Residual kidney function (RKF) may confer a variety of benefits to patients on maintenance dialysis. RKF provides continuous clearance of middle molecules and protein-bound solutes. Whereas the ...definition of RKF varies across studies, interdialytic urine volume may emerge as a pragmatic alternative to more cumbersome calculations. RKF preservation is associated with better patient outcomes including survival and quality of life and is a clinical parameter and research focus in peritoneal dialysis. We propose the following practical considerations to preserve RKF, especially in newly transitioned (incident) hemodialysis patients: (1) periodic monitoring of RKF in hemodialysis patients through urine volume and including residual urea clearance with dialysis adequacy and outcome markers such as anemia, fluid gains, minerals and electrolytes, nutritional, status and quality of life; (2) avoidance of nephrotoxic agents such as radiocontrast dye, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and aminoglycosides; (3) more rigorous hypertension control and minimizing intradialytic hypotensive episodes; (4) individualizing the initial dialysis prescription with consideration of an incremental/infrequent approach to hemodialysis initiation (e.g., twice weekly) or peritoneal dialysis; and (5) considering a lower protein diet, especially on nondialysis days. Because RKF appears to be associated with better patient outcomes, it requires more clinical and research focus in the care of hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis patients.
Full text
Available for:
GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
In patients with ESRD, residual kidney function (RKF) contributes to achievement of adequate solute clearance. However, few studies have examined RKF in patients on hemodialysis. In a longitudinal ...cohort of 6538 patients who started maintenance hemodialysis over a 4-year period (January 2007 through December 2010) and had available renal urea clearance (CL
) data at baseline and 1 year after hemodialysis initiation, we examined the association of annual change in renal CL
rate with subsequent survival. The median (interquartile range) baseline value and mean±SD annual change of CL
were 3.3 (1.9-5.0) and -1.1±2.8 ml/min per 1.73 m
, respectively. Greater CL
rate 1 year after hemodialysis initiation associated with better survival. Furthermore, we found a gradient association between loss of RKF and all-cause mortality: changes in CL
rate of -6.0 and +3.0 ml/min per 1.73 m
per year associated with case mix-adjusted hazard ratios (95% confidence intervals) of 2.00 (1.55 to 2.59) and 0. 61 (0.50 to 0.74), respectively (reference: -1.5 ml/min per 1.73 m
per year). These associations remained robust against adjustment for laboratory variables and ultrafiltration rate and were consistent across strata of baseline CL
, age, sex, race, diabetes status, presence of congestive heart failure, and hemoglobin, serum albumin, and serum phosphorus levels. Sensitivity analyses using urine volume as another index of RKF yielded consistent associations. In conclusion, RKF decline during the first year of dialysis has a graded association with all-cause mortality among incident hemodialysis patients. The clinical benefits of RKF preservation strategies on mortality should be determined.
Background Maintenance hemodialysis is typically prescribed thrice weekly irrespective of a patient’s residual kidney function (RKF). We hypothesized that a less frequent schedule at hemodialysis ...therapy initiation is associated with greater preservation of RKF without compromising survival among patients with substantial RKF. Study Design A longitudinal cohort. Setting & Participants 23,645 patients who initiated maintenance hemodialysis therapy in a large dialysis organization in the United States (January 2007 to December 2010), had available RKF data during the first 91 days (or quarter) of dialysis, and survived the first year. Predictor Incremental (routine twice weekly for >6 continuous weeks during the first 91 days upon transition to dialysis) versus conventional (thrice weekly) hemodialysis regimens during the same time. Outcomes Changes in renal urea clearance and urine volume during 1 year after the first quarter and survival after the first year. Results Among 23,645 included patients, 51% had substantial renal urea clearance (≥3.0 mL/min/1.73 m2 ) at baseline. Compared with 8,068 patients with conventional hemodialysis regimens matched based on baseline renal urea clearance, urine volume, age, sex, diabetes, and central venous catheter use, 351 patients with incremental regimens exhibited 16% (95% CI, 5%-28%) and 15% (95% CI, 2%-30%) more preserved renal urea clearance and urine volume at the second quarter, respectively, which persisted across the following quarters. Incremental regimens showed higher mortality risk in patients with inadequate baseline renal urea clearance (≤3.0 mL/min/1.73 m2 ; HR, 1.61; 95% CI, 1.07-2.44), but not in those with higher baseline renal urea clearance (HR, 0.99; 95% CI, 0.76-1.28). Results were similar in a subgroup defined by baseline urine volume of 600 mL/d. Limitations Potential selection bias and wide CIs. Conclusions Among incident hemodialysis patients with substantial RKF, incremental hemodialysis may be a safe treatment regimen and is associated with greater preservation of RKF, whereas higher mortality is observed after the first year of dialysis in those with the lowest RKF. Clinical trials are needed to examine the safety and effectiveness of twice-weekly hemodialysis.
Intradialytic hypotension (IDH), a common complication of ultrafiltration during hemodialysis therapy, is associated with high mortality and morbidity. IDH, defined as a nadir systolic blood pressure ...of less than 90 mm Hg on more than 30% of treatments, is a relevant definition and is correlated with mortality. Risk factors for IDH include patient demographics, anti‐hypertensive medication use, larger interdialytic weight gain, and dialysis prescription features as dialysate sodium, high ultrafiltration rate, and dialysate temperature. A high frequency of IDH events carries a substantial death risk. An ultrafiltration rate >10 mL/h/kg, and even more so >13 mL/h/kg, is highly predictive of cardiovascular and all‐cause mortality. Evidence suggests that IDH causes acute reversible segmental myocardial hypoperfusion and contractile dysfunction (myocardial stunning), which can result in long‐term loss of myocardial contractility, leading to premature death. IDH also has negative end‐organ effects on the brain and gut, contributing to mortality through stroke, and endotoxin translocation with associated inflammation and protein‐energy wasting. Given strong association of IDH and dialysis mortality, a paradigm shift to its approach is urgently needed. Randomized controlled trials are required to prospectively test drugs and monitoring devices which may reduce IDH.
Full text
Available for:
BFBNIB, DOBA, FZAB, GIS, IJS, IZUM, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
ESKD patients have a large burden of disease, with high rates of readmission to hospital compared with the general population. A readmission after an acute index hospital discharge is either planned ...or unplanned. A proportion of unplanned readmissions are potentially avoidable, and could have been prevented with optimized transitional care. Readmissions pose financial cost to the health care system and emotional cost to patients and caregivers. In other chronic diseases with high readmission risk, such as congestive heart failure, interventions have improved transitional care and reduced readmission risk. In reviewing the existing literature on readmissions in ESKD, the definition and risk of readmission varied widely by study, with many potentially associated factors including comorbid diseases such as anemia and hypoalbuminemia. An ESKD patient’s requisite follow-up in the outpatient dialysis facility provides an opportunity to improve transitional care at the time of discharge. Despite this, our review of existing literature found no studies which have tested interventions to reduce the risk of readmission in ESKD patients. We propose a framework to define the determinants of avoidable readmission in ESKD, and use this framework to define a research agenda. Avoidable readmissions in ESKD patients is a topic prime for in-depth study, given the high-risk nature in this patient population, financial and societal costs, and potential for risk modification through targeted interventions.
Full text
Available for:
GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
While many patients have substantial residual kidney function (RKF) when initiating hemodialysis (HD), most patients with end stage renal disease in the United States are initiated on 3‐times per ...week conventional HD regimen, with little regard to RKF or patient preference. RKF is associated with many benefits including survival, volume control, solute clearance, and reduced inflammation. Several strategies have been recommended to preserve RKF after HD initiation, including an incremental approach to HD initiation. Incremental HD prescriptions are personalized to achieve adequate volume control and solute clearance with consideration to a patient's endogenous renal function. This allows the initial use of less frequent and/or shorter HD treatment sessions. Regular measurement of RKF is important because HD frequency needs to be increased as RKF inevitably declines. We narratively review the results of 12 observational cohort studies of twice‐weekly compared to thrice‐weekly HD. Incremental HD is associated with several benefits including preservation of RKF as well as extending the event‐free life of arteriovenous fistulas and grafts. Patient survival and quality of life, however, has been variably associated with incremental HD. Serious risks must also be considered, including increased hospitalization and mortality perhaps related to fluid and electrolyte shifts after a long interdialytic interval. On the basis of the above literature review, and our clinical experience, we suggest patient characteristics which may predict favorable outcomes with an incremental approach to HD. These include substantial RKF, adequate volume control, lack of significant anemia/electrolyte imbalance, satisfactory health‐related quality of life, low comorbid disease burden, and good nutritional status without evidence of hypercatabolism. Clinicians should engage patients in on‐going conversations to prepare for incremental HD initiation and to ensure a smooth transition to thrice‐weekly HD when needed.
Full text
Available for:
BFBNIB, DOBA, FZAB, GIS, IJS, IZUM, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Objective: Children exposed to early institutional rearing are at risk for developing psychopathology. The present investigation examines caregiving quality and the role of attachment security as ...they relate to symptoms of psychopathology in young children exposed to early institutionalization. Method: Participants were enrolled in the Bucharest Early Intervention Project (BEIP), a longitudinal intervention study of children abandoned and placed in institutions at or shortly after birth. Measures included observed caregiving when children were 30 months of age, observed attachment security at 42 months, and caregiver reports of children's psychopathology at 54 months. At 54 months, some children remained in institutions, others were in foster care, others had been adopted domestically, and still others had been returned to their biological families. Thus, the children had experienced varying amounts of institutional rearing. Results: After controlling for gender, quality of caregiving when children were 30 months old was associated with symptoms of multiple domains of psychopathology at 54 months of age. Ratings of security of attachment at 42 months mediated the associations between quality caregiving at 30 months and fewer symptoms of psychopathology at 54 months. Conclusions: Among deprived young children, high-quality caregiving at 30 months predicted reduced psychopathology and functional impairment at 54 months. Security of attachment mediated this relationship. Interventions for young children who have experienced deprivation may benefit from explicitly targeting caregiver-child attachment relationships. (Contains 4 tables and 1 figure.)