Post-Discharge Mortality and Rehospitalization among Participants in a Comprehensive Acute Kidney Injury Rehabilitation Program

Acute kidney injury in patients with cirrhosis: Acute Disease Quality Initiative (ADQI) and International Club of Ascites (ICA) joint multidisciplinary consensus meeting

Patients with cirrhosis are prone to developing acute kidney injury (AKI), a complication associated with a markedly increased in-hospital morbidity and mortality, along with a risk of progression to chronic kidney disease. Whereas patients with cirrhosis are at increased risk of developing any phenotype of AKI, hepatorenal syndrome (HRS), a specific form of AKI (HRS-AKI) in patients with advanced cirrhosis and ascites, carries an especially high mortality risk. Early recognition of HRS-AKI is crucial since administration of splanchnic vasoconstrictors may reverse the AKI and serve as a bridge to liver transplantation, the only curative option. In 2023, a joint meeting of the International Club of Ascites (ICA) and the Acute Disease Quality Initiative (ADQI) was convened to develop new diagnostic criteria for HRS-AKI, to provide graded recommendations for the work-up, management and post-discharge follow-up of patients with cirrhosis and AKI, and to highlight priorities for further research.

Associations between Social Support and Patient-Reported Outcomes in Patients Receiving Hemodialysis: Results from the TACcare Study

Key Points

Mean baseline levels of perceived social support (Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support) were comparable with other chronically ill populations. Higher Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support scores were correlated with lower levels of fatigue, pain, depressive symptoms, anxiety, better sleep quality, and health-related quality of life (Short Form-12 Mental Component Score). Moderation analyses revealed male sex and non-Hispanic ethnicity resulted in stronger positive associations of perceived social support with Short Form-12 Mental Component Score.

Background

Patients with ESKD experience high symptom burden, which has been associated with a negative effect on their interpersonal relationships. However, there is limited research exploring associations of social support and patient-reported outcomes among patients receiving hemodialysis.

Methods

This study is a secondary, cross-sectional analyses of the sociodemographic and clinical correlates of perceived social support (Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support [MSPSS]) at baseline. The study examined the extent to which perceived social support is associated with pain, depression, fatigue, anxiety, sleep, and health-related quality of life (Short Form-12 [SF-12] Mental Component Score [MCS] and Physical Component Score.

Results

Of the 160 randomized patients, the mean (SD) age was 58±14 years; years on dialysis was 4.1±4.2; 45% were female; 29% Black, 13% American Indian, and 18% Hispanic; 88% had at least high school education; and 27% were married. Mean baseline levels of perceived social support were comparable with other chronically ill populations. At least high school education (P = 0.04) and being married (P = 0.05) were associated with higher total MSPSS scores. Higher MSPSS scores were correlated with lower levels of fatigue (r =0.21, P = 0.008; higher fatigue scores signify lower fatigue), pain (r =−0.17, P = 0.03), depressive symptoms (r =−0.26, P < 0.001), anxiety (r =−0.23, P = 0.004), better sleep quality (r =−0.32, P < 0.001), and SF-12 MCS (r =0.26, P < 0.001). Moderation analyses revealed male sex and non-Hispanic ethnicity resulted in stronger positive associations of perceived social support with SF-12 MCS.

Conclusions

The level of perceived social support observed among patients receiving thrice-weekly hemodialysis in Technology Assisted Stepped Collaborative Care was similar to those observed in other chronic conditions. Because of the associations between perceived social support and patient-reported outcomes, particularly psychosocial and behavioral health outcomes, targeting social support appears to be warranted among patients receiving hemodialysis.

Clinical Trial registration number:

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03440853 .

Role of a Pharmacist in Postdischarge Care for Patients With Kidney Disease: A Scoping Review

OBJECTIVE

The objective was to explore and describe the role of pharmacists in providing postdischarge care to patients with kidney disease.

DATA SOURCES

PubMed, Embase (Elsevier), CINAHL (Ebscohost), Web of Science Core Collection, and Scopus were searched on January 30, 2023. Publication date limits were not included. Search terms were identified based on 3 concepts: kidney disease, pharmacy services, and patient discharge. Experimental, quasi-experimental, observational, and qualitative studies, or study protocols, describing the pharmacist's role in providing postdischarge care for patients with kidney disease, excluding kidney transplant recipients, were eligible.

STUDY SELECTION AND DATA EXTRACTION

Six unique interventions were described in 10 studies meeting inclusion criteria.

DATA SYNTHESIS

Four interventions targeted patients with acute kidney injury (AKI) during hospitalization and 2 evaluated patients with pre-existing chronic kidney disease. Pharmacists were a multidisciplinary care team (MDCT) member in 5 interventions and were the sole provider in 1. Roles commonly identified include medication review, medication reconciliation, medication action plan formation, kidney function assessment, drug dose adjustments, and disease education. Some studies showed improvements in diagnostic coding, laboratory monitoring, medication therapy problem (MTP) resolution, and patient education; prevention of hospital readmission was inconsistent. Limitations include lack of standardized reporting of kidney disease, transitions of care processes, and differences in outcomes evaluated.

RELEVANCE TO PATIENT CARE AND CLINICAL PRACTICE

This review identifies potential roles of a pharmacist as part of a postdischarge MDCT for patients with varying degrees of kidney disease.

CONCLUSIONS

The pharmacist's role in providing postdischarge care to patients with kidney disease is inconsistent. Multidisciplinary care teams including a pharmacist provided consistent identification and resolution of MTPs, improved patient education, and increased self-awareness of diagnosis.

Posthospital Multidisciplinary Care for AKI Survivors: A Feasibility Pilot

Rationale & Objective

Innovative models are needed to address significant gaps in kidney care follow-up for acute kidney injury (AKI) survivors.

Study Design

This quasi-experimental pilot study reports the feasibility of the AKI in Care Transitions (ACT) program, a multidisciplinary approach to AKI survivor care based in the primary care setting.

Setting & Participants

The study included consenting adults with stage 3 AKI discharged home without dialysis.

Interventions

The ACT intervention included predischarge education from nurses and coordinated postdischarge follow-up with a primary care provider and pharmacist within 14 days. ACT was implemented in phases (Usual Care, Education, ACT).

Outcomes

The primary outcome was feasibility. Secondary outcomes included process and clinical outcomes.

Results

In total, 46 of 110 eligible adults were enrolled. Education occurred in 18/18 and 14/15 participants in the Education and ACT groups, respectively. 30-day urine protein evaluation occurred in 15%, 28%, and 87% of the Usual Care, Education, and ACT groups, respectively (P < 0.001). Cumulative incidence of provider (primary care or nephrologist) and laboratory follow-up at 14 and 30 days was different across groups (14 days: Usual care 0%, Education 11%, ACT 73% [P < 0.01]; 30 days: 0%, 22%, and 73% [P < 0.01]). 30-day readmission rates were 23%, 44%, and 13% in the Usual Care, Education, and ACT groups, respectively (P = 0.13).

Limitations

Patients were not randomly assigned to treatment groups. The sample size limited the ability to detect some differences or perform multivariable analysis.

Conclusions

This study demonstrated the feasibility of multidisciplinary AKI survivor follow-up beginning in primary care. We observed a higher cumulative incidence of laboratory and provider follow-up in ACT participants.

Trial Registration

ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04505891).

Plain-Language Summary

Abrupt loss of kidney function in hospitalized patients, acute kidney injury (AKI), increases the chances of long-term kidney disease and a worse health care experience for patients. One out of 3 people who experience AKI do not get the follow-up kidney care they need. We performed a pilot study to test whether a program that facilitates structured AKI follow-up in primary care called the AKI in Care Transitions (ACT) program was possible. ACT brings together the unique expertise of nurses, doctors, and pharmacists to look at the patient's kidney health plan from all angles. The study found that the ACT program was possible and led to more complete kidney care follow-up after discharge than the normal approach to care.

Evaluation of Plasma Biomarkers to Predict Major Adverse Kidney Events in Hospitalized Patients With COVID-19

RATIONALE & OBJECTIVE

Patients hospitalized with COVID-19 are at increased risk for major adverse kidney events (MAKE). We sought to identify plasma biomarkers predictive of MAKE in patients hospitalized with COVID-19.

STUDY DESIGN

Prospective cohort study.

SETTING & PARTICIPANTS

A total of 576 patients hospitalized with COVID-19 between March 2020 and January 2021 across 3 academic medical centers.

EXPOSURE

Twenty-six plasma biomarkers of injury, inflammation, and repair from first available blood samples collected during hospitalization.

OUTCOME

MAKE, defined as KDIGO stage 3 acute kidney injury (AKI), dialysis-requiring AKI, or mortality up to 60 days.

ANALYTICAL APPROACH

Cox proportional hazards regression to associate biomarker level with MAKE. We additionally applied the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) and random forest regression for prediction modeling and estimated model discrimination with time-varying C index.

RESULTS

The median length of stay for COVID-19 hospitalization was 9 (IQR, 5-16) days. In total, 95 patients (16%) experienced MAKE. Each 1 SD increase in soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor 1 (sTNFR1) and sTNFR2 was significantly associated with an increased risk of MAKE (adjusted HR [AHR], 2.30 [95% CI, 1.86-2.85], and AHR, 2.26 [95% CI, 1.73-2.95], respectively). The C index of sTNFR1 alone was 0.80 (95% CI, 0.78-0.84), and the C index of sTNFR2 was 0.81 (95% CI, 0.77-0.84). LASSO and random forest regression modeling using all biomarkers yielded C indexes of 0.86 (95% CI, 0.83-0.89) and 0.84 (95% CI, 0.78-0.91), respectively.

LIMITATIONS

No control group of hospitalized patients without COVID-19.

CONCLUSIONS

We found that sTNFR1 and sTNFR2 are independently associated with MAKE in patients hospitalized with COVID-19 and can both also serve as predictors for adverse kidney outcomes.

PLAIN-LANGUAGE SUMMARY

Patients hospitalized with COVID-19 are at increased risk for long-term adverse health outcomes, but not all patients suffer long-term kidney dysfunction. Identification of patients with COVID-19 who are at high risk for adverse kidney events may have important implications in terms of nephrology follow-up and patient counseling. In this study, we found that the plasma biomarkers soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor 1 (sTNFR1) and sTNFR2 measured in hospitalized patients with COVID-19 were associated with a greater risk of adverse kidney outcomes. Along with clinical variables previously shown to predict adverse kidney events in patients with COVID-19, both sTNFR1 and sTNFR2 are also strong predictors of adverse kidney outcomes.

Readmission and Mortality After Hospitalization With Acute Kidney Injury

RATIONALE & OBJECTIVE

Acute kidney injury (AKI) carries high rates of morbidity and mortality. This study quantified various short- and long-term outcomes after hospitalization with AKI.

STUDY DESIGN

Retrospective propensity score (PS)-matched cohort study.

SETTING & PARTICIPANTS

Optum Clinformatics, a national claims database, was used to identify patients hospitalized with and without an AKI discharge diagnosis between January 2007 and September 2020.

EXPOSURE

Among patients with prior continuous enrollment for at least 2years without AKI hospitalization, 471,176 patients hospitalized with AKI were identified and PS-matched to 471,176 patients hospitalized without AKI.

OUTCOME(S)

All-cause and selected-cause rehospitalizations and mortality 90 and 365 days after index hospitalization.

ANALYTICAL APPROACH

After PS matching, rehospitalization and death incidences were estimated using the cumulative incidence function method and compared using Gray's test. The association of AKI hospitalization with each outcome was tested using Cox models for all-cause mortality and, with mortality as competing risk, cause-specific hazard modeling for all-cause and selected-cause rehospitalization. Overall and stratified analyses were performed to evaluate for interaction between an AKI hospitalization and preexisting chronic kidney disease (CKD).

RESULTS

After PS matching, AKI was associated with higher rates of rehospitalization for any cause (hazard ratio [HR], 1.62; 95% CI, 1.60-1.65), end-stage renal disease (HR, 6.21; 95% CI, 1.04-36.92), heart failure (HR, 2.81; 95% CI, 2.66, 2.97), sepsis (HR, 2.62; 95% CI, 2.49-2.75), pneumonia (HR, 1.47; 95% CI, 1.37-1.57), myocardial infarction (HR, 1.48; 95% CI, 1.33-1.65), and volume depletion (HR, 1.64; 95% CI, 1.37-1.96) at 90 days after discharge compared with the group without AKI, with similar findings at 365 days. Mortality rate was higher in the group with AKI than in the group without AKI at 90 (HR, 2.66; 95% CI, 2.61-2.72) and 365 days (HR, 2.11; 95% CI, 2.08-2.14). The higher risk of outcomes persisted when participants were stratified by CKD status (P<0.01).

LIMITATIONS

Causal associations between AKI and the reported outcomes cannot be inferred.

CONCLUSIONS

AKI during hospitalization in patients with and without CKD is associated with increased risk of 90- and 365-day all-cause/selected-cause rehospitalization and death.

Acute Kidney Injury: Gaps and Opportunities for Knowledge and Growth

Acute kidney injury (AKI) occurs frequently in hospitalized patients, regardless of age or prior medical history. Increasing awareness of the epidemiologic problem of AKI has directly led to increased study of global recognition, diagnostic tools, both reactive and proactive management, and analysis of long-term sequelae. Many gaps remain, however, and in this article we highlight opportunities to add significantly to the increasing bodies of evidence surrounding AKI. Practical considerations related to initiation, prescription, anticoagulation, and monitoring are discussed. In addition, the importance of AKI follow-up evaluation, particularly for those surviving the receipt of renal replacement therapy, is highlighted as a push for global equity in the realm of critical care nephrology is broached. Addressing these gaps presents an opportunity to impact patient care directly and improve patient outcomes.

Adult Cardiac Surgery-Associated Acute Kidney Injury: Joint Consensus Report

OBJECTIVES

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is increasingly recognized as a source of poor patient outcomes after cardiac surgery. The purpose of the present report is to provide perioperative teams with expert recommendations specific to cardiac surgery-associated AKI (CSA-AKI).

METHODS

This report and consensus recommendations were developed during a joint, in-person, multidisciplinary conference with the Perioperative Quality Initiative and the Enhanced Recovery After Surgery Cardiac Society. Multinational practitioners with diverse expertise in all aspects of cardiac surgical perioperative care, including clinical backgrounds in anesthesiology, surgery and nursing, met from October 20 to 22, 2021, in Sacramento, California, and used a modified Delphi process and a comprehensive review of evidence to formulate recommendations. The quality of evidence and strength of each recommendation were established using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation methodology. A majority vote endorsed recommendations.

RESULTS

Based on available evidence and group consensus, a total of 13 recommendations were formulated (4 for the preoperative phase, 4 for the intraoperative phase, and 5 for the postoperative phase), and are reported here.

CONCLUSIONS

Because there are no reliable or effective treatment options for CSA-AKI, evidence-based practices that highlight prevention and early detection are paramount. Cardiac surgery-associated AKI incidence may be mitigated and postsurgical outcomes improved by focusing additional attention on presurgical kidney health status; implementing a specific cardiopulmonary bypass bundle; using strategies to maintain intravascular euvolemia; leveraging advanced tools such as the electronic medical record, point-of-care ultrasound, and biomarker testing; and using patient-specific, goal-directed therapy to prioritize oxygen delivery and end-organ perfusion over static physiologic metrics.

Comprehensive Acute Kidney Injury Survivor Care: Protocol for the Randomized Acute Kidney Injury in Care Transitions Pilot Trial

BACKGROUND

Innovative care models are needed to address gaps in kidney care follow-up among acute kidney injury (AKI) survivors. We developed the multidisciplinary AKI in Care Transitions (ACT) program, which embeds post-AKI care in patients' primary care clinic.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this randomized pilot trial is to test the feasibility and acceptability of the ACT program and study protocol, including recruitment and retention, procedures, and outcome measures.

METHODS

The study will be conducted at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, a tertiary care center with a local primary care practice. Individuals who are included have stage 3 AKI during their hospitalization, do not require dialysis at discharge, have a local primary care provider, and are discharged to their home. Patients unable or unwilling to provide informed consent and recipients of any transplant within 100 days of enrollment are excluded. Consented patients are randomized to receive the intervention (ie, ACT program) or usual care. The ACT program intervention includes predischarge kidney health education from nurses and coordinated postdischarge laboratory monitoring (serum creatinine and urine protein assessment) and follow-up with a primary care provider and pharmacist within 14 days. The usual care group receives no specific study-related intervention, and any aspects of AKI care are at the direction of the treating team. This study will examine the feasibility of the ACT program, including recruitment, randomization and retention in a trial setting, and intervention fidelity. The feasibility and acceptability of participating in the ACT program will also be examined in qualitative interviews with patients and staff and through surveys. Qualitative interviews will be deductively and inductively coded and themes compared across data types. Observations of clinical encounters will be examined for discussion and care plans related to kidney health. Descriptive analyses will summarize quantitative measures of the feasibility and acceptability of ACT. Participants' knowledge about kidney health, quality of life, and process outcomes (eg, type and timing of laboratory assessments) will be described for both groups. Clinical outcomes (eg, unplanned rehospitalization) up to 12 months will be compared with Cox proportional hazards models.

RESULTS

This study received funding from the Agency for Health Care Research and Quality on April 21, 2021, and was approved by the Institutional Review Board on December 14, 2021. As of March 14, 2023, seventeen participants each have been enrolled in the intervention and usual care groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Feasible and generalizable AKI survivor care delivery models are needed to improve care processes and health outcomes. This pilot trial will test the ACT program, which uses a multidisciplinary model focused on primary care to address this gap.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05184894; https://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT05184894.

INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID)

DERR1-10.2196/48109.

Risk Factors for Death Among Veterans Following Acute Kidney Injury

BACKGROUND

Acute kidney injury is prevalent among hospitalized veterans, and associated with increased risk of death following discharge. However, risk factors for death following acute kidney injury have not been well defined. We developed a mortality prediction model using Veterans Health Administration data.

METHODS

This retrospective cohort study included inpatients from 2013 through 2018 with a creatinine increase of ≥0.3 mg/dL. We evaluated 45 variables for inclusion in our final model, with a primary outcome of 1-year mortality. Bootstrap sampling with replacement was used to identify variables selected in >60% of models using stepwise selection. Best sub-sets regression using Akaike information criteria was used to identify the best-fitting parsimonious model.

RESULTS

A total of 182,683 patients were included, and 38,940 (21.3%) died within 1 year of discharge. The 10-variable model to predict mortality included age, chronic lung disease, cancer within 5 years, unexplained weight loss, dementia, congestive heart failure, hematocrit, blood urea nitrogen, bilirubin, and albumin. Notably, acute kidney injury stage, chronic kidney disease, discharge creatinine, and proteinuria were not selected for inclusion. C-statistics in the primary validation cohorts were 0.77 for the final parsimonious model, compared with 0.52 for acute kidney injury stage alone.

CONCLUSION

We identified risk factors for long-term mortality following acute kidney injury. Our 10-variable model did not include traditional renal variables, suggesting that non-kidney factors contribute to the risk of death more than measures of kidney disease in this population, a finding that may have implications for post-acute kidney injury care.

Pharmacist-provider collaborative visits after hospital discharge in a comprehensive acute kidney injury survivor model

BACKGROUND

Postdischarge follow-up in primary care is an opportunity for pharmacists to re-evaluate medication use in acute kidney injury (AKI) survivors. Of the emerging AKI survivor care models described in literature, only one involved a pharmacist with limited detail about the direct impact.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to describe pharmacist contributions to a comprehensive postdischarge AKI survivorship program in primary care (the AKI in Care Transitions [ACT] program).

METHODS

The ACT program was piloted from May to December of 2021 at Mayo Clinic as a bundled care strategy for patients who survived an episode of AKI and were discharged home without the need for hemodialysis. Patients received education and care coordination from nurses before discharge and later completed postdischarge laboratory assessment and clinician follow-up in primary care. During the follow-up encounter, patients completed a 30-minute comprehensive medication management visit with a pharmacist focusing on AKI survivorship considerations. Medication therapy recommendations were communicated to a collaborating primary care provider (PCP) before a separate 30-minute visit with the patient. PCPs had access to clinical decision support with evidence-based post-AKI care recommendations. Medication-related issues were summarized descriptively.

RESULTS

Pharmacists made 28 medication therapy recommendations (median 3 per patient, interquartile range 2-3) and identified 14 medication discrepancies for the 11 patients who completed the pilot program, and 86% of the medication therapy recommendations were acted on by the PCP within 7 days. Six recommendations were made to initiate renoprotective medications, and 5 were acted on (83%).

CONCLUSION

During the pilot phase of a multifaceted transitional care program for AKI survivors, pharmacists' successfully identified and addressed multiple medication therapy problems, including for renally active drugs. These results demonstrate the potential for pharmacist-provider collaborative visits in primary care to improve safe and effective medication use in AKI survivors.

Acute Kidney Injury Survivor Care Following Hospital Discharge: A Mixed-Methods Study of Nephrologists and Primary Care Providers

Rationale & Objective

Widespread delivery of high-quality care for acute kidney injury (AKI) survivors after hospital discharge requires a multidisciplinary team. We aimed to compare management approaches between nephrologists and primary care providers (PCPs) and explored strategies to optimize collaboration.

Study Design

Explanatory sequential mixed-methods study using a case-based survey followed by semi-structured interviews.

Setting & Participants

Nephrologists and PCPs providing AKI survivor care at 3 Mayo Clinic sites and the Mayo Clinic Health System were included.

Outcomes

Survey questions and interviews elucidated participants' recommendations for post-AKI care.

Analytical Approach

Descriptive statistics were used to summarize survey responses. Qualitative data analysis used deductive and inductive strategies. A connecting and merging approach was used for mixed-methods data integration.

Results

148 of 774 (19%) providers submitted survey responses (24/72 nephrologists and 105/705 PCPs). Nephrologists and PCPs recommended laboratory monitoring and follow-up with a PCP shortly after hospital discharge. Both indicated that the need for nephrology referral, and its timing should be dictated by clinical and non-clinical patient-specific factors. There were opportunities for improvement in medication and comorbid condition management in both groups. Incorporation of multidisciplinary specialists (eg, pharmacists) was recommended to expand knowledge, optimize patient-centered care, and alleviate provider workload.

Limitations

Survey findings may have been affected by non-response bias and the unique challenges facing clinicians and health systems during the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants were from a single health system, and their views or experiences may differ from those in other health systems or serving different populations.

Conclusions

A multidisciplinary team-based model of post-AKI care may facilitate implementation of a patient-centered care plan, improve adherence to best practices, and reduce clinician and patient burden. Individualizing care for AKI survivors based on clinical and non-clinical patient-specific factors is needed to optimize outcomes for patients and health systems.

Association of an Acute Kidney Injury Follow-up Clinic With Patient Outcomes and Care Processes: A Cohort Study

RATIONALE & OBJECTIVE

To determine whether attendance at an acute kidney injury (AKI) follow-up clinic is associated with reduced major adverse kidney events.

STUDY DESIGN

Propensity-matched cohort study.

SETTING & PARTICIPANTS

Patients hospitalized with AKI in Ontario, Canada, from February 1, 2013, through September 30, 2017, at a single clinical center, who were not receiving dialysis when discharged.

EXPOSURE

Standardized assessment by a nephrologist.

OUTCOMES

Time to a major adverse kidney event, defined as death, initiation of maintenance dialysis, or incident/progressive chronic kidney disease.

ANALYTICAL APPROACH

Propensity scores were used to match each patient who attended an AKI follow-up clinic to 4 patients who received standard care. Cox proportional hazards models were fit to assess the association between the care within an AKI follow-up clinic and outcomes. To avoid immortal time bias, we randomly assigned index dates to the comparator group.

RESULTS

We matched 164 patients from the AKI follow-up clinic to 656 patients who received standard care. During a mean follow-up of 2.2±1.3 (SD) years, care in the AKI follow-up clinic was not associated with a reduction in major adverse kidney events relative to standard care (22.1 vs 24.7 events per 100 patient-years; HR, 0.91 [95% CI, 0.75-1.11]). The AKI follow-up clinic was associated with a lower risk of all-cause mortality (HR, 0.71 [95% CI, 0.55-0.91]). Patients aged at least 66 years who attended the AKI follow-up clinic were more likely to receive β-blockers (HR, 1.34 [95% CI, 1.02-1.77]) and statins (HR, 1.35 [95% CI, 1.05-1.74]), but not angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers (HR, 1.21 [95% CI, 0.94-1.56]).

LIMITATIONS

Single-center study and residual confounding.

CONCLUSIONS

Specialized postdischarge follow-up for AKI survivors was not associated with a lower risk of major adverse kidney events but was associated with a lower risk of death and increased prescriptions for some cardioprotective medications.

Quality, safety, and implementation science in acute kidney care

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Quality and safety are important themes in acute kidney care (AKC). There have been many recent initiatives highlighting these aspects. However, for these to become part of clinical practice, a rigorous implementation science methodology must be followed. This review will present these practices and will highlight recent initiatives in acute kidney injury (AKI), kidney replacement therapy (KRT) and recovery from AKI.

RECENT FINDINGS

The 22nd Acute Disease Quality Initiative (ADQI) focused on achieving a framework for improving AKI care. This has led to various quality improvement (QI) initiatives that have been implemented following a robust implementation science methodology. In AKI, QI initiatives have been focused on implementing care bundles and early detection systems for patients at risk or with AKI. KRT initiatives have focused on measuring and reporting key performance indicators (KPIs), and providing targeted feedback and education to improve delivery of KRT. Finally, it has been recognized that post-AKI care is vitally important, and ongoing work has been focused on implementing pathways to ensure continuing kidney-focused care.

SUMMARY

Quality and safety continue to be important focuses in AKC. Although recent work have focused on initiatives to improve these themes, additional work is necessary to further develop these items as we strive to improve the care to patients with AKI.

Optimising transitions of care for acute kidney injury survivors: protocol for a mixed-methods study of nephrologist and primary care provider recommendations

INTRODUCTION

Acute kidney injury (AKI) affects nearly 20% of all hospitalised patients and is associated with poor outcomes. Long-term complications can be partially attributed to gaps in kidney-focused care and education during transitions. Building capacity across the healthcare spectrum by engaging a broad network of multidisciplinary providers to facilitate optimal follow-up care represents an important mechanism to address this existing care gap. Key participants include nephrologists and primary care providers and in-depth study of each specialty's approach to post-AKI care is essential to optimise care processes and healthcare delivery for AKI survivors.

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

This explanatory sequential mixed-methods study uses survey and interview methodology to assess nephrologist and primary care provider recommendations for post-AKI care, including KAMPS (kidney function assessment, awareness and education, medication review, blood pressure monitoring and sick day education) elements of follow-up, the role of multispecialty collaboration, and views on care process-specific and patient-specific factors influencing healthcare delivery. Nephrologists and primary care providers will be surveyed to assess recommendations and clinical decision-making in the context of post-AKI care. Descriptive statistics and the Pearson's χ² or Fisher's exact test will be used to compare results between groups. This will be followed by semistructured interviews to gather rich, qualitative data that explains and/or connects results from the quantitative survey. Both deductive analysis and inductive analysis will occur to identify and compare themes.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

This study has been reviewed and deemed exempt by the Institutional Review Board at Mayo Clinic (IRB 20-0 08 793). The study was deemed exempt due to the sole use of survey and interview methodology. Results will be disseminated in presentations and manuscript form through peer-reviewed publication.