[The FRASNET study: identification of clinical and social factors of renal failure in an elderly population]

Background. Chronic renal failure is an epidemic in elderly patients. Older population have an increased prevalence of frailty and sarcopenia, associated with a wide range of adverse health outcomes such as falls, hospitalization, disability. Aim. Describe the sociodemographic and clinical variables of an elderly Lombard population and identify predictors of renal insufficiency. Materials and methods. Cross-sectional observational study conducted in hospitals, in recreational centers for the elderly, in the Universities of the Third Age of the provinces of Milan and Monza-Brianza conducted through a convenience sampling of 1250 subjects over the age of 65. Results. The study identified living alone, annual individual income < € 10,000, polypharmacy, sarcopenia and frailty as predictors of chronic kidney failure. The sample has a mean eGFR of 71.74 mL/min/1.73m2 (SD ± 16.56). Older people living alone are more likely to develop CRI (P = 0.031, confidence interval, CI [1.031-1.905]) as well as having an income < € 10,000 (P = 0.002, CI [0.392-0.923]). Taking more than 11 drugs a day increases the probability of having chronic renal failure by 16 times (P = 0.012, CI [1.155-3.16]). Sarcopenia and frailty increase the likelihood of having chronic renal failure (CRI) (P = 0.001, CI [1.198-2.095]). Conclusions. Identifying predictors of chronic kidney failure is a key step in introducing preventive measures and providing better care to the elderly population.

Determinants of active energy expenditure in haemodialysis patients

BACKGROUND

Less active haemodialysis patients have an increased risk of mortality. We wished to determine which factors were associated with active energy expenditure (AEE), METHODS: We used the validated recent physical activity questionnaire to determine AEE, and estimated dietary protein intake and creatinine generation rates. We measured extracellular and total body water ratio (ECW/TBW) and appendicular lean muscle with bioimpedance, and arm strength by hand grip strength (HGS). Patients were graded using the Charlson co-morbidity, and the Clinical Frailty Score (CFS).

RESULTS

AEE was calculated in 98 patients (64 male), mean age 62.1±15.5 years, and AEE was negatively associated with CFS (r=-0.48), ECW/TBW (r=-0.47), and age (r=-0.4), all p<0.001, Charlson co-morbidity score (-0.27, p=0.007), and positively with serum creatinine (r=0.38, p<0.010), and HGS (r=0.25, p=0.016). Although protein nitrogen accumulation and creatinine generation were associated with resting energy expenditure (r=0.7 and r=0.44 respectively, both p<.0001), neither were associated with AEE. On multivariable analysis only CFS remained independently associated with AEE (β-0.031, 95% limits -0.057 to -0.004, p=0.024), although both age (negative p=0.07), and ALM (positive p=0.081) were retained in the model.

CONCLUSIONS

We found that AEE was lower with increasing frailty, age, loss of cell mass, co-morbidity and inflammation, and greater AEE in patients with higher serum creatinine and albumin, and greater muscle strength on univariate analysis, but only frailty remained independently associated on multivariable analysis. Whether exercise programmes designed to increase AEE in haemodialysis patients can improve frailty scores, and so reduce mortality risk reman to be determined. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Falls and Fall-Prevention in Older Persons: Geriatrics Meets Spaceflight!

This paper provides a general overview of key physiological consequences of microgravity experienced during spaceflight and of important parallels and connections to the physiology of aging. Microgravity during spaceflight influences cardiovascular function, cerebral autoregulation, musculoskeletal, and sensorimotor system performance. A great deal of research has been carried out to understand these influences and to provide countermeasures to reduce the observed negative consequences of microgravity on physiological function. Such research can inform and be informed by research related to physiological changes and the deterioration of physiological function due to aging. For example, head-down bedrest is used as a model to study effects of spaceflight deconditioning due to reduced gravity. As hospitalized older persons spend up to 80% of their time in bed, the deconditioning effects of bedrest confinement on physiological functions and parallels with spaceflight deconditioning can be exploited to understand and combat both variations of deconditioning. Deconditioning due to bed confinement in older persons can contribute to a downward spiral of increasing frailty, orthostatic intolerance, falls, and fall-related injury. As astronauts in space spend substantial amounts of time carrying out exercise training to counteract the microgravity-induced deconditioning and to counteract orthostatic intolerance on return to Earth, it is logical to suggest some of these interventions for bed-confined older persons. Synthesizing knowledge regarding deconditioning due to reduced gravitational stress in space and deconditioning during bed confinement allows for a more comprehensive approach that can incorporate aspects such as (mal-) nutrition, muscle strength and function, cardiovascular (de-) conditioning, and cardio-postural interactions. The impact of such integration can provide new insights and lead to methods of value for both space medicine and geriatrics (Geriatrics meets spaceflight!). In particular, such integration can lead to procedures that address the morbidity and the mortality associated with bedrest immobilization and in the rising health care costs associated with an aging population demographic.

Cardiac surgery in patients with end-stage renal disease on dialysis

OBJECTIVES

Over the past decade, the number of patients on dialysis and with cardiovascular diseases has steadily increased. This retrospective analysis compares the postoperative mortality after cardiac surgery between patients on hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis.

METHODS

Between 1998 and 2015, 136 patients with end-stage renal disease initiating dialysis more than one month before surgery underwent cardiac surgery. Demographics, preoperative hemodynamic and biochemical data were collected from the patient records. Vital status and date of death was retrieved from a national register.

RESULTS

Hemodialysis was undertaken in 73% and peritoneal dialysis in 22% of patients aged 59.7 ± 12.9 years, mean EuroSCORE 8.6% ± 3.5. Isolated coronary artery bypass graft was performed in 46%, isolated valve procedure in 29% and combined procedures in 24% with no significant statistical difference between groups. The 30-day mortality was 14% for hemodialysis patients and 3% for peritoneal dialysis patients (p = .056). One-year and 5-year mortality were, 30% and 59% in the hemodialysis group, 30% and 57% in the peritoneal dialysis group (p = .975, p = .852). Independent predictors of total mortality were age (p = .001), diabetes (p = .017) and active endocarditis (p = .012).

CONCLUSION

No statistically significant difference in mortality was found between patients in hemo- or peritoneal dialysis. However, we observed that patients with end-stage renal disease on dialysis have two times higher mortality rate than estimated by EuroSCORE.