Biomarkers associated with mortality in patients undergoing dialysis

Utility of TG/HDL-c ratio as a predictor of mortality and cardiovascular disease in patients with chronic kidney disease undergoing hemodialysis: A systematic review

The triglyceride/high-density cholesterol-lipoprotein (TG/HDL-c) is a biomarker of cardiovascular events and mortality. In hemodialysis patients, the evidence is controversial. A systematic review was carried out in the Medline, Scopus, Embase, Web of Science, and Pubmed databases to identify the relevant cohort studies on cardiovascular events and mortality in hemodialysis patients the role of TG/HDL-c as a risk factor. Four cohort-type studies were evaluated, with a total of 52,579 hemodialysis patients. Three studies conducted in Asian populations and one study in the United States had the highest percentage of the sample (50,673 patients). The elevated TG/HDL-c ratio is associated with better survival, and there is a consistent gradual inverse association between TG/HDL-c and mortality in all analysis subgroups. In the decile categorization of the exposure variable, a 21% decrease in the risk of cardiovascular mortality and a 15% decrease in all-cause mortality in the highest decile compared to the reference group (D10 aHR = 0.79; 95% CI: 0.69-0.91 and D10 aHR = 0.85; 95%CI: 0.78-0.92). Our results show that the TG/HDL-c ratio is a protective factor for cardiovascular outcomes and mortality in the American population and a risk factor for them in the population from Asia.

Age, Gender and Diabetes as Risk Factors for Early Mortality in Dialysis Patients: A Systematic Review

Objective: To study the impact of age, gender, and presence of diabetes (any type) on the risk of early deaths (180-day mortality) in patients starting long-term hemodialysis (HD) therapy.Design: Systematic review of the literature.Setting: Out-patient (non-hospitalized), community-based HD therapy world-wide.Participants: Patients with advanced chronic kidney disease (CKD) starting long-term HD treatment for end-stage renal disease (ESRD).Methods: Medline and EMBASE were searched for studies published between 1/1/1985 and 12/31/2017. Observational studies involving adult subjects commencing HD were included. Data extracted included population characteristics and settings. In addition, patient or treatment related factors studied with reference to their relationship with the risk of early mortality were documented. The Quality in Prognosis Studies tool was used to assess risk of bias in individual studies. Findings were summarized, and a narrative account was drawn.Results: Included were 26 studies (combined population 1,098,769; representing 287,085 person-years of observation for early mortality). There were 17 cohort and 9 case-control studies. Risk of bias was low in 13 and high in a further 13 studies. Patients who died in the early period were older than those who survived. Mortality rates increased with advancing age. Female gender was associated with slightly increased early mortality rates in larger and higher quality studies. The available data showed conflicting results in relation to the association of diabetes and risk of early mortality.Conclusions: This systematic review evaluated the impact of key demographic and co-morbid factors on risk of early mortality in patients starting maintenance HD. The information could help in delivering more tailored prognostic information and planning of future interventions.

Early Mortality Rates After Commencement of Maintenance Hemodialysis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Mortality rates are reported to be high soon after the commencement of maintenance HD for ESRD. Our aim was to estimate early mortality rates (deaths within 180 days of starting therapy), through a systematic review of literature, in this patient population. Medline and EMBASE were searched for publications between 1 January 1985 and 31 December 2017. Observational studies reporting deaths involving adults commencing HD were included. The Quality in Prognosis Studies tool was used to assess risk of bias in studies. Crude mortality rates (expressed in 100 person-years) and age-standardized mortality ratios (SMR) were calculated. Meta-analyses of these rates were conducted for studies with lowest risk of bias (i.e. highest quality). In total, 32 studies were included (combined population: 1 083 264) representing 283 277 person-years of observation; median follow-up: 90 days. Mortality rates ranged between 12.8 and 55.6 per 100 person-years. Cardiovascular causes accounted for the majority of early deaths. Meta-analysis of high-quality studies showed an overall crude mortality rate of 32.6 per 100 person-years (95% CI 32.4-32.8). This equates to 16.3% mortality in first 180 days of starting HD. Six high-quality studies contained sufficient data for calculation of SMR. Meta-analysis of SMRs showed that patients starting HD therapy sustain 8.8 times higher mortality rates compared to the general population. We have combined the results of high-quality studies to produce new estimates of early mortality rates after commencement of HD therapy. This information can help relay more reliable prognostic information to this patient population.