Annual Dialysis Data Report 2015, JSDT Renal Data Registry

Serum calciprotein particle-to-phosphate ratio as a predictor of cardiovascular events in incident hemodialysis patients

INTRODUCTION

Recent studies have identified increased blood calciprotein particle (CPP) levels as risk factors for vascular calcification and cardiovascular events in patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis. Although positively correlated with serum phosphate levels, serum CPP levels vary considerably among patients with similar serum phosphate levels. We investigated the capacity of the ratio of serum CPP levels to serum phosphate levels (CPP/Pi ratio) to predict cardiovascular events in incident hemodialysis patients compared to the serum calcification propensity test (T50).

METHODS AND RESULTS

The association between the CPP/Pi ratio and major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events (MACCE) was investigated in 174 incident hemodialysis patients. Multivariate analysis revealed that the CPP/Pi ratio was independently associated with MACCE [hazard ratio 1.60, 95% confidence interval (1.15-2.23), p = 0.006] but serum T50 levels were not.

CONCLUSIONS

The CPP/Pi ratio is a useful, novel biomarker for predicting the risk of cardiovascular events in patients undergoing incident hemodialysis.

Perspectives on the optimal timing of advance care planning among Japanese patients undergoing dialysis and clinicians: a cross-sectional study

KEY MESSAGES

The majority of dialysis patients and clinicians favor early advance care planning in our sample. Yet, there is a disconnect: only 11% of patients discussed future care with their clinicians. Our findings indicate Japanese dialysis patients and clinicians support proactive advance care planning at or before dialysis initiation.

BACKGROUND

Little is known about the optimal timing of discussions about advance care planning among dialysis patients and clinicians engaged in dialysis care. We aimed to explore the preferred timing for advance care planning and assess actual participation in advance care planning among dialysis patients and their clinicians.

METHODS

A scenario-based survey on Japanese patients aged ≥65 years on dialysis and clinicians involved in their dialysis care was performed. Participants were asked if they would feel prepared to engage in advance care planning with their clinicians, offering a choice among four hypothetical stages within the illness trajectory, extending from the initiation of dialysis to a later phase characterized by the patient's extreme frailty.

RESULTS

Overall, 181 patients and 128 clinicians participated in the study. Among these, 131 (72%) patients, and 84 (66%) clinicians indicated that they would prefer to initiate advance care planning around the time of dialysis initiation. Only 20 patients (11%) indicated that they had participated in advance care planning with at least one clinician, including 11 (6%) who indicated that they had discussed their preferences around life-sustaining treatments and 8 (4%) who had discussed their preferences around dialysis continuation.

CONCLUSIONS

While fewer than 11% of patients undergoing dialysis and their clinicians enrolled in our study had participated in advance care planning, most indicated that they would be comfortable initiating the discussion around the time of dialysis initiation. These findings suggest untapped opportunities to engage patients in advance care planning early in the course of their dialysis.

Efficacy of sucrose and povidone-iodine mixtures in peritoneal dialysis catheter exit-site care

BACKGROUND

Exit-site infection (ESI) is a common recurring complication in patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis (PD). Sucrose and povidone-iodine (SPI) mixtures, antimicrobial ointments that promote wound healing, have been used for the treatment of ulcers and burns, but their efficacy in exit-site care is still unclear.

METHODS

This single-center retrospective observational study included patients who underwent PD between May 2010 and June 2022 and presented with episodes of ESI. Patients were divided into SPI and non-SPI groups and followed up from initial ESI onset until PD cessation, death, transfer to another facility, or June 2023.

RESULTS

Among the 82 patients (mean age 62, [54-72] years), 23 were treated with SPI. The median follow-up duration was 39 months (range, 14-64), with an overall ESI incidence of 0.70 episodes per patient-year. Additionally, 43.1% of second and 25.6% of third ESI were caused by the same pathogen as the first. The log-rank test demonstrated significantly better second and third ESI-free survival in the SPI group than that in the non-SPI group (p < 0.01 and p < 0.01, respectively). In a Cox regression analysis, adjusting for potential confounders, SPI use was a significant predictor of decreased second and third ESI episodes (hazard ratio [HR], 0.22; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.10-0.52 and HR, 0.22; 95%CI, 0.07-0.73, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

Our results showed that the use of SPI may be a promising option for preventing the incidence of ESI in patients with PD.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

This study was approved by the Keio University School of Medicine Ethics Committee (approval number 20231078) on August 28, 2023. Retrospectively registered.

Serum Vitamin B12 Deficiency in Chronic Hemodialysis Patients

Introduction Essential vitamins like folate and vitamin B12 are crucial for many physiological functions. Patients with renal failure undergoing regular hemodialysis in the general population may experience harmful effects from vitamin B12 deficits. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the frequency of vitamin B12 deficiency in hemodialysis patients and its association with other clinical parameters. Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted at the dialysis unit of Patel Hospital and Lifeline Hospital, Karachi, using a non-probability consecutive sampling technique after obtaining ethical approval from Lifeline Hospital (LLH/HR/02-22). The study duration was six months, from January 10, 2023, to July 22, 2023. A total of 135 adult renal failure patients with ages >18 and <70 years on maintenance hemodialysis for >1 year were included in the study. The chi-square test was used to determine the association between vitamin B12 deficiency and age and gender. A p-value of 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results The study findings showed that out of 135 patients, 82 (60.7%) were males and 53 (39.3%) were females, with a mean age of 50.80 ± 10.03 years. The duration of hemodialysis was approximately 1-2 years in 98 (72.6%) patients, 2-3 years in 27 (20.0%) patients, and 3-4 years in only 9 (6.7%) patients. The mean serum vitamin B-12 levels were 411.61 ± 224.95 pg/ml, with 30 (22.2%) of the subjects being deficient. In terms of duration of hemodialysis, there was a significant association (p= 0.013). Between patients with normal 4 (4%) and deficient 5 (17%) vitamin B12 and 3-4 years of hemodialysis. Conclusion In this study, we found that a significant proportion of patients on chronic hemodialysis had vitamin B12 deficiency. Moreover, vitamin B12 deficiency was significantly associated with duration of hemodialysis. Therefore, we recommend periodic vitamin B12 testing in hemodialysis patients to avoid any associated complications.

Long-term outcomes of spine surgery in dialysis patients, focusing on activities of daily living, life expectancy, and the risk factors for postoperative mortality

BACKGROUND

Because of the high incidence of major perioperative adverse events, spine surgery in dialysis patients should be recommended carefully after consideration of its risks and benefits. However, the benefits of spine surgery in dialysis patients remain unclear because of the lack of long-term outcomes. The purpose of this study is to elucidate the long-term outcomes of spine surgery in dialysis patients, focusing on activities of daily living (ADLs), life expectancy, and risk factors for postoperative mortality.

METHODS

Data for 65 dialysis patients who underwent spine surgery at our institution and were followed up for a mean duration of 6.2 years were retrospectively reviewed. ADLs, number of surgeries, and survival times were recorded. The postoperative survival rate was calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method, and risk factors for postoperative mortality were investigated using a generalized Wilcoxon test and multivariate Cox proportional-hazards model.

RESULTS

Compared with preoperative ADLs, ADLs significantly improved at discharge after surgery and at the final follow-up. However, 16 of the 65 patients (24.6%) underwent multiple surgeries, and 34 (52.3%) died during the follow-up period. Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed that the survival rate after spine surgery was 95.4% at 1 year, 86.2% at 3 years, 69.6% at 5 years, 59.7% at 7 years, and 28.7% at 10 years, and the overall median survival time was 99 months. Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that a dialysis period of ≥10 years was a significant risk factor.

CONCLUSIONS

Spine surgery in dialysis patients improved and maintained ADLs in the long term and did not shorten life expectancy. However, dialysis patients undergoing spine surgery require multiple surgeries more frequently, and a dialysis period of ≥10 years is a significant risk factor for postoperative mortality.

Prefecture-specific prevalence of overweight/obesity is associated with regional variation in the incidence of treated ESKD in Japan

BACKGROUND

Overweight/obesity is a significant risk factor for chronic kidney disease and end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) in the general population. This study evaluated the impact of sex- and prefecture-specific prevalence of overweight/obesity on standardized incidence rates (SIRs) of treated ESKD in Japan.

METHODS

We conducted an ecological study of all prefectures in Japan (n = 47) using data from the Japanese Society of Dialysis Therapy, national census, the NDB Open Data, and the Statistics of Physicians, Dentists and Pharmacists. We calculated the prevalence of overweight/obesity and proteinuria, standardized mortality ratio, and ratio of nephrology specialists for each prefecture, and explored associations of these variables with sex- and prefecture-specific SIRs of treated ESKD using bivariate association analysis, multiple regression analysis, and structural equation modeling (SEM).

RESULTS

Prefecture-specific SIRs ranged from 0.72 to 1.24 for men and 0.69-1.41 for women. Prefecture-specific SIRs were significantly correlated with both the prevalence of overweight/obesity and prevalence of proteinuria. The prevalence of overweight/obesity showed direct, positive, and significant associations with prefecture-specific SIRs in men (standardized estimate (β) = 0.43, p < 0.001) and women (β = 0.40, p < 0.001). The prevalence of proteinuria showed a significant association with prefecture-specific SIRs only in women (β = 0.33, p = 0.01). The SEM models explained 26% of the variance in SIR for men and 28% for women.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings provide evidence that the prefecture-specific prevalence of overweight/obesity in Japan can explain regional variation in prefecture-specific SIRs of treated ESKD in both sexes.

Serum alkaline phosphatase and infection-related mortality in hemodialysis patients: ten-year outcomes of the Q-cohort study

BACKGROUND

High serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP) levels are associated with excess all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in patients undergoing hemodialysis (HD). However, the long-term relationship between serum ALP levels and infection-related mortality remains unclear.

METHODS

A total of 3502 maintenance HD patients were registered in the Q-Cohort Study, an observational cohort study in Japan. The primary outcome was infection-related mortality during a 10-year follow-up period. The covariate of interest was serum ALP levels at baseline. The association between serum ALP levels and infection-related mortality was calculated using a Cox proportional hazards model and a Fine-Gray subdistribution hazards model with non-infection-related death as a competing risk.

RESULTS

During the follow-up period, 446 patients died of infection. According to their baseline serum ALP levels, the patients were categorized into sex-specific quartiles (Q1-Q4). Compared with patients in the lowest serum ALP quartile (Q1), those in the highest quartile (Q4) had a significantly higher multivariable-adjusted hazard ratio (HR) of 1.70 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.24-2.32] for infection-related mortality. Furthermore, the HR for every 50 U/L increase in serum ALP levels was 1.24 (95% CI 1.12-1.36) for infection-related mortality. These associations remained consistent in the competing risk model: subdistribution HR, 1.47; 95% CI 1.07-2.03 for Q4 compared with Q1.

CONCLUSION

Higher serum ALP levels were significantly associated with a higher risk of infection-related mortality in patients undergoing HD.

Changes in practice patterns in Japan from before to after JSDT 2013 guidelines on hemodialysis prescriptions: results from the JDOPPS

BACKGROUND

The Japanese Society for Dialysis Therapy (JSDT) published in 2013 inaugural hemodialysis (HD) guidelines. Specific targets include 1.4 for single-pool Kt/V (spKt/V) with a minimum dose of 1.2, minimum dialysis session length of 4 hours, minimum blood flow rate (BFR) of 200 mL/min, fluid removal rate no more than 15 mL/kg/hr, and hemodiafiltration (HDF) therapy for certain identified symptoms. We evaluated the effect of these guidelines on actual practice in the years spanning 2005 - 2018.

METHODS

Analyses were carried out to describe trends in the above HD prescription practices from December 2005 to April 2013 (before guideline publication) to August 2018 based on prevalent patient cross-sections from approximately 60 randomly selected HD facilities participating in the Japan Dialysis Outcomes and Practice Patterns Study.

RESULTS

From April 2006 to August 2017 continual rises occurred in mean spKt/V (from 1.35 to 1.49), and percent of patients having spKt/V>1.2 (71% to 85%). Mean BFR increased with time from 198.3 mL/min (April 2006) to 218.4 mL/min (August 2017) , along with percent of patients with BFR >200 ml/min (65% to 85%). HDF use increased slightly from 6% (April 2006 and August 2009) to 8% by April 2013, but increased greatly thereafter to 23% by August 2017. In contrast, mean HD treatment time showed little change from 2006-2017, whereas mean UFR declined from 11.3 in 2006 to 8.4 mL/Kg/hour in 2017.

CONCLUSIONS

From 2006 - 2018 Japanese HD patients experienced marked improvement in reaching the spKt/V target specified by the 2013 JSDT guidelines. This may have been due to moderate increase in mean BFR even though mean HD session length did not change much. In addition, HDF use increased dramatically in this time period. Other HD delivery changes during this time, such as increased use of super high flux dialyzers, also merit study. While we cannot definitively conclude a causal relationship between the publication of the guidelines and the subsequent practice changes in Japan, those changes moved practice closer to the recommendations of the guidelines.

Preoperative renal dysfunction and long-term survival after surgery for non-small cell lung cancer

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the association of preoperative renal dysfunction and long-term outcomes following lung cancer surgery.

METHODS

Using the Japanese Lung Cancer Registry data, we retrospectively examined 16,377 patients who underwent surgery for non-small cell lung cancer during 2010. Patients' renal function status was categorized as follows: serum creatinine <1.5 mg/dL (control, n = 16,169), serum creatinine ≥1.5 mg/dL with no dialysis (nondialysis-dependent chronic kidney disease, n = 113), and dialysis-dependent end-stage renal disease (n = 95). The association of patients' characteristics with overall survival was evaluated using multivariate Cox proportional hazard model.

RESULTS

The 5-year overall survival rates in patients with dialysis-dependent end-stage renal disease and with nondialysis-dependent chronic kidney disease were significantly worse than that in the control group (52.9% and 57.5% vs 78.0%; P < .001 for both comparisons), but were comparable to the reported 5-year overall survival rates in the natural history of end-stage renal disease (∼60%) and moderate to severe chronic kidney disease (∼50%). Cancer causes not related to lung cancer accounted for 62.2% of deaths in dialysis-dependent end-stage renal disease, which was more frequent than that in the control group (P = .002). Dialysis-dependent end-stage renal disease and nondialysis-dependent chronic kidney disease were independent risk factors for overall survival after lung cancer surgery (hazard ratio, 2.05 [P < .001] and hazard ratio, 2.04 [P = .001], respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

Preoperative renal dysfunction may be adversely associated with overall survival after lung cancer surgery. Our findings could aid patients to set proper expectation of the risks and benefits about surgery for lung cancer.

Predictors of in-hospital mortality in patients with infective endocarditis

BACKGROUND

Infective endocarditis is a serious septic disease, and the epidemiological profile has changed over the last decade. However, there is a paucity of data regarding the current outcome and predictor of in-hospital mortality in patients with infective endocarditis.

METHODS

Consecutive patients diagnosed as infective endocarditis based on the modified Duke criteria at Kansai Medical University hospital from January 2006 to June 2019 were prospectively included. The primary outcome was in-hospital mortality. Cox proportional hazards modelling was used to assess risk factors of in-hospital mortality.

RESULTS

Of 137 consecutive patients with infective endocarditis (age 60 ± 17 years-old, 62% men, 65% underlying cardiac disease, 11% chronic haemodialysis), 18 (13%) died during hospitalisation. Age and sex were not associated with in-hospital mortality. Patients on chronic haemodialysis exhibited significantly higher in-hospital mortality rate than those without (47 vs. 9%). After adjusting for comorbidities in a multivariate Cox proportional hazards model, chronic haemodialysis was a significant predictor of in-hospital mortality [hazard ratio (HR) 4.22, 95% confidential interval (CI): 1.49-12.0, p < 0.01], independently of C-reactive protein (per 1 mg/dl; HR 1.07, 95%CI: 1.02-1.12, p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Infective endocarditis in patients on chronic haemodialysis is a serious life-threatening condition that requires early diagnosis and an effective therapeutic approach.

Effect of Treating Hyperphosphatemia With Lanthanum Carbonate vs Calcium Carbonate on Cardiovascular Events in Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease Undergoing Hemodialysis: The LANDMARK Randomized Clinical Trial

Importance

Among patients with hyperphosphatemia undergoing dialysis, it is unclear whether non-calcium-based phosphate binders are more effective than calcium-based binders for reducing cardiovascular events.

Objective

To determine whether lanthanum carbonate reduces cardiovascular events compared with calcium carbonate in patients with hyperphosphatemia at risk of vascular calcification undergoing hemodialysis.

Design, Setting, and Participants

Open-label, randomized, parallel-group clinical trial with blinded end point adjudication performed in 2374 patients with chronic kidney disease from 273 hemodialysis facilities in Japan. Eligible patients had hyperphosphatemia and 1 or more risk factors for vascular calcification (ie, ≥65 years, postmenopausal, diabetes). Enrollment occurred from November 2011 to July 2014; follow-up ended June 2018.

Interventions

Patients were randomized to receive either lanthanum carbonate (n = 1154) or calcium carbonate (n = 1155) and titrated to achieve serum phosphate levels of between 3.5 mg/dL and 6.0 mg/dL.

Main Outcomes and Measures

The primary outcome was a composite cardiovascular event (cardiovascular death, nonfatal myocardial infarction or stroke, unstable angina, transient ischemic attack, or hospitalization for heart failure or ventricular arrhythmia). Secondary outcomes included overall survival, secondary hyperparathyroidism-free survival, hip fracture-free survival, and adverse events.

Results

Among 2309 randomized patients (median age, 69 years; 40.5% women), 1851 (80.2%) completed the trial. After a median follow-up of 3.16 years, cardiovascular events occurred in 147 of 1063 patients in the lanthanum calcium group and 134 of 1072 patients in the calcium carbonate group (incidence rate, 4.80 vs 4.30 per 100 person-years; difference 0.50 per 100 person-years [95% CI, -0.57 to 1.56]; hazard ratio [HR], 1.11 [95%, CI, 0.88 to 1.41], P = .37). There were no significant differences in all-cause death (difference, 0.43 per 100 person-years [95% CI, -0.63 to 1.49]; HR, 1.10 [95% CI, 0.88 to 1.37]; P = .42) or hip fracture (difference, 0.10 per 100 person-years [95% CI, -0.26 to 0.47]; HR, 1.21 [95% CI, 0.62 to 2.35]; P = .58). The lanthanum carbonate group had an increased risk of cardiovascular death (difference, 0.61 per 100 person-years [95% CI, 0.02 to 1.21]; HR, 1.51 [95% CI, 1.01 to 2.27]; P = .045) and secondary hyperparathyroidism (difference, 1.34 [95% CI, 0.49 to 2.19]; HR, 1.62 [95% CI, 1.19 to 2.20]; P = .002). Adverse events occurred in 282 (25.7%) in the lanthanum carbonate group and 259 (23.4%) in the calcium carbonate groups.

Conclusions and Relevance

Among patients undergoing hemodialysis with hyperphosphatemia and at least 1 vascular calcification risk factor, treatment of hyperphosphatemia with lanthanum carbonate compared with calcium carbonate did not result in a significant difference in composite cardiovascular events. However, the event rate was low, and the findings may not apply to patients at higher risk.

Trial Registration

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01578200; UMIN Clinical Trial Registry Identifier: UMIN000006815.

Methods and Nutritional Interventions to Improve the Nutritional Status of Dialysis Patients in JAPAN-A Narrative Review

Patients receiving dialysis therapy often have frailty, protein energy wasting, and sarcopenia. However, medical staff in Japan, except for registered dietitians, do not receive training in nutritional management at school or on the job. Moreover, registered dietitians work separately from patients and medical staff even inside a hospital, and there are many medical institutions that do not have registered dietitians. In such institutions, medical staff are required to manage patients' nutritional disorders without assistance from a specialist. Recent studies have shown that salt intake should not be restricted under conditions of low nutrition in frail subjects or those undergoing dialysis, and protein consumption should be targeted at 0.9 to 1.2 g/kg/day. The Japanese Society of Dialysis Therapy suggests that the Nutritional Risk Index-Japanese Hemodialysis (NRI-JH) is a useful tool to screen for older patients with malnutrition.

Calculation of expected remaining lifetime of dialysis patients in Japan

Background

The expected remaining lifetime of dialysis patients in Japan was only reported in 2003 and has not been reported thereafter. From 2003 to the present, several new therapeutic agents have been introduced. These events may have improved outcomes for dialysis patients. Thus, expected remaining lifetime of dialysis patients in Japan was newly calculated in 2015.

Methods

The Japanese Society for Dialysis Therapy Renal Data Registry database was used for analyses. From this database, the following three indexes were compiled: the number of surviving dialysis patients (198,125 males and 111,962 females) at the end of 2014 and the number of surviving (179,649 males and 101,758 females) and dead (18,044 males and 111,417 females) patients at the end of 2015. Based on these values, expected remaining lifetime at 1-year increment was calculated using the life table method.

Results

Excerpts of the calculated expected remaining lifetimes of patients aged 60 years were as follows: 11.9 years for males and 14.1 years for females. These expected remaining lifetimes were 1.1 to 1.2 times as compared with those in 2003. Meanwhile, expected remaining lifetime of diabetic patients was 10.8 years for males and 12.5 years for females and that of nondiabetic patients was 13.0 years for males and 15.0 years for females.

Conclusion

Expected remaining lifetime of dialysis patients in Japan in 2015 was 10–20% longer than that in 2003. These results suggest that advances in dialysis technologies during this 12-year period improved the survival rate of dialysis patients.

Eighteen-year follow-up cohort study on hepatitis B and C virus infections related long-term prognosis among hemodialysis patients in Hiroshima

This study aimed to investigate the prevalence trend of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections and their genotype distribution among hemodialysis patients, determining their long-term prognosis and the risk factors to the mortality. This cohort study used both the medical data and the blood samples of hemodialysis patients at nine dialysis centers in Hiroshima from 1999 to 2017. Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) and anti-HCV were screened and then amplification was done to positive sera by polymerase chain reaction for genotyping. Data were employed for multiple regressions to determine the associated risk factors. A total of 3968 patients were subdivided into three groups: who started hemodialysis before 1990, during 1991 to 2001, and after 2002. The periodic prevalence of HBsAg decreased from 2.8% to 1.3% and that of anti-HCV from 33.3% to 9.5% in the three groups. By multiple regressions, the adjusted hazard ratio of diabetes mellitus (DM) ranges from 1.59 to 2.12 and that of HCV RNA positivity ranges from 1.18 to 1.48 (P < .05). Heart failure is the primary cause of death in all groups. Genotype C2 is predominant for HBV and genotype 1b is predominant for HCV. The decreasing trend of both HBV and HCV was found in the cohort. DM and HCV RNA were the significant risk factors leading to poor prognosis among hemodialysis patients. The similar genotype distribution of both HBV and HCV was found as general population. This alarmed to provide early diagnosis, prompt, and adequate treatment to HCV infection among hemodialysis patients.

Glycated albumin and hemoglobin A1c levels and cause-specific mortality by patients' conditions among hemodialysis patients with diabetes: a 3-year nationwide cohort study

INTRODUCTION

Differences in mortality and cause-specific mortality rates according to glycated albumin (GA) and hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels among dialysis patients with diabetes based on hypoglycemic agent use and malnutrition status remain unclear. Here, we examine these associations using a nationwide cohort.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

We examined 40 417 dialysis patients with diabetes who met our inclusion criteria (female, 30.8%; mean age, 67.3±11.2 years; mean dialysis duration, 5.4±4.6 years). The Global Leadership Initiative on Malnutrition criteria were used to assess malnutrition. Adjusted HRs and 95% confidence limits were calculated for 3-year mortality after adjustment for 18 potential confounders. HRs and subdistribution HRs were used to explore cause-specific mortality.

RESULTS

We found a linear association between 3-year mortality and GA levels only in patients with GA ≥18% and not in patients with low GA levels, with a U-shaped association between HbA1c levels and the lowest morality at an HbA1c 6.0%-6.3%. This association differed based on patient conditions and hypoglycemic agent use. If patients using hypoglycemic agents were malnourished, mortality was increased with GA ≥24% and HbA1c ≥8%. In addition, patients with GA ≥22% and HbA1c ≥7.6% had significantly higher infectious or cardiovascular mortality rates. On the other hand, an inverse association was found between GA or HbA1c levels and cancer mortality. Patients with GA ≤15.8% had a higher risk of cancer mortality, especially those not using hypoglycemic agents (HR 1.63 (1.00-2.66)).

CONCLUSIONS

Target GA and HbA1c levels in dialysis patients may differ according to hypoglycemic agent use, nutritional status, and the presence of cancer. The levels may be higher in malnourished patients than in other patients, and a very low GA level in dialysis patients not taking hypoglycemic agents may be associated with a risk of cancer.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

UMIN000018641.

Long-term excess mortality after hip fracture in hemodialysis patients: a nationwide cohort study in Japan

INTRODUCTION

Fracture dialysis patients have a higher risk of 1-year mortality compared with non-fracture dialysis patients. However, it is unclear whether excess mortality persists for more than a year.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We conducted a nationwide cohort study in 162,360 hemodialysis patients in Japan. Study outcomes were 5-year all-cause mortality and cause-specific mortality. Cox proportional hazards regression was used to examine the association between hip fracture and mortality in two cohorts: the full cohort, which included potential confounders as covariates in multivariable-adjusted regression models, and the propensity score-matched cohort.

RESULTS

Crude mortality rates for fracture patients were double those of non-fracture patients and persisted during the 5-year period. The association between hip fracture and mortality was significant even after adjusting for premorbid conditions (hazard ratio (HR) 1.22, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.13-1.32). Similar findings were observed in the propensity score-matched cohort of 2410 patients (HR 1.20, 95% CI 1.05-1.36). While cause-specific mortality rates for all categories, with the exception of sudden deaths, were higher for fracture patients relative to non-fracture patients in the full unmatched cohort, only the mortality rate for heart disease was significantly higher for fracture patients relative to non-fracture patients in the propensity score-matched cohort.

CONCLUSION

Excess mortality persisted for many years after hip fracture in hemodialysis patients, and was still present after adjusting for several premorbid conditions and propensity score matching.

Impact of old age on the association between in-center extended-hours hemodialysis and mortality in patients on incident hemodialysis

With the global problem of aging, it has become more difficult to improve the prognosis of older dialysis patients. Extended-hours hemodialysis offers longer treatment time compared to conventional hemodialysis regimen and provides favorable metabolic status, hemodynamic stability, and increased dietary intake. Despite prior studies reporting that in-center extended-hours hemodialysis can reduce the mortality rate, the treatment impact on elderly patients remains unclear. Therefore, we examined the association between extended-hours hemodialysis compared to conventional hemodialysis and all-cause mortality. Survival analyses using Cox proportional hazard model with multivariable adjustments and propensity-score based method were performed to compare mortality risk between 198 consecutive patients who started in-center extended-hours hemodialysis (Extended-HD) and 1407 consecutive patients who initiated conventional hemodialysis. The median age was 67.1 years in the Extended-HD group and 70.7 years in the conventional hemodialysis group. Extended-HD was associated with lower all-cause mortality in overall patients and the subgroup >70 years (adjusted hazard ratios of 0.60 [95% CI, 0.39–0.91] and 0.35 [95% CI, 0.18–0.69], respectively). There was a significant interaction between age >70 years and Extended-HD. In conclusion, extended-hours hemodialysis was associated with a lower mortality rate, especially in elderly patients.

Synergistic reduction in albuminuria in type 2 diabetic mice by esaxerenone (CS-3150), a novel nonsteroidal selective mineralocorticoid receptor blocker, combined with an angiotensin II receptor blocker

Esaxerenone is a novel selective mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) blocker that was recently approved in Japan to treat hypertension. In phase II and III studies, esaxerenone plus a renin–angiotensin system inhibitor markedly reduced the urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio (UACR) in hypertensive patients with diabetic nephropathy. To evaluate a direct renoprotective effect by MR blockade independent of an antihypertensive effect in the context of diabetic nephropathy, esaxerenone (3 mg/kg), olmesartan (an angiotensin II receptor blocker; 1 mg/kg), or both were orally administered to KK-Ay mice, a type 2 diabetes model, once daily for 56 days. Urinary albumin (Ualb), UACR, and markers, such as podocalyxin, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), and 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), were measured, along with systolic blood pressure (SBP), fasting blood glucose, and serum K⁺ levels. Prior to the initiation of drug administration, KK-Ay mice showed higher blood glucose, insulin, Ualb excretion, and UACR levels than C57BL/6 J mice, a nondiabetic control, indicating the development of diabetic renal injury. Combined treatment with esaxerenone and olmesartan significantly reduced the change in UACR from baseline compared with the change associated with vehicle at week 8 (−1.750 vs. 0.339 g/gCre; P < 0.002) and significantly inhibited the change in Ualb from baseline compared with the change associated with vehicle at week 8 (P < 0.002). The combination treatment also reduced urinary excretion of podocalyxin and MCP-1, but did not influence 8-OHdG excretion, SBP, blood glucose, or serum K⁺ levels. Overall, esaxerenone plus olmesartan treatment ameliorated diabetic nephropathy in KK-Ay mice without affecting SBP, suggesting that the renoprotective effects of esaxerenone could be exerted independently of its antihypertensive effect.

Multilevel analysis of hemodialysis-associated infection among end-stage renal disease patients: results of a retrospective cohort study utilizing the insurance claim data of Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan

The presence of comorbid conditions along with heterogeneity in terms of healthcare practices and service delivery could have a significant impact on the patient's outcomes. With a strong interest in social epidemiology to examine the impact of health services and variations on health outcomes, the current study was conducted to analyse the incidence of hemodialysis-associated infection (HAI) as well as its associated factors, and to quantify the extent to which the contextual effects of the care facility and regional variations influence the risk of HAI.A total of 6111 patients with end-stage renal disease who received hemodialysis treatment between 1 October 2015 and 31 March 2016 were identified from the insurance claim database as a population-based, close-cohort retrospective study. Patients were followed for one year from April 1, 2016 to March 31, 2017. A total of 200 HAI cases were observed during the follow-up and 12 patients died within 90 days of the onset of HAI. Increased risks for HAI were associated with moderate (HR 1.73, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.00-2.98) and severe (HR 1.87, 95% CI 1.11-3.14) comorbid conditions as well as malignancy (HR 1.36, 95% CI 1.00-1.85). Increased risk was also seen among patients who received hemodialysis treatment from clinics (HR 2.49, 95% CI 1.1-5.33). However, these statistics were no longer significant when variations at the level of care facilities were statistically controlled. In univariate analyses, no statistically significant association was observed between 90-day mortality and baseline patients, and the characteristics of the care facility.The results of the multivariate, multilevel analyses indicated that HAI variations were only significant at the care facility level (σ 2.07, 95% CI 1.3-3.2) and were largely explained by the heterogeneity between care facilities. The results of this study highlight the need to look beyond the influence of patient-level characteristics when developing policies that aim at improving the quality of hemodialysis healthcare and service delivery in Japan.

The Association between Earlobe Creases and Cardiovascular Events in Japanese Hemodialysis Patients: A Prospective Cohort Study

Objective The earlobe crease, a wrinkle extending from the tragus to the outer border of the earlobe, is a well-known surrogate marker for a high risk of cardiovascular disease. However, information is lacking about its association with cardiovascular events among hemodialysis patients, who already have an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. We tested the hypothesis that earlobe creases are independently associated with the risk of cardiovascular events among Japanese hemodialysis patients. Methods This prospective cohort study followed 247 adult hemodialysis patients with no history of cardiovascular disease for 4 years. The presence of earlobe creases was defined by two researchers using photos of patients' earlobes on both sides while blinded to one another's assessments and clinical data. The primary outcome was defined as the first fatal or nonfatal cardiovascular event (myocardial infarction, ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke, or peripheral vascular disease requiring aortic or peripheral vascular bypass surgery or below- or above-the-knee amputation). A Fine-Gray competing risks regression model was used to examine the association between earlobe creases and cardiovascular events. Results During the 4-year follow-up period, 43 patients suffered cardiovascular events. After the competing risk of non-cardiovascular death was accounted for, patients with earlobe creases had an increased cumulative incidence of cardiovascular events compared to those without earlobe creases (subhazard ratio =2.04, 95% confidence interval: 1.09 to 3.82). This association was no longer significant after adjusting for age. Conclusion Earlobe creases were not independently associated with cardiovascular events among Japanese hemodialysis patients, suggesting that these marks are simply indicative of advanced age.

Topical application of mupirocin to exit sites in patients on peritoneal dialysis: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

Background

The International Society for Peritoneal Dialysis guidelines recommends the topical application of antibiotics on the exit site for the prevention of peritoneal dialysis (PD)-related infections. However, the recommendation is based on meta-analyses on applying nasal mupirocin ointment or observational or retrospective studies. Here, we evaluated the efficacy of topical application of mupirocin on the exit site for the prevention of PD-related infections.

Methods

We searched the databases, MEDLINE and CENTRAL, documenting the topical application of antibiotics on the exit site in PD patients in April 2017. We included only randomized controlled trials (RCTs) with adult patients wherein the effects of mupirocin were examined. Exit site infection (ESI), peritonitis, and technical failure were assessed as the main outcomes.

Results

Overall, six RCTs were included in this study. It was uncertain whether the application of mupirocin ointment prevents ESI (rate ratio (RR), 0.36; 95% CI, 0.13–1.05), peritonitis (RR 0.78, 95% CI 0.50–1.21), and technical failure (RR, 1.35; 95% CI, 0.25–7.21). Moreover, a comparison between mupirocin and gentamicin showed no difference in the incidence of ESI (RR, 1.14; 95% CI, 0.27–4.81), peritonitis (RR, 0.85; 95% CI, 0.32–2.26), and technical failure (RR, 0.58; 95% CI, 0.28–1.20).

Conclusions

It remains unclear whether topical application of mupirocin on the exit site has any significant effects on PD-related infection or technical failure. Large-scale RCTs with high methodological quality are required to confirm the efficacy of topical application of antibiotics on the exit site.

Trial registration

UMINR000039267

Impact of hip fracture on all-cause mortality in Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: The Fukuoka Diabetes Registry

AIMS/INTRODUCTION

Patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus have an increased hip fracture risk. We investigated the relationship between hip fracture and all-cause death in patients with type 2 diabetes in comparison with cardiovascular disease (CVD) or end-stage renal disease (ERSD).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In total, 4,923 Japanese participants with type 2 diabetes (mean age 65 years, 2,790 men, 2,133 women) were followed for a median of 5.3 years (follow-up rate 99.5%). We evaluated the associations between the presence of hip fracture (n = 110), upper limb fracture (n = 801), CVD (n = 1,344), ESRD (n = 104) and all-cause death by logistic regression analysis.

RESULTS

A total of 309 participants died during follow up. Multivariate-adjusted odds ratios (ORs) for all-cause mortality were significantly higher in participants with hip fractures than those without hip fractures (OR 2.67, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.54-4.41), whereas the ORs for upper limb fracture were not significant. The ORs for all-cause mortality were significantly higher in participants with CVD than those without CVD (OR 1.78, 95% CI, 1.39-2.70) and ESRD (OR 2.36, 95% CI 1.32-4.05). The ORs for all-cause mortality of hip fracture were not affected by further adjustment for CVD and ESRD (OR 2.74, 95% CI 1.58-4.54). The cause of death was infection (40.0%), malignant neoplasm (25.0%) and CVD (15.0%) among participants with hip fracture.

CONCLUSIONS

Hip fractures were associated with an increased risk of death among Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes, independently of CVD and ESRD.

Association between Oral Health Status and Diabetic Nephropathy-Related Indices in Japanese Middle-Aged Men

Oral health status is known to be associated with lifestyle-related diseases such as diabetes and chronic kidney disease. In Japan, around 40% of hemodialysis cases are patients with diabetic nephropathy. The aim of this study was to clarify the association between oral health status and diabetic nephropathy-related indices in Japanese middle-aged men. Sixty-six men (age range: 55-64 years) with ≥20 remaining teeth and who received public medical checkups and oral examinations were enrolled. We examined correlations of age, body mass index, HbA1c, HDL-C, LDL-C, neutral fat, serum creatinine, and the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) with the number of remaining teeth or the community periodontal index (CPI) score (periodontal pocket < 4 mm: 0, 4-6 mm: 1, ≥6 mm: 2). A positive correlation between the CPI score and serum creatinine and a negative correlation between CPI score and eGFR (Spearman's rank correlation coefficient, r = 0.459, p < 0.01, and r = -0.460, p < 0.01, respectively) were observed. The mean eGFR in the CPI score 0 group was significantly higher than that in the CPI score 1/2 group (82.6 vs. 70.7, Student's t-test, p < 0.01). Logistic regression analysis using eGFR as a dependent variable and age, CPI score, body mass index, HbA1c, and neutral fat as independent variables suggested that low eGFR (<60) could be attributed to CPI score (OR = 3.169, 95% CI: 1.031-9.742, p = 0.044). These results suggest a possible association between periodontal status and renal function in Japanese middle-aged men. Periodontal condition is controlled by oral prophylaxis, and periodontal disease and chronic kidney disease have some common risk factors. Thus, periodontal management can contribute to the prevention of severe chronic kidney disease.

Effect of diabetes on incidence of peritoneal dialysis-associated peritonitis

Background

Several reports on patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) treated by peritoneal dialysis (PD) have shown a higher risk of PD-associated peritonitis compared to non-DM (NDM) patients. The aim of this study was to investigate the incidence of PD-associated peritonitis in DM patients.

Methods

We divided all patients who received PD at a single center between January 1980 and December 2012 into three groups according to era: Period 1 (n = 43, 1980–1993); Period 2 (n = 123, 1994–2004); and Period 3 (n = 207, 2005–2012). We investigated incidences of PD-associated peritonitis between patients with and without DM.

Results

In Periods 1 and 2, incidence of PD-associated peritonitis was higher in the DM group than in the NDM group (P<0.05). However, no difference according to presence of DM was seen in Period 3. Multivariate Cox regression analysis revealed DM as a risk factor for incidence of PD-associated peritonitis in Periods 1 and 2, but not in Period 3 (hazard ratio [HR], 2.49; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.15 to 5.23; HR, 2.36; 95%CI, 1.13 to 4.58; and HR, 0.82; 95%CI, 0.41 to 1.54, respectively). Furthermore, the peritonitis-free period was significantly shorter in the DM group than in the DM group in Periods 1 and 2, whereas no significant difference was seen in Period 3 (P<0.01, P<0.01 and P = 0.55, respectively). Moreover, a significant interaction was seen between diabetes and study period, and became less pronounced during Period 3(P<0.01).

Conclusions

The increased risk of peritonitis in diabetics reported in previous periods has not been evident in recent years.

Impact of aging on transition of acute kidney injury to chronic kidney disease

Acute kidney injury (AKI) increases the risk of end stage renal disease among the elderly, but the precise underlying mechanism is unknown. We investigated the effects of aging on AKI-to-chronic kidney disease (CKD) transition, focusing on renal inflammation. Aged and young C57BL/6 mice were subjected to bilateral ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI). Baseline proinflammatory cytokine levels of kidneys were elevated in aged mice. After IRI, aged mice also showed persistent M1 dominant inflammation, with increased proinflammatory cytokines during the recovery phase. Persistent M1 inflammation was associated with blunted activation of CSF-1/IRF4 signal for M1/M2 polarization, but in vitro macrophage polarization with cytokine stimulation was not different between young and aged mononuclear cells. The tubular expressions of cell cycle arrest markers increased in aged mice during recovery phase, and in vitro transwell experiments showed that mononuclear cells or M1 macrophages co-cultured with arrested proximal tubular cells at G1 phase significantly impaired M2 polarization, suggesting that prolonged G1 arrest might be involved in persistent M1 inflammation in aged mice. Finally, M1 dominant inflammation in aged mice resulted in fibrosis progression. Our data show that impaired M2 polarization partially driven by senescent tubule cells with cell-cycle arrest may lead to an accelerated progression to CKD in the elderly.

Comparison of peritoneal dialysis and hemodialysis as first renal replacement therapy in patients with end-stage renal disease and diabetes: a systematic review

Background

Diabetes has become the most common cause of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) requiring renal replacement therapy (RRT) in most countries around the world. Peritoneal dialysis (PD) is valuable for patients newly requiring RRT because of the preservation of residual renal function (RRF), higher quality of life, and hemodynamic stability in comparison with hemodialysis (HD). A previous systematic review produced conflicting results regarding patient survival. As several advances have been made in therapy for diabetic patients receiving PD, we conducted a systematic review of studies published after 2014 to determine whether incident PD or HD is advantageous for the survival of patients with diabetes.

Methods

For this systematic review, the MEDLINE, EMBASE, and CENTRAL databases were searched to identify articles published between February 2014 and August 2017. The quality of studies was assessed using the GRADE approach. Outcomes of interest were all-cause mortality; RRF; major morbid events, including cardiovascular disease (CVD) and infectious disease; and glycemic control. This review was performed using a predefined protocol published in PROSPERO (CRD42018104258).

Results

Sixteen studies were included in this review. All were retrospective observational studies, and the risk of bias, especially failure to adequately control confounding factors, was high. Among them, 15 studies investigated all-cause mortality in diabetic patients initiating PD and HD. Differences favoring HD were observed in nine studies, whereas those favoring PD were observed in two studies. Two studies investigated effects on CVD, and both demonstrated the superiority of incident HD. No study investigated the effect of any other outcome.

Conclusions

In the present systematic review, the risk of death tended to be higher among diabetic patients with ESRD newly initiating RRT with incident PD in comparison with incident HD. However, we could not obtain definitive results reflecting the superiority of PD or HD with regard to patient outcomes because of the severe risk of bias and the heterogeneity of management strategies for diabetic patients receiving dialysis. Further studies are needed to clarify the advantages of PD and HD as RRT for diabetic patients with ESRD.

Machine learning in predicting graft failure following kidney transplantation: A systematic review of published predictive models

INTRODUCTION

Machine learning has been increasingly used to develop predictive models to diagnose different disease conditions. The heterogeneity of the kidney transplant population makes predicting graft outcomes extremely challenging. Several kidney graft outcome prediction models have been developed using machine learning, and are available in the literature. However, a systematic review of machine learning based prediction methods applied to kidney transplant has not been done to date. The main aim of our study was to perform an in-depth systematic analysis of different machine learning methods used to predict graft outcomes among kidney transplant patients, and assess their usefulness as an aid to decision-making.

METHODS

A systemic review of machine learning methods used to predict graft outcomes among kidney transplant patients was carried out using a search of the Medline, the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, EMBASE, PsycINFO and Cochrane databases.

RESULTS

A total of 295 articles were identified and extracted. Of these, 18 met the inclusion criteria. Most of the studies were published in the United States after 2010. The population size used to develop the models varied from 80 to 92,844, and the number of features in the models ranged from 6 to 71. The most common machine learning methods used were artificial neural networks, decision trees and Bayesian belief networks. Most of the machine learning based predictive models predicted graft failure with high sensitivity and specificity. Only one machine learning based prediction model had modelled time-to-event (survival) information. Seven studies compared the predictive performance of machine learning models with traditional regression methods and the performance of machine learning methods was found to be mixed, when compared with traditional regression methods.

CONCLUSION

There was a wide variation in the size of the study population and the input variables used. However, the prediction accuracy provided mixed results when machine learning and traditional predictive methods are compared. Based on reported gains in predictive performance, machine learning has the potential to improve kidney transplant outcome prediction and aid medical decision making.

Association of gait speed and grip strength with risk of cardiovascular events in patients on haemodialysis: a prospective study

Background

Gait speed (GS) and handgrip strength (HGS), both factors associated with frailty and sarcopenia, are reportedly associated with CV events in the general population. However, little is known about the impact of these factors on the outcome of patients on dialysis. This study aimed to evaluate whether evaluation of GS and HGS could be associated the onset of fatal/non-fatal cardiovascular (CV) events in patients on haemodialysis (HD).

Methods

One-hundred-eighty-two patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) undergoing HD at four dialysis clinics in April 2015 provided written informed consent to participate in the study. We excluded patients who had physical disability, were unable to walk without help, or had recently experienced CV events. Usual GS over a 4-m walk and HGS were measured at baseline, and 173 patients (men, 124; women, 49) were divided into sex-specific quartiles according to GS and HGS and were followed-up for fatal/non-fatal CV events for a median of 2 years. We examined the association of GS and HGS with CV events and determined cut-off values using Cox regression analysis adjusted for age, sex, HD duration, history of CVD, and diabetes.

Results

During the follow-up period, 46 CV events occurred. Both physical performance factors were significantly associated with CV events. Low GS (< 0.82 m/s for men and 0.81 m/s for women) and weak HGS (< 29.0 kg for men and 19.7 kg for women) were associated with CV events. For low vs. high GS, the hazard ratio (HR) for CV events was 2.29 [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.20–4.33; P = 0.01], and for low vs. high HGS, the HR was 2.15 [95% CI: 1.00–5.04; P < 0.05]. These HRs remained significant after adjusting for confounding factors, such as sex, age, dialysis vintage, history of CV disease, and diabetes.

Conclusions

Slow GS and weak HGS in patients on HD were suggested to be independent predictors of fatal/non-fatal CV events.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s12882-019-1370-6) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Hemodialysis Product and Hip Fracture in Hemodialysis Patients: A Nationwide Cohort Study in Japan

Some have raised concerns that longer and more frequent hemodialysis (HD) would be associated with bone fractures due to excess phosphate removal. We examined the effects of hemodialysis product (HDP) on hip fracture incidence among Japanese HD patients using registry data of the Japanese Society for Dialysis Therapy. During a 1-year study period, 1411 hip fractures occurred among 135 984 patients. After adjusting for demographic and clinical factors, patients with a high HDP did not show a significant risk of hip fracture. Interestingly, patients with polycystic kidney disease had a lower risk of hip fracture. Our findings did not support the hypothesis that patients undergoing longer and more frequent HD would face a higher risk of hip fracture than those undergoing shorter and less frequent HD. Polycystic kidney disease was identified as a new significant factor for hip fracture; relative to glomerulonephritis, this condition was associated with a lower risk of hip fracture.

Regional variance in patterns of prescriptions for chronic kidney disease in Japan

BACKGROUND

This study aims to describe the regional variance in prescriptions for chronic kidney disease (CKD) medications and to analyze regional characteristics to identify the sources of these differences by utilizing the National Database of Health Insurance Claims, which provides more than 95% of nationwide claim information for Japan.

METHODS

Data regarding the total claimed amount for phosphate binders (PBs), erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs), carbonaceous adsorbents, and potassium-lowering agents in fiscal year 2015 were obtained. Correlation coefficients were calculated for the claimed amount of these drugs per CKD patient and social and medical variables, including the percentage of the population aged ≥ 65 years and the numbers of hospital beds and certified nephrologists. Subsequent multiple regression analysis was performed using explanatory factors affecting the amount of PB or ESA prescriptions per CKD patient.

RESULTS

The total claimed amounts were 585,485,115 for PBs and 2,373,777 for ESAs. Variations in the claimed amount per CKD patient among 47 prefectures were 4.9-, 6.1-, 6.6-, and 6.0-fold for PBs, ESAs, carbonaceous adsorbents and potassium-lowering agents, respectively. The number of nephrologists per CKD patient was positively correlated with the prescribed amount for PBs and ESAs per CKD patient, and independently associated with the prescribed amount also in regression analysis.

CONCLUSION

Substantial regional variation in CKD-related drug prescriptions exists even within a uniform health care system. The number of certified nephrologists was associated with the prescribed amount for PBs and ESAs. Further studies are needed to clarify whether geographic distribution of certified nephrologist may affect clinical practice pattern.

Life-threatening complications after pulmonary resection for lung cancer in patients on chronic hemodialysis

PURPOSE

The morbidity and mortality associated with lung cancer surgery in patients on chronic hemodialysis (CHD) is high; however, the relationship between the severity of postoperative complications and clinicopathological features is unclear.

METHODS

Among 1214 consecutive patients who underwent pulmonary resection for primary lung cancer in our institute between 2004 and 2015, we identified 21 patients on CHD, who were the subjects of this study. Life-threatening postoperative complications were defined as grade 4 and 5 per the Clavien-Dindo classification.

RESULTS

Fourteen (67%) of these 21 patients suffered postoperative complications, which were life threatening in 5. There was a higher frequency of interstitial pneumonia (IP) in the patients with life-threatening postoperative complications than in those with complications that were not life threatening (p = 0.032). The rates of acute exacerbation and 90-day mortality in the patients with IP were 50% and 75%, respectively. The overall survival (OS) rate of the patients with life-threatening postoperative complications was significantly lower than that of those with complications that were not life threatening (1- and 3-year OS rates: 40% and 0% vs. 80% and 57%, respectively, p = 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Postoperative mortality and morbidity were high in patients on CHD who underwent pulmonary resection, especially if they had coexisting IP. Although IP is not a contraindication to pulmonary resection, the surgical strategy for CHD patients with IP should be considered carefully.

Aging, physical activity, and diabetic complications related to loss of muscle strength in patients with type 2 diabetes

Patients with type 2 diabetes may have motor dysfunctions such as loss of muscle strength. Compared with non-diabetic subjects, patients with diabetes show decreased lower extremity muscle strength. The aim of this review was to describe the influence of factors associated with loss of muscle strength in patients with type 2 diabetes. Aging promotes an accelerated loss of muscle strength in patients with diabetes. Physical inactivity may cause a decline in muscle strength in patients with diabetes. Gradual loss of muscle strength is related to the presence and severity of diabetic neuropathy. Diabetic nephropathy may be a factor contributing to loss of muscle strength, because decrease in skeletal muscle mass is a hallmark of end-stage renal disease. Resistance exercise is an essential component of diabetes treatment regimens and also plays a role in the prevention and management of sarcopenia. Intensive physical therapy intervention should be provided to patients with diabetes having decreased muscle strength.