Predictive Factors of One-Year Mortality in a Cohort of Patients Undergoing Urgent-Start Hemodialysis

PTH may predict early mortality in incident patients on hemodialysis: results from a large cohort

PURPOSE

Parathyroid hormone (PTH) is merit as a risk factor for mortality in patients with chronic kidney disease in prevalent hemodialysis patients in a U shape. Most studies, however, do not focus on incident patients and those who died within the first 90 days of therapy. We evaluated PTH as a risk factor for mortality in a large cohort population in Brazil.

METHODS

This is an observational cohort study that included 4317 adult patients who initiated hemodialysis between July 1st, 2012 and June 30, 2017. The main outcome was all-cause mortality. Fine-gray sub-distribution hazard models were used to evaluate survival in the presence of a competing event (kidney transplant).

RESULTS

Median PTH levels of 252 (118, 479) pg/mL. There were 331 deaths during the first 90 days of therapy (6.7%), 430 in a 1-year follow-up (10.7%) and 1282 (32%) during the 5-year study period. Deaths according to PTH < 150, 150-600 and > 600 pg/mL corresponded to 38.1%, 33.0% and 28.5%, respectively (p < 0.001). In an adjusted model, patients who started dialysis with PTH < 150 pg/mL had a higher mortality risk within the first 90 days, but not in 1 year and 5 years after starting dialysis. Analyses in a subset of patients with a repeated PTH in 1 year (N = 1954) showed that although persistent PTH low levels (< 150 pg/mL) at 1 year were significantly associated with all-cause mortality, this result was not sustained after multiple adjustments.

CONCLUSION

PTH < 150 pg/mL confers a high mortality risk in the first 90 days of dialysis. If this result reflects poor nutritional conditions, it deserves further investigations.

Decline in Walking Independence and Related Factors in Hospitalization for Dialysis Initiation: A Retrospective Cohort Study

Patients with chronic kidney disease require intervention planning because their physical function declines with worsening disease. Providers can work closely with patients during the induction phase of dialysis. This single-center, retrospective observational study aimed to investigate the rate of decline in walking independence during the induction phase of dialysis and the factors that influence this decline, and to provide information on prevention and treatment during this period. Of the 354 patients who were newly initiated on hemodialysis between April 2018 and January 2022, 285 were included in the analysis. The functional independence measure-walking score was used to sort patients into decreased walking independence (DWI; n = 46) and maintained walking independence (no DWI; n = 239) groups, and patient characteristics were compared. After adjusting for various factors by logistic regression analysis, we observed that age, high Charlson comorbidity index (CCI), C-reactive protein, and emergency dialysis start (EDS) were significant predictors of DWI. Even during the very short period of dialysis induction, as many as 16.1% of patients had DWI, which was associated with older age, higher CCI, higher inflammation, and EDS. Therefore, we recommend the early identification of patients with these characteristics and early rehabilitation.

Evaluation of the pain scale during arteriovenous fistula puncture with and without lidocaine gel 2% in patients undergoing haemodialysis in Kosovo

Aim

this study aims to evaluate the pain scale during Arteriovenous fistula (AVF) puncture in patients undergoing regular haemodialysis sessions with and without Lidocaine gel 2%.

Methods

The study is Cross-Sectional, conducted at the University Clinical Centre of Kosovo - Clinic of Nephrology and Haemodialysis in Pristina, Regional Haemodialysis Centre in Prizren, Regional Haemodialysis Centre in Gjilan and Regional Haemodialysis Centre in Mitrovica, all in Kosovo. In this research, 616 patients were surveyed during AVF puncture and the other group of 232 patients in whom 2% Lidocaine gel was applied before puncture at the fistula puncture site.

Results

In the above mentioned centres, the total number of patients who are on dialysis through AVF is 632, of which 324 men and 308 women. 560 patients had created AVF on the left arm and 72 patients on the right arm. In our research, 616 patients were surveyed, of which 312 men and 304 women. The most affected age group was between 60 and 69. The pain scale reported during AVF punctuation was moderate in 304 (49%) patients, severe in 176 patients (29%) and mild in 136 (22%) patients. After the applying of Lidocaine gel 2%, the puncture of AVF was performed, so from the total number of 232 participants, 64 (28%) of them reported moderate pain and 168 (72%) of research participants reported mild pain during puncture of AVF. In order to compare results from both groups, we have chosen a random sample from the first group during AVF punctuation without Lidocaine gel 2% (234 in total from 616 patients) and compared the result with the second group during AVF puncture with Lidocaine gel 2% (232 in total).

Conclusions

The average pain scale during AVF puncture without Lidocaine gel 2% was 5.04 while the average pain scale after applied Lidocaine gel 2% was 2.61.

Effects of Peer Support Program on Self-Management in Patients with End-Stage Renal Disease Undergoing Hemodialysis

Background: End-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients undergoing hemodialysis require essential self-management to lifestyle changes to minimize the risk of complications, morbidity, and mortality. Efforts made to improve self-management of hemodialysis patients in previous studies were carried out by health workers that may not provide 'real' knowledge, while peer support programs carried out by patients as peers to share their experiences may provide more benefits.Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of peer support programs on improving self-management in patients with ESRD undergoing hemodialysis.Methods: This study employed a quasi-experimental design and involved a total of 33 patients in the control group and 32 patients in the intervention group, who met the inclusion and exclusion criteria. The samples were recruited consecutively. The intervention of peer support programs was implemented through information support, emotional support, and mutual reciprocity in groups of 10-12 people to share experiences related to their self-management. The intervention was given for six sessions; each lasted for 30-45 minutes. The data were collected using the Indonesian version of the hemodialysis self-management instrument (HDSMI) and analyzed using a paired-sample t-test and independent-sample t-test.Results: The results showed that after the intervention, the mean score of self-management in the intervention group increased from 79.47±7.919 to 90.75±7.089, and in the control group, the mean increased from 81.88±8.291 to 82.12±7.692. After the implementation of peer support programs, there was a significant difference in the score of self-management between the intervention and control groups (p<0.001).Conclusion: Peer support programs gave an effect on increasing self-management in patients with ESRD undergoing hemodialysis. Peer support programs should be introduced early to ESRD patients undergoing hemodialysis so that they can learn about self-management from other patients.  

Impact on survival of urgent dialysis initiation in patients with end-stage renal disease: a case-control study

BACKGROUND

Outcomes of patients with end-stage renal disease at urgent dialysis initiation are varied, but evidence of their long-term prognosis is limited. We aimed to characterize patients undergoing urgent dialysis initiation and analyse its effect on survival outcome.

METHODS

We retrospectively identified 208 patients who began haemodialysis from 1 January 2012 to 31 December 2018 at our hospital. In this observational case-control study, the case group comprised patients starting urgent dialysis, and the control group comprised patients starting planned dialysis. We analysed laboratory data, sex, age, smoking history, comorbidities and presence of vascular access and nephrology care that potentially affected the outcome. Data were analysed with Kaplan-Meier curves of early and late period (3 years after dialysis initiation) survival and log-rank tests and with Cox regression analysis.

RESULTS

Median age (range) at dialysis initiation was 73 (28-90) years, with 50 (24%) patients in the urgent initiation group. Five (10%) patients in this group had vascular access at dialysis initiation, whereas 21 (42%) had not received adequate pre-dialysis nephrology care. The estimated median overall survival rates of the urgent group and planned initiation group were 42 months and not reached, respectively (P = 0.0011). Multivariable analysis found urgent dialysis initiation to be an independent risk factor for survival (HR 2.36; 95% CI 1.36-4.00; P = 0.02). Survival was not significantly different between the groups for patients who continued chronic dialysis for > 3 years from dialysis initiation (P = 0.1339).

CONCLUSION

The prognosis of patients starting dialysis in an urgent condition was poor compared with those who started planned dialysis.

Factores relacionados con el inicio no programado de hemodiálisis en pacientes seguidos en consulta ERCA

Introducción. El inicio programado del tratamiento renal sustitutivo es un objetivo prioritario en el manejo de los pacientes con enfermedad renal crónica, ya que supone un gran impacto para la supervivencia de estos pacientes.Objetivo: Analizar características clínicas implicadas en el inicio no programado de la hemodiálisis en pa-cientes seguidos en consulta ERCA.Material y Método: Estudio retrospectivo observacio-nal en pacientes incidentes en el periodo 2014-2018. Se recogieron datos clínicos y sociodemográficos de la historia clínica del paciente, tiempo de seguimiento en consulta ERCA, filtrado glomerular al inicio de la con-sulta ERCA, causa y tipo de inicio (programado o no) de la hemodiálisis, así como el acceso vascular empleado.Resultados: Se incluyeron 168 pacientes incidentes seguidos en consulta ERCA. El 28,6% inició hemodiá-lisis de forma no programada. Los inicios programados se debieron a causa urémica y los no programados, a insuficiencia cardíaca (92% y 54% respectivamente, p<0,001). Los pacientes con inicio no programado utili-zaron un catéter en el 77% de las ocasiones (p<0,001), tenían más edad (69,27±9,4 vs 65,18±12,75 años) y un menor tiempo de seguimiento en la consulta ERCA (15,60±12,37 vs 23,64±20,25 meses) que los pacien-tes con inicio programado.Conclusiones: Pacientes de mayor edad, con menor tiempo de seguimiento en consulta ERCA tienen más riesgo de iniciar hemodiálisis de forma no programada a través de un catéter venoso central por falta de un acceso vascular definitivo.

Dietary intake as a predictor for all-cause mortality in hemodialysis subjects (NUGE-HD study)

This study aimed to identify the factors capable of mortality prediction in patients on hemodialysis, using a prospective cohort with three years of follow-up. We hypothesized that lack of clinical-metabolic control, impairment of nutritional status, and inadequate food consumption are risk factors for mortality in this population. This is a longitudinal study on a non-probabilistic sample of 85 adults and elderly patients undergoing hemodialysis, aged ≥ 18 years (66.0% male, 61.6±13.7 years). Data on anthropometric, biomarkers, body composition and food intake were obtained. Predictors of mortality were evaluated using Cox regression analysis. During the three years follow-up, 16 patients (18.8%) died. We observed that age (HR = 1.319, CI 95% = 1.131-1.538), calcium-phosphorus product (HR = 1.114, CI 95% = 1.031-1.205), ferritin (HR = 1.001, CI 95% = 1.001-1.002), nitric oxide (HR = 1.082, CI 95% = 1.006-1.164), and vitamin C intake (HR = 1.005, CI 95% = 1.001-1.009) were positively associated with mortality. Serum iron (HR = 0.717, CI 95% = 0.567-0.907), triceps skinfold thickness (HR = 0.704, CI 95% = 0.519-0.954), lean mass (HR = 0.863, CI 95% = 0.787-0.945), and the ratio of dietary monounsaturated/polyunsaturated fat (HR = 0.022, CI 95% = 0.001-0.549) were independent negative predictors of mortality. Our results suggest that dietary intake is also a predictor of mortality in patients on hemodialysis, besides nutritional status, body composition, oxidative stress, inflammation, and bone metabolism, indicating the importance of evaluation of these factors altogether for better prognosis.

Incidence of chronic kidney disease hospitalisations and mortality in Espírito Santo between 1996 to 2017

INTRODUCTION

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) has a set of clinical and laboratory abnormalities where renal function loss is noted. The high prevalence of comorbidity of people living with CKD, its economic impact and its prognosis have made it a public health problem, justifying the need to implement preventive measures.

OBJECTIVE

To analyse the mortality and incidence of hospital admissions for CKD.

METHODS

Ecological study with a time series design using secondary microdata of deaths and hospital admissions from patients with CKD from 1996 to 2017 in the State of Espírito Santo, Brazil.

RESULTS

The average mortality rate of CKD during the studied years was 2.92 per 100,000 inhabitants per year. During this period global mortality was a stationary phenomenon. In women, the trend of mortality from 2005 on increased 7,87% per year. Between 2008 and 2017, the average incidence hospital admissions due to CKD per year was 45.76 per 100,000 inhabitants. It was observed that the overall hospital admission increased by the equivalent of 6.23% per year. More than a half of mortality and hospitalisations correspond to male patients over 50 years of age. In terms of mortality, 32.99% corresponded to Caucasian patients, while 35.13% of hospitalisations were mixed race.

CONCLUSION

We found that age and gender are factors associated with deaths and hospitalisations for chronic kidney disease. While hospitalisation increases 6.23% per year, global mortality remains stationary. However, from 2005 onwards a trend towards increasing of 7.87%/annual in mortality was observed in women.

Risk Factors for Unplanned Dialysis Initiation: A Systematic Review of the Literature

Background:

Unplanned dialysis initiation is common in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD).

Objective:

To determine common definitions and patient risk factors for unplanned dialysis.

Design:

Systematic review.

Setting:

MEDLINE, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library were searched from inception to February 2018.

Patients:

Studies that included incident chronic dialysis patients or patients with CKD that cited a definition or examined risk factors for unplanned dialysis were included.

Measurements:

Definitions and criteria for unplanned dialysis reported across studies. Patient characteristics associated with unplanned dialysis.

Methods:

Two reviewers independently extracted data using a standardized data abstraction form and assessed study quality using a modified New Castle Ottawa Scale.

Results:

From 2797 citations, 48 met eligibility criteria. Reported definitions for unplanned dialysis were variable. Most publications cited dialysis initiation under emergency conditions and/or with a central venous catheter. The association of patient characteristics with unplanned dialysis was reported in 26 studies, 18 were retrospective and 21 included incident dialysis patients. The most common risk factors in univariate analyses were (number of studies) increased age (n = 7), cause of kidney disease (n = 6), presence of cardiovascular disease (n = 7), lower serum hemoglobin (n = 9), lower serum albumin (n = 10), higher serum phosphate (n = 6), higher serum creatinine or lower estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) at dialysis initiation (n = 7), late referral (n = 5), lack of dialysis education (n = 6), and lack of follow-up in a predialysis clinic prior to dialysis initiation (n = 5). A minority of studies performed multivariable analyses (n = 10); the most common risk factors were increased age (n = 4), increased comorbidity score (n = 3), late referral (n = 5), and lower eGFR at dialysis initiation (n = 3).

Limitations:

Comparison of results across studies was limited by inconsistent definitions for unplanned dialysis. High-quality data on patient risk factors for unplanned dialysis are lacking.

Conclusions:

Well-designed prospective studies to determine modifiable risk factors are needed. The lack of a consensus definition for unplanned dialysis makes research and quality improvement initiatives in this area more challenging.

The metabolomic quest for a biomarker in chronic kidney disease

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a growing burden on people and on healthcare for which the diagnostics are niether disease-specific nor indicative of progression. Biomarkers are sought to enable clinicians to offer more appropriate patient-centred treatments, which could come to fruition by using a metabolomics approach. This mini-review highlights the current literature of metabolomics and CKD, and suggests additional factors that need to be considered in this quest for a biomarker, namely the diet and the gut microbiome, for more meaningful advances to be made.