatory patients and, mechanical circulatory support should be considered to avoid deteriorating on the waiting list. In the community, new evidence supports that improving discharge education, treatment and patient support improves outcomes. The authors believe that this review fills the gap between the guidelines and clinical practice and provides practical recommendations to improve HF management.

Association between hyperkalemia, RAASi non-adherence and outcomes in chronic kidney disease

Background

Hyperkalemia is relatively frequent in CKD patients treated with renin-angiotensin-aldosterone-system inhibitors (RAASi).

Aim

The aim of the present study was to estimate the increased risk of cardiovascular events and mortality due to sub-optimal adherence to RAASi in CKD patients with hyperkalemia.

Methods

An observational retrospective cohort study was conducted, based on administrative and laboratory databases of five Local Health Units. Adult patients discharged from the hospital with a diagnosis of CKD, who were prescribed RAASi between January 2010 and December 2017, were included. We evaluated the appearance of documented episodes of hyperkalemia, RAASi therapy adherence and the effects of these two variables on cardiovascular events, death and dialysis inception for study patients.

Results

Of the 9241 selected patients, 4451 met all the criteria for study inclusion. Among them, 1071 had at least one documented episode of hyperkalemia, while 3380 did not. After propensity score matching based on several variables we obtained 2 groups of patients. The appearance of hyperkalemia caused treatment discontinuation in 21.8% of patients previously on RAASi therapy, and sub-optimal adherence (proportion of days covered  < 80%) in 33.6% of them. Non-adherence to RAASi therapy among hyperkalemia patients was associated with a higher risk of cardiovascular events (hazard ratio [HR] 1.45, confidence interval [CI] 1.02–2.08; p < 0.05). Moreover, in non-adherent hyperkalemia patients, the risk of death increased by 126% (HR 2.26, CI 1.62–3.15; p < 0.001) compared with adherent patients.

Conclusions

In a large cohort of CKD patients treated with RAASi, we observed that following hyperkalemia onset, non-adherence to RAASi medication can result in an increased risk of cardiovascular events and death.

Graphical abstract

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s40620-021-01070-6.

A Model to Predict Risk of Hyperkalemia in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease Using a Large Administrative Claims Database

Background

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is responsible for substantial clinical and economic burden. Drugs that inhibit the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system inhibitors (RAASi) slow CKD progression in many common clinical scenarios. Guideline-directed medical therapy requires maximal recommended doses of RAASi, which clinicians are often reluctant to prescribe because of the associated risk of hyperkalemia (HK).

Objective

This study aims to develop and validate a model to identify individuals with CKD at elevated risk for developing HK over a 12-month period on the basis of lab, medical, and pharmacy claims.

Methods

Using claims from a large US healthcare payer, we developed a model to predict the probability of individuals identified with CKD but not HK in 2016 (baseline year [BY]) who developed HK in 2017 (prediction year [PY]). The study population was comprised of members continuously enrolled with medical and pharmacy benefits and CKD (BY). Members were excluded from the analysis if they had HK (by lab results or diagnosis code) or dialysis (BY). Prediction model performance measures included area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC), calibration, and gain and lift charts.

Results

Of 435,512 members identified with CKD but not HK (BY), 6235 (1.43%) showed incident HK (PY). Compared with individuals without incident HK (PY), these members had a higher comorbidity burden, use of RAASi, and healthcare utilization. The AUROC and calibration analyses showed good predictive accuracy (area under the curve [AUC]=0.843 and calibration). The top 2 HK-prediction deciles identified 75.94% of members who went on to develop HK (PY).

Conclusion

Guideline-recommended doses of RAASi therapy can be limited by the risk of HK. Novel potassium binders may permit more patients at risk to benefit from these maximal RAASi doses. This predictive model successfully identified the risk of developing HK up to 1 year in advance.

Unravelling the interplay between hyperkalaemia, renin-angiotensin-aldosterone inhibitor use and clinical outcomes. Data from 9222 chronic heart failure patients of the ESC-HFA-EORP Heart Failure Long-Term Registry

AIMS

We assessed the interplay between hyperkalaemia (HK) and renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system inhibitor (RAASi) use, dose and discontinuation, and their association with all-cause or cardiovascular death in patients with chronic heart failure (HF). We hypothesized that HK-associated increased death may be related to RAASi withdrawal.

METHODS AND RESULTS

The ESC-HFA-EORP Heart Failure Long-Term Registry was used. Among 9222 outpatients (HF with reduced ejection fraction: 60.6%, HF with mid-range ejection fraction: 22.9%, HF with preserved ejection fraction: 16.5%) from 31 countries, 16.6% had HK (≥5.0 mmol/L) at baseline. Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEi) or angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) was used in 88.3%, a mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist (MRA) in 58.7%, or a combination in 53.2%; of these, at ≥50% of target dose in ACEi: 61.8%; ARB: 64.7%; and MRA: 90.3%. At a median follow-up of 12.2 months, there were 789 deaths (8.6%). Both hypokalaemia and HK were independently associated with higher mortality, and ACEi/ARB prescription at baseline with lower mortality. MRA prescription was not retained in the model. In multivariable analyses, HK at baseline was independently associated with MRA non-prescription at baseline and subsequent discontinuation. When considering subsequent discontinuation of RAASi (instead of baseline use), HK was no longer found associated with all-cause deaths. Importantly, all RAASi (ACEi, ARB, or MRA) discontinuations were strongly associated with mortality.

CONCLUSIONS

In HF, hyper- and hypokalaemia were associated with mortality. However, when adjusting for RAASi discontinuation, HK was no longer associated with mortality, suggesting that HK may be a risk marker for RAASi discontinuation rather than a risk factor for worse outcomes.

Practical management of worsening renal function in outpatients with heart failure and reduced ejection fraction: Statement from a panel of multidisciplinary experts and the Heart Failure Working Group of the French Society of Cardiology

Renal function is often affected in patients with chronic heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). The complex interplay between heart and renal dysfunction makes renal function and potassium monitoring mandatory. Renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) blockers are a life-saving treatment for patients with HFrEF, regardless of worsening renal function. Uptitration to the maximum-tolerated dose should be a constant goal. This simple fact is all too often forgotten (only 30% of patients with heart failure receive the target dosage of RAAS blockers), and the RAAS blocker effect on renal function is sometimes misunderstood. RAAS blockers are not nephrotoxic drugs as they only have a functional effect on renal function. In many routine clinical cases, RAAS blockers are withheld or stopped because of this misunderstanding, combined with suboptimal assessment of the clinical situation and underestimation of the life-saving effect of RAAS blockers despite worsening renal function. In this expert panel, which includes heart failure specialists, geriatricians and nephrologists, we propose therapeutic management algorithms for worsening renal function for physicians in charge of outpatients with chronic heart failure. Firstly, the essential variables to take into consideration before changing treatment are the presence of concomitant disorders that could alter renal function status (e.g. infection, diarrhoea, hyperthermia), congestion/dehydration status, blood pressure and intake of nephrotoxic drugs. Secondly, physicians are invited to adapt medication according to four clinical scenarios (patient with congestion, dehydration, hypotension or hyperkalaemia). Close biological monitoring after treatment modification is mandatory. We believe that this practical clinically minded management algorithm can help to optimize HFrEF treatment in routine clinical practice.

Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of Patiromer in Combination with Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System Inhibitors for Chronic Kidney Disease in Sweden

OBJECTIVES

Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) are commonly treated with renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system inhibitors (RAASi) in order to delay progression of renal disease. However, research has shown that RAASi in CKD patients increases hyperkalaemia (HK) prevalence, which leads to RAASi discontinuation or dose reduction with the loss of benefits on the kidney. Patiromer is a novel therapy for HK treatment and may enable patients to remain on their RAASi regimen. This study aimed to assess the cost-effectiveness of patiromer from a Swedish healthcare perspective.

METHODS

A Markov model was developed to evaluate the economic outcomes of patiromer versus no patiromer in HK patients with stage 3-4 CKD taking RAASi. The model consisted of six health states reflecting disease progression and hospitalisations. The analysis mainly considered clinical data from the OPAL-HK trial and national costs. The main outcomes of interest were incremental costs (euro [EUR] 2016) and quality-adjusted life years (QALYs), discounted at 3%, and the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER). Extensive uncertainty analyses were performed.

RESULTS

In comparison to no patiromer, a patiromer patient gained 0.14 QALYs and an incremental cost of EUR 6109 (Swedish krona [SEK] 57,850), yielding an ICER of EUR 43,307 (SEK 410,072)/QALY gained. The results were robust to a range of sensitivity analyses. At a willingness-to-pay threshold of EUR 52,804 (SEK 500,000)/QALY, patiromer had a 50% chance of being cost-effective.

CONCLUSIONS

The results indicate that patiromer may demonstrate value for money in Swedish patients with stage 3-4 CKD, by enabling RAASi treatment. However, there is a considerable degree of uncertainty.

Gender, Albuminuria and Chronic Kidney Disease Progression in Treated Diabetic Kidney Disease

BACKGROUND

Women are reported to have a lower incidence of renal replacement therapy, despite a higher prevalence of chronic kidney disease (CKD).

AIM

To analyze diabetic kidney disease (DKD) progression in men and women.

METHODS

Prospective cohort: n = 261, 35% women, new consecutive nephrology DKD referrals.

RESULTS

Women smoked less and better complied with the dietary phosphate and sodium restrictions. Despite a less frequent nephrology referral, women had lower baseline albuminuria. Over a 30 ± 10-month follow-up, albuminuria decreased in women and the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) loss was slower than in men. However, the percentage of rapid progressors was similar in both sexes. The best multivariate model predicting rapid progression in men (area under curve (AUC) = 0.92) and women differed. Albuminuria and fractional excretion of phosphate (FEphosphate) were part of the men multivariable model, but not of women. The AUC for the prediction of rapid progression by albuminuria was higher in men than in women, and the albuminuria cut-off points also differed. In women, there was a higher percentage of rapid progressors who had baseline physiological albuminuria.

CONCLUSIONS

Female DKD differs from male DKD: albuminuria was milder and better responsive to therapy, the loss of eGFR was slower and the predictors of rapid progression differed from men: albuminuria was a better predictor in men than in women. Lifestyle factors may contribute to the differences.

Tailoring treatment of hyperkalemia

Hyperkalemia is a common electrolyte disorder that may be rapidly life-threatening because of its cardiac toxicity. Hyperkalemia risk factors are numerous and often combined in the same patient. Most of the strategies to control serum potassium level in the short term have been used for decades. However, evidence for their efficacy and safety remains low. Treatment of hyperkalemia remains challenging, poorly codified, with a risk of overtreatment, including short-term side effects, and with the priority of avoiding unnecessary hospital stays or chronic medication changes. Recently, new oral treatments have been proposed for non-life-threatening hyperkalemia, with encouraging results. Their role in the therapeutic arsenal remains uncertain. Finally, a growing body of evidence suggests that hyperkalemia might negatively impact outcomes in the long term in patients with chronic heart failure or kidney failure through underdosing or withholding of cardiovascular medication (e.g. renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system inhibitors). Recognition of efficacy and potential side effects of treatment may help in tailoring treatments to the patient's status and conditions. In this review we discuss how treatment of hyperkalemia could be tailored to the patient's conditions and status, both on the short and mid term.

New mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists: update on their use in chronic kidney disease and heart failure

Aldosterone is a mineralocorticoid hormone with a well-known effect on the renal tubule leading to water retention and potassium reabsorption. Other major effects of the hormone include the induction of proinflammatory activity that leads to progressive fibrotic damage of the target organs, heart and kidney. Blocking the aldosterone receptor therefore represents an important pharmacological strategy to avoid the clinical conditions deriving from heart failure (CHF) and chronic kidney disease (CKD). However, steroidal mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (MRA) have a low safety profile, especially in CKD patients due to the high incidence of hyperkalemia. A new generation of nonsteroidal MRA has recently been developed to obtain a selective receptor block avoiding side-effects like hyperkalemia and thereby making the drugs suitable for administration to CKD patients. This review summarizes the results of published preclinical and clinical studies on the nonsteroidal MRA, apararenone esaxerenone and finerenone. The trials showed a better safety profile with maintained drug efficacy compared with steroidal MRA. For this reason, nonsteroidal MRA represent an interesting new therapeutic approach for the prevention of CHF and CKD progression. Some basic research findings also yielded interesting results in acute clinical settings such as myocardial infarction and acute kidney injury.

Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of Patiromer and Spironolactone Therapy in Heart Failure Patients with Hyperkalemia

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Certain patients with heart failure (HF) are unable to tolerate spironolactone therapy due to hyperkalemia. Patiromer is a novel agent used to treat hyperkalemia and has been shown to be efficacious, safe, and well-tolerated. The potential clinical outcomes and economic value of using patiromer and spironolactone in patients with HF unable to otherwise tolerate spironolactone due to hyperkalemia are unclear. The objective of this analysis was to model the potential pharmacoeconomic value of using patiromer and spironolactone in patients with a history of hyperkalemia that prevents them from utilizing spironolactone.

METHODS

We performed a cost-effectiveness analysis of treatment with patiromer, spironolactone, and an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEI) in patients with New York Heart Association (NYHA) class III-IV HF compared with ACEI alone. A Markov model was constructed to simulate a cohort of 65-year-old patients diagnosed with HF from the payer perspective across the lifetime horizon. Clinical inputs were derived from the RALES and OPAL-HK randomized trials of spironolactone and patiromer, respectively. Utility estimates and costs were derived from the literature and list prices. Outcomes assessed included hospitalization, life expectancy, and quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs), costs, and the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER). One-way and probability sensitivity analyses were performed to test the robustness of the model findings.

RESULTS

Treatment with patiromer-spironolactone-ACEI was projected to increase longevity compared with ACEI alone (5.29 vs. 4.62 life-years gained, respectively), greater QALYs (2.79 vs. 2.60), and costs (US$28,200 vs. US$18,200), giving an ICER of US$52,700 per QALY gained. The ICERs ranged from US$40,000 to US$85,800 per QALY gained in 1-way sensitivity analyses.

CONCLUSION

Our results suggest that the use of spironolactone-patiromer-ACEI may provide clinical benefit and good economic value in patients with NYHA class III-IV HF unable to tolerate spironolactone due to hyperkalemia.

Hyperkalemia After Initiating Renin-Angiotensin System Blockade: The Stockholm Creatinine Measurements (SCREAM) Project

BACKGROUND

Concerns about hyperkalemia limit the use of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE-I) and angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs), but guidelines conflict regarding potassium-monitoring protocols. We quantified hyperkalemia monitoring and risks after ACE-I/ARB initiation and developed and validated a hyperkalemia susceptibility score.

METHODS AND RESULTS

We evaluated 69 426 new users of ACE-I/ARB therapy in the Stockholm Creatinine Measurements (SCREAM) project with medication initiation from January 1, 2007 to December 31, 2010, and follow-up for 1 year thereafter. Three fourths (76%) of SCREAM patients had potassium checked within the first year. Potassium >5 and >5.5 mmol/L occurred in 5.6% and 1.7%, respectively. As a comparison, we propensity-matched new ACE-I/ARB users to 20 186 new β-blocker users in SCREAM: 64% had potassium checked. The occurrence of elevated potassium levels was similar between new β-blocker and ACE-I/ARB users without kidney disease; only at estimated glomerular filtration rate <60 mL/min per 1.73 m² were risks higher among ACE-I/ARB users. We developed a hyperkalemia susceptibility score that incorporated estimated glomerular filtration rate, baseline potassium level, sex, diabetes mellitus, heart failure, and the concomitant use of potassium-sparing diuretics in new ACE-I/ARB users; this score accurately predicted 1-year hyperkalemia risk in the SCREAM cohort (area under the curve, 0.845, 95% CI: 0.840-0.869) and in a validation cohort from the US-based Geisinger Health System (N=19 524; area under the curve, 0.818, 95% CI: 0.794-0.841), with good calibration.

CONCLUSIONS

Hyperkalemia within the first year of ACE-I/ARB therapy was relatively uncommon among people with estimated glomerular filtration rate >60 mL/min per 1.73 m², but rates were much higher with lower estimated glomerular filtration rate. Use of the hyperkalemia susceptibility score may help guide laboratory monitoring and prescribing strategies.

A Population-Based Analysis of Quality Indicators in CKD

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Awareness of CKD remains low in comparison with other chronic diseases, such as diabetes, leading to low use of preventive medications and appropriate testing. The objective of this study was to evaluate the quality of care provided to people with and at risk of CKD.

DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS, & MEASUREMENTS

We conducted a population-based analysis of all Albertans with eGFR=15-59 ml/min per 1.73 m2 between April 1, 2011 and March 31, 2012 as well as patients with diabetes (as of March 31, 2012). We assessed multiple quality indicators in people with eGFR=15-59 ml/min per 1.73 m2, including appropriate risk stratification with albuminuria testing and preventive medication use and screened people with diabetes using urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio and serum creatinine measurements.

RESULTS

Among 96,480 adults with eGFR=15-59 ml/min per 1.73 m2, we found that 17.0% of those without diabetes were appropriately risk stratified with a measure of albuminuria compared with 64.2% of those with diabetes (P<0.001). Of those with eGFR=15-59 ml/min per 1.73 m2 and moderate or severe albuminuria, 63.2% of those without diabetes received an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor or an angiotensin receptor blocker compared with 82.1% in those with diabetes (P<0.001). Statin use was also significantly lower in patients with eGFR=15-59 ml/min per 1.73 m2 without diabetes (39.2%) compared with those with diabetes (64.6%; P<0.001). Among 235,649 adults with diabetes, only 41.8% received a urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio and 73.2% received a serum creatinine measurement over 1 year.

CONCLUSIONS

We identified large gaps in care, especially in those with CKD but no diabetes. The largest gap was in the prescription of guideline-concordant medication in those with CKD as well as appropriate screening for albuminuria in those with diabetes. Our work illustrates the importance of measuring health system performance as the first step in a quality improvement process to improve care and outcomes in CKD.

Hyperkalemia constitutes a constraint for implementing renin-angiotensin-aldosterone inhibition: the widening gap between mandated treatment guidelines and the real-world clinical arena

Recent studies have reported a large gap between the forceful and assertive recommendations in the guidelines and real-world practice in the use of renin-angiotensin-aldosterone inhibitors (RAASi) therapies. A comprehensive, retrospective analysis of a large database of electronic medical records (>7 million patients) was undertaken to evaluate 3 pivotal concerns: (i) whether RAASi are being prescribed according to treatment guidelines, (ii) what happens to RAASi prescriptions after hyperkalemia events, and (iii) what the clinical outcomes are in patients whose RAASi are discontinued or who are prescribed at doses lower than the guidelines recommend. The results indicate that a substantial gap exists between guideline recommendations and real-world prescribing patterns for RAASi. Among patients with cardiorenal comorbidities for which RAASi are recommended by the guidelines, more than one-half were prescribed lower-than-recommended doses, and approximately 14% to 16% discontinued RAASi therapy. RAASi prescribing patterns may be altered by the development of hyperkalemia. Moderate-to-severe hyperkalemia events were followed by down-titration or discontinuation of RAASi therapy in nearly one-half of all patients on maximal dose and by discontinuation in nearly one-third of patients on submaximal dose. This analysis highlights the challenge behind RAASi prescribing decisions, balancing the risk of provoking hyperkalemia with the benefits to reducing cardiorenal morbidity and mortality. Patients who are known to derive the greatest benefit from these drugs (chronic kidney disease patients with concomitant diabetes mellitus or heart failure) are the same patients who are at highest risk of developing hyperkalemia. These observations constitute a "call to action" to develop newer treatment modalities to lower serum potassium and to achieve and sustain normokalemia long-term.