Background Advantages of the arteriovenous fistula (AVF), including long patency and few complications, were ascertained more than 2 decades ago and may not apply to the contemporary dialysis ...population. Study Design Systematic review and meta-analysis. Estimates were pooled using a random-effects model and sources of heterogeneity were explored using metaregression. Setting & Population Patients treated with long-term hemodialysis using an AVF. Selection Criteria for Studies English-language studies indexed in MEDLINE between 2000 and 2012 using prospectively collected data on 100 or more AVFs. Predictor Age, AVF location, and study location. Outcomes Outcomes of interest were primary AVF failure and primary and secondary patency at 1 and 2 years. Results 7,011 citations were screened and 46 articles met eligibility criteria (62 unique cohorts; n = 12,383). The rate of primary failure was 23% (95% CI, 18%-28%; 37 cohorts; 7,393 AVFs). When primary failures were included, the primary patency rate was 60% (95% CI, 56%-64%; 13 studies; 21 cohorts; 4,111 AVFs) at 1 year and 51% (95% CI, 44%-58%; 7 studies; 12 cohorts; 2,694 AVFs) at 2 years. The secondary patency rate was 71% (95% CI, 64%-78%; 10 studies; 11 cohorts; 3,558 AVFs) at 1 year and 64% (95% CI, 56%-73%; 6 studies; 11 cohorts; 1,939 AVFs) at 2 years. In metaregression, there was a significant decrease in primary patency rate in studies that started recruitment in more recent years. Limitations Low quality of studies, variable clinical settings, and variable definitions of primary AVF failure. Conclusions In recent years, AVFs had a high rate of primary failure and low to moderate primary and secondary patency rates. Consideration of these outcomes is required when choosing a patient's preferred access type.
Urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio (ACR) and protein-to-creatinine ratio (PCR) are used to measure urine protein. Recent guidelines endorse ACR use, and equations have been developed incorporating ACR ...to predict risk of kidney failure. For situations in which PCR only is available, having a method to estimate ACR from PCR as accurately as possible would be useful.
We used data from a population-based cohort of 47,714 adults in Alberta, Canada, who had simultaneous assessments of urine ACR and PCR. After log-transforming ACR and PCR, we used cubic splines and quantile regression to estimate the median ACR from a PCR, allowing for modification by specified covariates. On the basis of the cubic splines, we created models using linear splines to develop equations to estimate ACR from PCR. In a subcohort with eGFR<60 ml/min per 1.73 m
, we then used the kidney failure risk equation to compare kidney failure risk using measured ACR as well as estimated ACR that had been derived from PCR.
We found a nonlinear association between log(ACR) and log(PCR), with the implied albumin-to-protein ratio increasing from <30% in normal to mild proteinuria to about 70% in severe proteinuria, and with wider prediction intervals at lower levels. Sex was the most important modifier of the relationship between ACR and PCR, with men generally having a higher albumin-to-protein ratio. Estimates of kidney failure risk were similar using measured ACR and ACR estimated from PCR.
We developed equations to estimate the median ACR from a PCR, optionally including specified covariates. These equations may prove useful in certain retrospective clinical or research applications where only PCR is available.
Although peritoneal dialysis (PD) costs less to the health care system compared to in-center hemodialysis (HD), it is an underused therapy. Neither modality has been consistently shown to confer a ...clear benefit to patient survival. A key limitation of prior research is that study patients were not restricted to those eligible for both therapies.
Retrospective cohort study.
All adult patients developing end-stage renal disease from January 2004 to December 2013 at any of 7 regional dialysis centers in Ontario, Canada, who had received at least 1 outpatient dialysis treatment and had completed a multidisciplinary modality assessment.
HD or PD.
Mortality from any cause.
Among all incident patients with end-stage renal disease (1,579 HD and 453 PD), PD was associated with lower risk for death among patients younger than 65 years. However, after excluding approximately one-third of all incident patients deemed to be ineligible for PD, the modalities were associated with similar survival regardless of age. This finding was also observed in analyses that were restricted to patients initiating dialysis therapy electively as outpatients. The impact of modality on survival did not vary over time.
The determination of PD eligibility was based on the judgment of the multidisciplinary team at each dialysis center.
HD and PD are associated with similar mortality among incident dialysis patients who are eligible for both modalities. The effect of modality on survival does not appear to change over time. Future comparisons of dialysis modality should be restricted to individuals who are deemed eligible for both modalities to reflect the outcomes of patients who have the opportunity to choose between HD and PD in clinical practice.
Background Educational interventions are increasingly used to promote peritoneal dialysis (PD), the most common form of home therapy for end-stage renal disease. A systematic review of the evidence ...in support of dialysis modality education is needed to inform the design of patient-targeted interventions to increase selection of PD. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to characterize the relationship between patient-targeted educational interventions and choosing and receiving PD. Study Design Systematic review and meta-analysis. Setting & Population Published original studies and abstracts. Selection Criteria for Studies We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL and EBMR. We included controlled observational studies and randomized trials of educational interventions designed to increase PD selection. Intervention Predialysis educational interventions. Outcomes The primary outcome was choosing PD, defined as intention to use PD regardless of whether PD was ever used. The secondary outcome, receiving PD, was defined as an individual receiving PD as his or her treatment. Results Of 3,540 citations, 15 studies met our inclusion criteria, including 1 randomized trial. In the single randomized trial (N = 70), receipt of an educational intervention was associated with a more than 4-fold increase in the odds of choosing PD (OR, 4.60; 95% CI, 1.19-17.74). Based on results from 4 observational studies (N = 7,653), patient-targeted educational interventions were associated with a 2-fold increase in the odds of choosing PD (pooled OR, 2.15; 95% CI, 1.07-4.32; I2 = 76.7%). Based on results from 9 observational studies (N = 8,229), patient-targeted educational intervention was associated with a 3-fold increase in the odds of receiving PD as the initial treatment modality (OR, 3.50; 95% CI, 2.82-4.35; I2 = 24.9%). Limitations Most studies were observational studies, which can establish an association between education and choosing PD or receiving PD, but does not establish causality. Conclusions This systematic review demonstrates a strong association between patient-targeted education interventions and the subsequent choice and receipt of PD.
Survivors of severe acute kidney injury remain at high risk of death well after apparent recovery from the initial insult. Here we determine whether early nephrology follow-up after a hospitalization ...complicated by severe acute kidney injury associates with patient survival. This consisted of a cohort study of all hospitalized adults in Ontario from 1996 to 2008 with acute kidney injury who received temporary inpatient dialysis and survived for 90 days following discharge independent from dialysis. Propensity scores were used to match individuals with early nephrology follow-up, defined as a visit with a nephrologist within 90 days of discharge, to those without. The outcome was time to all-cause mortality of 3877 patients who met the eligibility criteria within a maximum follow-up of 2 years. A total of 1583 patients had early nephrology follow-up of whom 1184 were successfully matched 1:1 to those not receiving early follow-up. The incidence of all-cause mortality was lower in those patients with early nephrology follow-up compared with those without (8.4 compared with 10.6 per 100-patient years, hazard ratio 0.76 (95% CI: 0.62–0.93)). Thus, early nephrology follow-up after hospitalization with acute kidney injury and temporary dialysis was associated with improved survival. This finding requires definitive testing in a randomized controlled trial.
The current staging system for chronic kidney disease is based primarily on estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) with lower eGFR associated with higher risk of adverse outcomes. Although ...proteinuria is also associated with adverse outcomes, it is not used to refine risk estimates of adverse events in this current system.
To determine the association between reduced GFR, proteinuria, and adverse clinical outcomes.
Community-based cohort study with participants identified from a province-wide laboratory registry that includes eGFR and proteinuria measurements from Alberta, Canada, between 2002 and 2007. There were 920 985 adults who had at least 1 outpatient serum creatinine measurement and who did not require renal replacement treatment at baseline. Proteinuria was assessed by urine dipstick or albumin-creatinine ratio (ACR).
All-cause mortality, myocardial infarction, and progression to kidney failure.
The majority of individuals (89.1%) had an eGFR of 60 mL/min/1.73 m(2) or greater. Over median follow-up of 35 months (range, 0-59 months), 27 959 participants (3.0%) died. The fully adjusted rate of all-cause mortality was higher in study participants with lower eGFRs or heavier proteinuria. Adjusted mortality rates were more than 2-fold higher among individuals with heavy proteinuria measured by urine dipstick and eGFR of 60 mL/min/1.73 m(2) or greater, as compared with those with eGFR of 45 to 59.9 mL/min/1.73 m(2) and normal protein excretion (rate, 7.2 95% CI, 6.6-7.8 vs 2.9 95% CI, 2.7-3.0 per 1000 person-years, respectively; rate ratio, 2.5 95% CI, 2.3-2.7). Similar results were observed when proteinuria was measured by ACR (15.9 95% CI, 14.0-18.1 and 7.0 95% CI, 6.4-7.6 per 1000 person-years for heavy and absent proteinuria, respectively; rate ratio, 2.3 95% CI, 2.0-2.6) and for the outcomes of hospitalization with acute myocardial infarction, end-stage renal disease, and doubling of serum creatinine level.
The risks of mortality, myocardial infarction, and progression to kidney failure associated with a given level of eGFR are independently increased in patients with higher levels of proteinuria.
Objective To determine rates of major bleeding by level of kidney function for older adults with atrial fibrillation starting warfarin.Design Retrospective cohort study.Setting Community based, using ...province wide laboratory and administrative data in Alberta, Canada.Participants 12 403 adults aged 66 years or more, with atrial fibrillation who started warfarin treatment between 1 May 2003 and 31 March 2010 and had a measure of kidney function at baseline. Kidney function was estimated using the Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration equation and participants were categorised based on estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR): ≥90, 60-89, 45-59, 30-44, 15-29, <15 mL/min/1.73m2. We excluded participants with end stage renal disease (dialysis or renal transplant) at baseline.Main outcome measures Admission to hospital or visit to an emergency department for major bleeding (intracranial, upper and lower gastrointestinal, or other).Results Of 12 403 participants, 45% had an eGFR <60 mL/min/1.73m2. Overall, 1443 (11.6%) experienced a major bleeding episode over a median follow-up of 2.1 (interquartile range: 1.0-3.8) years. During the first 30 days of warfarin treatment, unadjusted and adjusted rates of major bleeding were higher at lower eGFR (P for trend <0.001 and 0.001, respectively). Adjusted bleeding rates per 100 person years were 63.4 (95% confidence interval 24.9 to 161.6) in participants with eGFR <15 mL/min/1.73m2 compared with 6.1 (1.9 to 19.4) among those with eGFR >90 mL/min/1.73m2 (adjusted incidence rate ratio 10.3, 95% confidence interval 2.3 to 45.5). Similar associations were observed at more than 30 days after starting warfarin, although the magnitude of the increase in rates across eGFR categories was attenuated. Across all eGFR categories, adjusted rates of major bleeding were consistently higher during the first 30 days of warfarin treatment compared with the remainder of follow-up. Increases in major bleeding rates were largely due to gastrointestinal bleeding (3.5-fold greater in eGFR <15 mL/min/1.73m2 compared with ≥90 mL/min/1.73m2). Intracranial bleeding was not increased with worsening kidney function.Conclusions Reduced kidney function was associated with an increased risk of major bleeding among older adults with atrial fibrillation starting warfarin; excess risks from reduced eGFR were most pronounced during the first 30 days of treatment. Our results support the need for careful consideration of the bleeding risk relative to kidney function when assessing the risk-benefit ratio of warfarin treatment in people with chronic kidney disease and atrial fibrillation, particularly in the first 30 days of treatment.
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic relapsing and remitting disease with high morbidity, substantial health care costs, and increasing incidence. Fatigue is one of the most common symptoms ...that impacts quality of life and is a leading concern for patients with IBD. The aim of this study was to determine the global prevalence, risk factors, and impact of fatigue in adults with IBD.
A systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted. Data were retrieved from Medline, Embase, CINAHL, and PsycINFO from database inception to October 2019. A pooled prevalence of fatigue was calculated using a random-effects model. Stratified meta-analyses explored sources of between-study heterogeneity. Study quality was assessed using an adapted checklist from Downs and Black.
The search yielded 4524 studies, of which 20 studies were included in the systematic review and meta-analysis. Overall, the studies were of good quality. The pooled prevalence of fatigue was 47% (95% confidence interval, 41%-54%), though between-study heterogeneity was high (I
= 98%). Fatigue prevalence varied significantly by the definition of fatigue (chronic: 28%; high: 48%; P < .01) and disease status (active disease: 72%; remission: 47%; P < .01). Sleep disturbance, anxiety, depression, and anemia were the most commonly reported fatigue-related risk factors.
The prevalence of fatigue in adults with IBD is high, emphasizing the importance of additional efforts to manage fatigue to improve the care and quality of life for patients with IBD.
ABSTRACT A proportion of end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) patients require kidney replacement therapy to maintain clinical stability. Home dialysis therapies offer convenience, autonomy and potential ...quality of life improvements, all of which were heightened during the COVID-19 pandemic. While the superiority of specific modalities remains uncertain, patient choice and informed decision-making remain crucial. Missed opportunities for home therapies arise from systemic, programmatic and patient-level barriers. This paper introduces the integrated care model which prioritizes the safe and effective uptake of home therapies while also emphasizing patient-centered care, informed decision-making, and comprehensive support. The integrated care framework addresses challenges in patient identification, assessment, eligibility determination, education and modality transitions. Special considerations for urgent dialysis starts are discussed, acknowledging the unique barriers faced by this population. Continuous quality improvement is emphasized, with the understanding that local challenges may require tailored solutions. Overall, the integrated care model aims to create a seamless and beneficial transition to home dialysis therapies, promoting flexibility and improved quality of life for ESKD patients globally.
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