Association between Extreme Values of Markers of Chronic Kidney Disease: Mineral and Bone Disorder and 5-Year Mortality among Prevalent Hemodialysis Patients

Prevalence and outcomes associated with hypocalcaemia and hypercalcaemia among pre-dialysis chronic kidney disease patients with mineral and bone disorder

INTRODUCTION

Chronic kidney disease-mineral and bone disease (CKD-MBD) is a complication of chronic kidney disease (CKD) involving derangements in serum calcium and phosphate. This study aims to evaluate hypo- and hypercalcaemia and their associated outcomes among pre-dialysis CKD patients.

METHODS

A retrospective cohort study was performed and included all adult CKD stage 4-stage 5 patients who were on treatment for CKD-MBD between 2016 and 2017. Each patient was followed up for 3 years. Hypo- and hypercalcaemia were defined as serum corrected calcium (Ca 2+ ) <2.10 and >2.46 mmol/L, respectively. Outcomes evaluated included all-cause mortality and cardiovascular events. Multivariate Cox regression analysis was done to evaluate the association of hypocalcaemia and/or hypercalcaemia with the clinical outcomes. Severity of hypocalcaemia episode was classified as 'mild' (Ca 2+ : between 1.90 and 2.10 mmol/L) and 'severe' (Ca 2+ : <1.90 mmol/L). Severity of hypercalcaemia was classified as 'mild' (Ca 2+ : between 2.47 and 3.00 mmol/L), moderate (Ca 2+ : between 3.01 and 3.50 mmol/L) and severe (Ca 2+ : >3.50 mmol/L).

RESULTS

Of the 400 patients, 169 (42.2%) and 94 (23.5%) patients experienced hypocalcaemia and hypercalcaemia, respectively. Severe hypocalcaemia was more prevalent in CKD stage 5 compared to CKD stage 4 (96 [40.5%] vs. 36 [25.9%], P = 0.004). Results from multivariate analyses after adjustment showed that hypocalcaemia and/or hypercalcaemia were not associated with all-cause mortality ( P > 0.05) or the occurrence of cardiovascular events ( P > 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Hypocalcaemia and hypercalcaemia episodes were prevalent among pre-dialysis CKD patients. Studies with longer follow-up durations are required to assess the effects of calcium derangements on clinical outcomes.

Improvement of Quality of Life in Dialysis and Diabetic Patients by Skin Dryness and Pruritus Management with an Ecobiological Dermo-Cosmetic Product

PURPOSE

Xerosis and pruritus are common chronic dermatological disorders among dialysis and diabetic patients that are frequently underdiagnosed or neglected, which can impact the quality of life of these patients. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of a specific dermo-cosmetic product in the treatment of dry skin and pruritus associated with dialysis and diabetes.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Twenty-nine dialysis patients (mean age 62 years) and 40 diabetic patients (mean age 57 years, 88% type 2) were included in two different single-center open-label uncontrolled clinical trials. All patients presented skin dryness according to the Scaling Roughness Redness and Cracks (SRRC) scale, and pruritus and/or insomnia. They applied the dermo-cosmetic product Medi-Secure Atoderm Xereane (NAOS, Laboratoire Bioderma) once or twice a day. The clinical efficacy (SRRC, pruritus, and insomnia), the skin-related quality of life (Dermatological Life Quality Index, DLQI), and the subjective efficacy were assessed at the inclusion visit and after 28 days of product application, as well as the safety.

RESULTS

After 28 days of application, the product significantly reduced the SRRC global score of 83% (0.9±0.8 vs 5.1±1.2) and 66% (1.4±1.2 vs 4.2±0.5), pruritus intensity of 76% (1.1±1.3 vs 4.6±2.1) and 78% (0.9±1.7 vs 4.2±2.6), and insomnia intensity of 61% (0.9±1.3 vs 2.4±2.3) and 82% (0.9±1.7 vs 4.8±2.7) in dialysis and diabetic patients, respectively. Furthermore, the product's application led to an improvement of the skin-related quality of life of 50% (5.4 vs 2.7; p<0.0001) in dialysis patients and 71% (6.6 vs 1.9; p<0.0001) in diabetic patients at D28. In addition, the product was greatly appreciated by all patients for its soothing, comforting, repairing, nourishing, and hydrating effects and was very well tolerated by the entire panels.

CONCLUSION

This specific dermo-cosmetic product significantly reduces skin dryness, pruritus, and insomnia in dialysis and diabetic patients, thereby greatly improves their skin-related quality of life. By managing and avoiding bothersome symptoms associated with their disease or treatment, this ecobiological dermo-cosmetic can prevent serious complications that constitute a substantial burden on their daily life.

Severe hyperparathyroidism is associated with nutritional impairment in maintenance hemodialysis patients

Severe hyperparathyroidism predicts poor outcomes in patients with kidney failure. Mechanisms underlying the relationship between high parathyroid hormone (PTH) and decreased survival other than bone loss are largely unexplored. Recent evidence suggests the role of excess PTH in adipose tissue browning resulting in protein-energy wasting. The present retrospective observational study examined nutritional status among patients receiving maintenance hemodialysis with different degree of hyperparathyroidism. Seven hundred forty-five patients were categorized into four groups according to PTH levels: group 0, < 200; group 1, 200–599; group 2, 600–1,499; and group 3, ≥1,500 pg/ml. Group 0 was excluded because of the relationship between low PTH with aging and malnutrition. Patients in groups 1 and 2 were matched to group 3 by propensity score yielding 410 patients in the final analysis. Nutritional parameters at baseline and the preceding 1 and 2 years were examined. At baseline, lower serum albumin, creatinine/body surface area (Cr/BSA), height in female and higher percentage of patients with serum albumin < 38 g/L were observed in group 3 compared to groups 1 and 2. Higher PTH level was independently associated with serum albumin < 38 g/L and Cr/BSA < 380 μmol/L/m². The longitudinal decline in serum albumin and Cr/BSA and the increase in the frequency of patients with serum albumin < 38 g/L were observed among patients in group 3. Between group comparisons confirmed a significant decline in serum albumin and Cr/BSA in association with an increase in the proportion of patients with serum albumin < 38 g/L and Cr/BSA < 380 μmol/L/m² in group 3 compared to groups 1 and 2. Weight loss was more significant and was of greater magnitude among patients in group 3 compared to groups 1 and 2. Normalized protein catabolic rate in 3 groups were comparable. There was no significant difference in any of the nutritional parameters between groups 1 and 2. In conclusion, patients receiving maintenance hemodialysis with severe hyperparathyroidism showed deterioration of nutritional status compared to patients with moderate hyperparathyroidism and patients with PTH level in the recommended range. These findings support the role of extreme PTH level in protein-energy wasting emphasizing the importance of early management of hyperparathyroidism.

Optimal targets of chronic kidney disease-mineral and bone disorder markers for Chinese patients with maintenance peritoneal dialysis: a single-center retrospective cohort study

Background

The chronic kidney disease-mineral and bone disorder（CKD-MBD) is known to be associated with increased mortality in dialysis patients, but whether current global guidelines for CKD-MBD, which were primarily developed from hemodialysis, are suitable for peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients practice require further investigation.

Methods

This is a single-center retrospective cohort study. In total 491 prevalent PD patients (median follow-ups: 34 months) from Peking Union Medical College Hospital (PUMCH) from January 2004 to December 2017 were included and followed until 30 June 2018. In the first dialysis year, the average levels of serum calcium, albumin-corrected calcium (CorCa), phosphorus, and parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels were the interested predictors in Cox proportional regression model.

Results

Of these PD patients (age 58 ± 17 years), 52% were male and 36% had diabetic nephropathy. In Cox regression over first-year mean parameters, PTH <100 pg/mL (HR = 1.97, 95% CI 1.32 to 2.94, p < 0.001) and ≥300 pg/mL (HR = 2.24, 95% CI 1.32 to 3.81, p = 0.003) were associated with increased all-cause mortality than that of PTH 100–200 pg/mL. Patients with albumin-corrected serum calcium level < 2.13 mmol/L also had higher risk of death than patients with level of 2.13 to 2.38 mmol/L (HR = 2.06, 95% CI 1.06 to 4.01, p = 0.02). Serum phosphorus ≥1.45 mmol/L were associated with increased all-cause mortality. However, lacking of data on 25-hydroxy vitamin D, alkaline phosphatase, and activated vitamin-D are limitations of our analysis.

Conclusions

As one of the largest PD cohort study focusing on CKD-MBD, we demonstrated that the level of CKD-MBD markers in the first PD year are independent predictors of all-cause mortality. PTH 100–300 pg/mL might be the best target for Chinese PD patients.

Effect of clinical factors on trajectory of functional performance in patients undergoing hemodialysis

Purpose

This study aimed to investigate the association between clinical factors and temporary changes in functional performance in patients undergoing hemodialysis.

Methods

This was a retrospective, longitudinal observational study conducted from 2015 to 2017. Eight-two patients undergoing hemodialysis in the outpatient clinic were enrolled. Functional performance was measured using the Karnofsky Performance Status (KPS) scale. Collected data for analysis included demographics, laboratory parameters, and KPS scale scores. All participants were grouped into a high KPS cluster and a low KPS cluster based on dynamic changes in KPS scales from 2015 to 2017.

Results

Participants in the high KPS cluster demonstrated an approximate trend, and those in the low KPS cluster demonstrated a low pattern. By stepwise selection model analysis, age (OR 1.12, 95% CI 1.03–1.23, p = 0.011), serum BUN (OR 1.08, 95% CI 1.02–1.16, p = 0.015), calcium levels (OR 3.24, 95% CI 1.2–8.73, p = 0.02), and beta-2-microglobulin (OR > 1.0, CI >1.00-<1.01, p = 0.031) showed risk for the low KPS cluster. Male sex (OR 0.20, 95% CI 0.04–0.96, p = 0.045) and albumin level (OR 0.02, 95% CI 0–0.4, p = 0.009) showed a low risk for the low KPS cluster.

Conclusions

A different trajectory pattern was observed between the high and low KPS clusters in a 3-year period. Risk factors for the low KPS cluster were age, serum BUN, calcium, and beta-2-microglobulin levels. Male sex and serum albumin levels reduced the risk for the low KPS cluster.

Detecting high-risk chronic kidney disease-mineral bone disorder phenotypes among patients on dialysis: a historical cohort study

BACKGROUND

The clinical management of chronic kidney disease-mineral bone disorder (CKD-MBD) remains extremely challenging, partially due to difficulties in defining high-risk phenotypes based on serum biomarkers. We evaluated the prevalence and outcomes of 27 mutually exclusive CKD-MBD phenotypes in a large, multi-national cohort of chronic dialysis patients over a 5-year follow-up study.

METHODS

In this historical cohort study, we enrolled all haemodialysis patients registered in EuCliD® on 1 July 2011 across 28 Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) and South American countries. We created 27 mutually exclusive phenotypes based on combinations of serum parathyroid hormone (PTH), phosphorus (P) and calcium (Ca) 6-month averages (L, low; T, target; H, high). We tested the association between CKD-MBD phenotypes and 5-year mortality and hospitalization risk by outcome risk score-adjusted proportional hazard regression.

RESULTS

We enrolled 35 721 eligible patients. Eastern European and South American countries generally achieved poorer CKD-MBD control when compared with Western European countries (prevalence ratio: 0.79; P < 0.001). There were 15 795 deaths [126.7 deaths/1000 person-years; 95% confidence interval (CI) 124.7-128.7]; 18 014 had at least one hospitalization (203.9 hospitalizations/1000 person-years; 95% CI 201.0-206.9); the incidence of the composite endpoint was 280.0 events/1000 person-years (95% CI 276.6-283.5). In the fully adjusted model, relative mortality risk ranged from hazard ratio (HR) = 1.07 (PTH/Ca/P: TLT) to HR = 1.59 (PTH/Ca/P: LTL), whereas the relative composite endpoint risk ranged from HR = 1.07 (PTH/Ca/P: TTH) to HR = 1.36 (PTH/Ca/P: LTL).

CONCLUSION

We identified several CKD-MBD phenotypes associated with reduced hospitalization-free survival and increased mortality. Ranking of relative risk estimates or excess events concurs in informing healthcare priority setting.