Maintenance Dialysis Patients Research Articles

Community-acquired versus hospital-acquired acute kidney injury at a large Australian metropolitan quaternary referral centre: incidence, associations and outcomes.

There is increasing global incidence of acute kidney injury (AKI) and significant short- and long-term impacts on patients. To determine incidence and outcomes of community-acquired AKI (CA-AKI) and hospital-acquired AKI (HA-AKI) among inpatients in the Australian healthcare setting using modern health information systems. A retrospective cohort study of adult patients admitted to a quaternary hospital in Melbourne, Australia, between 1 January 2018 and 31 December 2019 utilising an electronic data warehouse. Participants included adult patients admitted for >24 h who had more than one serum creatinine level recorded during admission. Kidney transplant and maintenance dialysis patients were excluded. Main outcomes measured included AKI, as classified by the Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) criteria, hospital length of stay and 30-day mortality. A total of 6477 AKI episodes was identified across 43 791 admissions. Of all AKI episodes, 77% (n = 5011), 15% (n = 947) and 8% (n = 519) were KDIGO stage 1, 2 and 3 respectively. HA-AKI accounted for 55.9% episodes. Patients required intensive care unit admission in 22.7% (n = 1100) of CA-AKI and 19.3% (n = 935) of HA-AKI, compared with 7.5% (n = 2815) of patients with no AKI (P = 0.001). Patients with AKI were older with more co-morbidities, particularly chronic kidney disease (CKD). Length of stay was longer in CA-AKI (8.8 days) and HA-AKI (11.8 days) compared with admissions without AKI (4.9 days; P < 0.001). Thirty-day mortality was increased with CA-AKI (10.2%) and HA-AKI (12.8%) compared with no AKI (3.7%; P < 0.001). The incidence of AKI detected by the electronic data warehouse was higher than previously reported. Patients who experienced AKI had greater morbidity and mortality. CKD was an important risk factor for AKI in hospitalised patients.

Hypoxia-inducible factor prolyl hydroxylase inhibitors for anaemia in maintenance dialysis: a meta-analysis.

Anaemia is a common complication of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) that relies on dialysis. Hypoxia-inducible factor prolyl hydroxylase inhibitors (HIF-PHI) is a new class of small-molecule oral drugs for the treatment of anaemia in chronic kidney disease. They demonstrate several advantages over traditional exogenous erythropoietin (EPO). We conducted a meta-analysis of studies that compared the efficacy of HIF-PHI in erythropoiesis and iron metabolism, and its safety with EPO in maintenance dialysis patients. A sensitive search strategy in the PubMed, EMBASE and Cochrane databases identified all citations for randomised controlled trials (RCTs) comparing HIF-PHI agents with EPO/placebo through December 2021. Fourteen RCTs were identified, which included 2738 patients. No statistical difference was found in haemoglobin increase (p = 0.37) between HIF-PHI treatment and EPO using the random-effects model. HIF-PHI administration upregulated transferrin (MD 36.12, 95% CI 27.04-45.20) and soluble transferrin receptors (sTfR) (MD 1.28, 95% CI 0.44-2.13), but did not statistically reduce hepcidin level (p = 0.37). Total and LDL-cholestrol levels were suppressed by HIF-PHI (MD - 0.99, 95% CI - 1.34 to - 0.63) (MD - 0.99, 95% CI - 1.34 to - 0.64), while triglyceride (TG) was not different between HIF-PHI and EPO (p = 0.74). The total incident rates of treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAE) (p = 0.20) from HIF-PHI treatment were not different from those of erythropoietin, while the treatment-emergent serious adverse events (TSAE) (p = 0.02) were higher in the HIF-PHI group than those in the EPO controls with the fixed-effect model. HIF-PHI could effectively upregulate and maintain haemoglobin levels in patients with anaemia receiving maintenance dialysis. Furthermore, HIF-PHI could elevate iron metabolism activity and utility without inducing treatment-associated serious adverse events. Robust data from larger RCTs with longer treatment duration and follow-up are needed.

COVID-19 and Hospitalization Among Maintenance Dialysis Patients: A Retrospective Cohort Study Using Time-Dependent Modeling

Rationale & ObjectiveThe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has had a profound impact on hospitalizations in general and on dialysis patients in particular. This study modeled the impact of COVID-19 on hospitalizations of dialysis patients in 2020.Study DesignRetrospective cohort study.Setting & ParticipantsMedicare patients on dialysis in calendar year 2020.PredictorsCOVID-19 status was divided into 4 stages: COVID1 (first 10 days after initial diagnosis), COVID2 (extends until the Post-COVID stage), Post-COVID (after 21 days with no COVID-19 diagnosis), and Late-COVID (begins after a hospitalization with a COVID-19 diagnosis); demographic and clinical characteristics; and dialysis facilities.OutcomeThe sequence of hospitalization events.Analytical ApproachA proportional rate model with a nonparametric baseline rate function of calendar time on the study population.ResultsA total of 509,609 patients were included in the study, 63,521 were observed to have a SARS-CoV-2 infection, 34,375 became Post-COVID, and 1,900 became Late-COVID. Compared with No-COVID, all 4 stages had significantly greater adjusted risks of hospitalizations with relative rates of 18.50 (95% CI, 18.19-18.81) for COVID1, 2.03 (95% CI, 1.99-2.08) for COVID2, 1.37 (95% CI, 1.35-1.40) for Post-COVID, and 2.00 (95% CI, 1.89-2.11) for Late-COVID.LimitationsFor Medicare Advantage patients, we only had inpatient claim information. The analysis was based on data from the year 2020, and the effects may have changed due to vaccinations, new treatments, and new variants. The COVID-19 effects may be somewhat overestimated due to missing information on patients with few or no symptoms and possible delay in COVID-19 diagnosis.ConclusionsWe discovered a marked time dependence in the effect of COVID-19 on hospitalization of dialysis patients, beginning with an extremely high risk for a relatively short period, with more moderate but continuing elevated risks later, and never returning to the No-COVID level.

COVID-19 beliefs and vaccination uptake in dialysis patients: lessons from an anonymous patient survey.

There is a lack of data on how to best optimise uptake of COVID-19 vaccination in dialysis patients. To understand attitudes and beliefs about COVID-19 and vaccination uptake in dialysis patients. A single-centre, cross-sectional study involving a clinical audit and an anonymous survey of adult maintenance dialysis patients was conducted. The vaccination uptake during the study period was 77.5% at least single dose, compared with 70% in Victoria during the same period. Participants were more likely to be vaccinated if they believed COVID-19 was a serious problem that is worse for people on dialysis. Those unvaccinated were more likely to overestimate the risk of vaccine complications and less likely to have the annual influenza vaccine. Despite over 80% of participants agreeing that they would have the vaccine if recommended by their nephrologist, less than 40% reported receiving information from this source. A predominant reason for vaccine hesitancy was concern regarding vaccine safety. Over 60% of those who were unvaccinated were still open to the vaccine, indicating a significant opportunity to improve vaccination rates through medical consultation and direction. Vaccine hesitancy for COVID-19 in dialysis patients associates with less informed health beliefs, both about the disease and the risks of vaccination. Patients are more likely to get vaccinated if it is recommended by their nephrologist. Clinicians caring for dialysis patients have a key role in providing high-quality education and advice, representing an urgent opportunity for improvement in vaccination uptake against COVID-19.

BNT162b2 vaccine effectiveness in chronic kidney disease patients-an observational study.

ABSTRACTBackgroundChronic kidney disease (CKD) is a risk factor for severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). We aimed to evaluate the real-life effectiveness of the BNT162b2 messenger RNA vaccine for a range of outcomes in patients with CKD compared with matched controls.MethodsData from Israel's largest healthcare organization were retrospectively used. Vaccinated CKD [estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) <60 ml/min/1.73 m2] and maintenance dialysis patients were matched to vaccinated controls without CKD (eGFR ≥60 ml/min/1.73 m2) according to demographic and clinical characteristics. Study outcomes included documented infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, symptomatic infection, COVID-19-related hospitalization, severe disease and death. Vaccine effectiveness was estimated as the risk ratio (RR) at days 7–28 following the second vaccine dose, using the Kaplan–Meier estimator. Effectiveness measures were also evaluated separately for various stages of CKD.ResultsThere were 67 861 CKD patients not treated with dialysis, 2606 hemodialysis (HD) patients and 70 467 matched controls. The risk of severe disease {RR 1.84 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.95–2.67]} and death [RR 2.00 (95% CI 0.99–5.20)] was increased in nondialysis CKD patients compared with controls without CKD following vaccination. For the subgroup of patients with eGFR <30 ml/min/1.73 m2, the risk of severe disease and death was increased compared with controls [RR 6.42 (95% CI 1.85–17.51) and RR 8.81 (95% CI 1.63–13.81), respectively]. The risks for all study outcomes were increased in HD patients compared with controls.ConclusionTwo doses of the BNT162b2 vaccine were found to be less efficient for patients with eGFR <30 ml/min/1.73 m2. Risk in HD patients is increased for all outcomes. These results suggest prioritizing patients with eGFR <30 ml/min/1.73 m2 for booster shots, pre- and post-exposure prophylaxis and early COVID-19 therapy.

Efficacy and safety of radiofrequency ablation versus parathyroidectomy for secondary hyperparathyroidism in dialysis patients: a single-center retrospective study

We compared the efficacy and safety of ultrasound (US)-guided radiofrequency ablation (RFA) and parathyroidectomy (PTX) for the treatment of secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT). In this single-center retrospective study, we divided patients into PTX (n = 53) and RFA (n = 47) groups. The primary outcome was the proportion of patients who achieved the target intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH) concentration range (≤ 300 pg/mL). Secondary outcomes were the differences in the changes in iPTH, calcium, and phosphorus levels over time and prognosis. iPTH concentrations of 82.1% and 64.1% in the PTX and RFA groups, respectively, were within the recommended range at the endpoint (P = 0.07). iPTH concentrations in the PTX and RFA groups dropped sharply after treatment (82 ± 163 pg/mL and 280 ± 307 pg/mL, respectively, P < 0.001). There was no difference in the trends of iPTH, calcium, and phosphorus levels between the two groups (P > 0.05). Survival analysis revealed no differences in all-cause mortality and cumulative response rate between the two groups (P = 0.90, P = 0.14, respectively). Notably, the incidence of infection and length of the hospital stay in the RFA group were significantly lower. The preoperative bone-specific alkaline phosphatase concentration was a risk factor for postoperative hypocalcemia. US-guided RFA is minimally invasive and compared to PTX in terms of long-term efficacy and complications in the treatment of severe SHPT in maintenance dialysis patients. It may be used as an alternative technique to PTX; however, further studies are needed.

The vulnerability of maintenance dialysis patients with COVID-19: mortality and risk factors from a developing country

Patients on maintenance dialysis therapy are especially vulnerable to COVID-19 and its complications. This study aimed to assess the incidence, epidemiological characteristics, and mortality rate of COVID-19 among maintenance dialysis patients. This retrospective observational chart review study included 548 patients from all dialysis units in the West Bank of Palestine who acquired COVID-19 between 5 March 2020, and 11 August 2021. We collected data on patients' demographics, clinical features, and outcomes. A multivariable logistic regression model was used to assess independent risk factors for COVID-19-related mortality. The incidence of COVID-19 among maintenance dialysis patients was 35.3%, as 548 out of 1554 patients have tested positive during the study period. Patients on haemodialysis were three times riskier to get infected than those on peritoneal dialysis (37% vs 11.3%). Half (50.2%) of infected patients required hospitalisation, and 24.5% were admitted to an intensive care unit, while the mortality rate stood at 26.8%. Old age, male sex, central venous catheter use, comorbid diabetes, smoking, and having an RH negative blood group type were determined to be significantly associated with increased risk of mortality. In conclusion, the incidence of COVID-19 among Palestinian maintenance dialysis patients was notably high, especially among haemodialysis patients. High rates of hospitalisation, ICU admission, intubation and death were observed, and predictive factors for COVID-19-related mortality were identified. Therefore, the implementation of strict infection control measures and promotion of home dialysis are warranted to reduce the infection rate. KEY MESSAGES The incidence of COVID-19 among Palestinian maintenance dialysis patients was notably high; more than one-third of the total dialysis population acquired COVID-19, with haemodialysis patients being three times more likely to get infected compared to their peritoneal dialysis counterparts. The mortality rate among maintenance dialysis patients was 26.8%, more than 25 times higher than that of the general population. The risk of mortality was significantly increased with age, male sex, smoking, diabetes, and having central venous catheter as vascular access for haemodialysis. Strict infection control measures, as well as the promotion of home dialysis, are necessary to reduce the risk of infection.

MO911: Prevalence of SARS-COV-2 Cellular and Humoral Immunity in Dialysis Patients After 8 Months of Vaccination Campaign in Portugal

BACKGROUND AND AIMSImmunization of dialysis dependent patients remains the single most important protective approach in prevention of serious COVID-19 infection. This study aims to characterize the prevalence of humoral and cellular immunity in maintenance dialysis patients (MDP) in a Nephrology Centre, 8 months after vaccination onset.METHODA single-center cross-sectional study enrolling patients on peritoneal (PD) and haemodialysis (HD) from a public-funded Portuguese Nephrology Centre. This study evaluated both humoral and cellular immunity to the COVID-19 vaccination. Humoral response was measured as specific IgG (S-RBD IgG), and cellular response as T-cell reactivity through IFN- γ quantification as response to antigen (IGRA). Further demographic and clinical variables were obtained to assess the risk factors of low immunity.RESULTSOf the 86 patients enrolled, 79.4% and 84.1% showed humoral and cellular immunity, respectively. Quantitatively, IgG S-RBD titers correlated with specific T-cell reactivity (ρ = 0.58, P < 0.001). Vaccination before dialysis initiation was associated with an absent cellular response (P = .006). Subgroup analysis associated high comorbidity burden (quantified through the Charlson comorbidity index) and low serum albumin levels as predictors of immunity (P < 0.05, variable). PD patients showed lower cellular response (297.1 mUI/mL versus 695.4 mUI/mL, P = 0.03) at 8 months following BNT162b2.CONCLUSIONThe prevalence of humoral and cellular immunity against SARS-CoV-2 in vaccinated Portuguese MDP is high. Vaccination in imminent pre-dialysis patients, high comorbidity burden and low serum albumin are some of the identified risk factors for absent immunity. PD-associated effector memory T-cell changes are suggested as contributing to the difference verified in cellular response.Table 1.Descriptive group and subgroup analysisComplete samplen = 88Subgroup An = 79Subgroup Bn = 68Age (years), mean (σ)69.9 (12.7)70.4 (12.5)70.2 (13.2)Sex (female/male), n (%)30 (34.1)29 (36.7)23 (33.8)Modality (HD/PD), n (%)67 (76.1)21 (23.9)60 (75.9)19 (24.1)49 (72.1)19 (27.9)Dialysis vintage at vaccination, months, mean (σ)-a-a29.7 (26.7)Diabetes, n (%)38 (43.2)35 (44.3)31 (45.6)Charlson comorbidity index, mean (σ)6.8 (2.5)6.8 (2.5)6.8 (2.5)Nephrosclerosis, n (%)24 (27.3)22 (27.8)18 (26.5)Immune disorders, n (%)7 (8)5 (6.3)2 (2.9)CKD stage at vaccination Maintenance dialysis, n (%) Stage 5 CKD, n (%) 79 (89.8)9 (10.2) 74 (14.8)5 (6.3) 68 (100)0Time from vaccination to immune status evaluation-8 monthsVaccineBNT162b2, n (%)ChAdOx1 nCov-19, n (%)Ad26.COV2.S, n (%)None, n (%) 78622 72520 68000Contact with SARS-CoV-2COVID-19 infection, n (%)Asymptomatic, n (%) 34 00 00Humoral responseIgG-RBD (AU/mL), median (IQR)NR, n (%) 4.6 (14)19 (21.6) 4.7 (12.8)16 (20.3) 4.6 (11.4)14 (20.6)Cellular responseIGRA (mUI/mL), median (IQR)NR, n (%) 574.8 (1376.9)14 (15.9) 571.8 (940.6)11 (13.9) 530 (914.9)10 (14.6)Laboratory variablesALB, mean (σ)iPTH, mean (σ)CRP, mean (σ) 3.5 (0.5)301.1 (317.7)1.1 (1.5) 3.6 (0.4)310.7 (318.2)1 (1.5) 3.6 (0.4)328.6 (331.5)1 (1.6)σ: standard deviation; CKD: chronic kidney disease; IQR: interquartile range; IGRA: interferon-γ release assay; NR: non-responsive; sALB: serum albumin; iPTH: intact parathormone; CRP: C-reactive protein. aBoth groups included patients who were not on dialysis.

FC094: Frax is Useful Tool for Predicting All-Cause Mortality in Addition to the Risk of Fragile Fracture in Hemodialysis Patients

Abstract BACKGROUND AND AIMS The fracture risk assessment tool (FRAX®) was developed to predict the probability of fragile fractures during the next 10 years for the general population, and it is calculated by inputting risk factors of fractures such as age, gender, height, weight, fracture history, presence or absence of rheumatoid arthritis and steroid therapy. Although contents of FRAX do not include CKD as a risk factor, previous studies have shown that FRAX was useful in predicting fracture risk in maintenance dialysis patients. However, many reports are short-term observational studies targeting fracture risk. In the present study, we examined whether FRAX can be useful to predict the risk of fragile fractures and all-cause mortality in hemodialysis patients through the long-term observation. METHOD A retrospective cohort study was conducted in 273 patients aged 40 to under 90 who started hemodialysis at our hospital between March 2004 and the present and who could be followed for at least 3 years or had a fracture within 3 years. In order to assess the association between FRAX score and fragile fracture or all-cause mortality, a multivariate analysis was performed using the Cox proportional hazard model with factors related to fractures and mortality as covariates. The 10-year probability (%) of major osteoporotic fracture without bone mineral density was adopted as the FRAX score. RESULTS The average follow-up period was 6.7 years, and the average age of patients was 66 years, with women accounting for 29%. Of all 273 patients, 55 developed fragile fractures and 97 died. FRAX scores were divided into two groups (lower FRAX score and higher FRAX score) in accordance with a cut-off value of 8.2%, determined by ROC curve for fracture. Univariate analysis of factors associated with fractures revealed that higher FRAX score (8.2 or more) was a significant factor [hazard ratio (HR): 4.49 (2.59–7.85)]. Multivariate analysis conducted with significant factors in univariate analysis (mean serum albumin level, serum phosphorus level, magnesium level, C-reactive protein level and use or non-use of phosphate binder during the 3 years) as the covariates revealed that higher FRAX score was significantly associated with fractures [HR: 2.40 (1.27–4.5)]. Regarding the association between FRAX score and all-cause mortality, in univariate analysis, higher FRAX score was a significant predictive factor [HR: 4.34 (2.84–6. 64)]. In multivariate analysis adjusted with mean serum albumin level, creatinine level, magnesium level, C-reactive protein level, hemoglobin level, use or non-use of phosphate binder and calcimimetics as the covariates, higher FRAX score was found to be a significant factor of all-cause mortality [HR: 3.22 (1.97–5.22)]. CONCLUSION FRAX score was also a useful tool for predicting fractures and all-cause mortality in hemodialysis patients even in long-term analysis.

MO852: Predialysis Blood-Pressure Control Based on Antihypertensive Guidelines Should Deteriorate Cardiovascular Prognosis in Patients on Maintenance Dialysis

Abstract BACKGROUND AND AIMS Guidelines of KDOQI for dialysis patients on blood-pressure (BP) targets proposed blow 140/90 mmHg at predialysis and &amp;lt; 130/80 mmHg at postdialysis. On the other hand, in dialysis patients, many reports have shown an association between predialysis hypotension and poor prognosis. Moreover, it has been reported that low systolic blood-pressure (SBP) is associated with poor prognosis in non-dialysis patients with heart failure. Therefore, predialysis BP controlled according to KDOQI guideline should worsen survival rate in dialysis patients, especially with any cardiac disease. This time, we investigated the difference on cardiovascular survival-rate between the group complied with KDOQI guidelines and the group complied with them for diastolic blood-pressure alone, by using Yoshikawa clinic dialysis-database (YCD). METHOD A total of 455 dialysis patients (264 males and 176 females) registered in YCD enrolled in this study from April 2006 on. From these patients, we extracted two groups, group G, strictly lowering on systolic and diastolic blood-pressure and group D, lowering on diastolic blood-pressure (DBP) alone, in accordance with antihypertensive guidelines. According to calculated propensity score on group G, patients were extracted by 1: 1 matching from each group. Their survival analysis was estimated by Kaplan–Meier method, and a log-rank test was used to examine the differences between the cardiovascular survival curves. The prognostic factors for cardiovascular mortality were extracted from background factors, including blood-pressure level, using Cox regression model. RESULTS In 455 patients, mean predialysis SBP and DBP were 143.3 mmHg and 73.1 mmHg, respectively. 141 patients were extracted as group G and 219 were as group D. According to calculated propensity-score, 116 pairs (group Gp and Dp) were extracted from group G and D. There was no significant difference in matching covariates except predialysis blood-pressure between the two groups. During mean-observational period of 5.8 years, 111 patients died, among that 59 were cardiovascular death (CVD). The survival curve on cardiovascular mortality in the group Gp showed significantly poor prognosis. In multivariate analysis of Cox proportional hazard model, SBP &amp;lt; 140 mmHg was extracted as a prognostic factor for CVD, and the hazard ratio was 1.892. On the other hand, in group Dp, non-cardiovascular prognosis was poor, especially in those &amp;lt; 70 years old. CONCLUSION Blood-pressure control in maintenance dialysis-patients based on current antihypertensive guidelines (KDOQI) should worsen their cardiovascular prognosis. Therefore, it is necessary to set SBP control for each case. This study is a cohort study with a single institution, and a prospective study with multiple institutions will be needed in the future.

Telemedicine and Haemodialysis Care during the COVID-19 Pandemic: An Integrative Review of Patient Safety, Healthcare Quality, Ethics and the Legal Considerations in Singapore Practice.

The COVID-19 pandemic has been an unprecedented health crisis for the general population as well as for patients with chronic illnesses such as those requiring maintenance dialysis. Patients suffering from chronic kidney disease requiring dialysis are considered a high-risk population. Multiple reports have highlighted an increased need for intensive care and higher death rates among this group of patients. Most maintenance dialysis patients are in-centre haemodialysis patients who receive treatment in shared facilities (community dialysis centres). The inability to maintain social distancing in these facilities has led to case clustering among patients and staff. This poses a substantial risk to the patients, their household members, and the wider community. To mitigate the risks of COVID-19 transmission, telemedicine was rapidly adopted in the past year by nephrologists and other allied-health staff to provide care via remote consultations and reviews. Telemedicine poses unique challenges even in an era where so much is performed online with a high degree of success and satisfaction. In applying distant clinical care for maintenance haemodialysis patients via telemedicine, there is a need to ensure adequate protection for the health and safety of patients as well as understand the ethical and legal implications of telemedicine. We discussed, in this article, these three core aspects of patient safety and quality, ethics and legal implications in telemedicine, and how each of these is crucial to the safe and effective delivery of care in general as well as unique aspects of this in Singapore.

Functional Status and Engagement in Physical Activity Among Maintenance Dialysis Patients: A Mixed Methods Study

Rationale & ObjectivePeople receiving maintenance hemodialysis (HD) experience significant activity barriers but desire the ability to do more and remain independent. To learn about how to help people who require dialysis stay active, a mixed methods study was designed to assess functional status and explore participants’ lived activity experiences.Study DesignA concurrent mixed methods design was chosen to increase understanding of the real-life activity experiences of people who require dialysis through in-depth interviews paired with functional status measures. The qualitative findings were fully integrated with the quantitative results to link characteristics associated with different physical activity levels.Setting & ParticipantsA purposive sample of 15 adult patients receiving maintenance HD for at least 3 months was recruited from 7 dialysis centers in Newark, New Jersey.Analytical ApproachThematic analysis using principles of interpretive phenomenology. Fully integrated quantitative and qualitative data with joint displays and conversion mixed methods.ResultsParticipants had a median age of 58 years and were predominantly African American (83%) and men (67%). Three descriptive categories were generated about the participants. They described physical activity as a routine daily activity rather than structured exercise. All participants experienced substantial hardship in addition to chronic kidney disease and expressed that family, friends, and faith were essential to their ability to be active. An overarching theme was generated for participants’ mindsets about physical activity. Within the mindset theme, we discerned 3 subthemes comprising characteristics of participants’ mindsets by levels of engagement in physical activity.LimitationsWhile code saturation and trends in functional status measures were achieved with 15 participants, a larger sample size would allow for deeper meaning saturation and statistical inference.ConclusionsPatients receiving maintenance HD with an engaged mindset exhibited more adaptive coping skills, moved more, wanted to help others, and had a normal body weight habitus. These participants employed adaptive coping skills to carry out daily life activities of importance, highlighting the value of adaptive coping to help overcome the challenges of being physically active.

Hydralazine–Isosorbide Dinitrate Use in Patients With End-Stage Kidney Disease on Dialysis

IntroductionThe combination of hydralazine–isosorbide dinitrate (H-ISDN) has potential as a heart failure (HF) therapy in the setting of maintenance dialysis.MethodsIn this retrospective study, we analyzed the efficacy of H-ISDN using United States Renal Data System (USRDS) data. We identified all adult patients with a history of HF on maintenance dialysis between January 1, 2011, and December 31, 2016, with at least 1 prescription for H-ISDN. Baseline characteristics, prescriptions, and outcomes were retrieved from institutional and physician claims. The primary outcome was death from any cause. Additional outcomes included cardiovascular death, sudden cardiac death, hospitalization for HF, an inpatient diagnosis of myocardial infarction (MI), or new-onset atrial fibrillation. Stabilized inverse probability weights were estimated using relevant baseline characteristics and were used in Cox proportional hazards regression.ResultsWe identified 6306 patients who were treated with H-ISDN and 75,509 patients who did not receive H-ISDN. The crude all-cause mortality rate was lower in patients treated with H-ISDN (16.0 events/100 patient years [PYs]) than in nonusers (27.9/100-PY). H-ISDN use was independently associated with lower mortality: hazard ratio (HR) 0.48 (95% CI 0.43–0.54). Cardiovascular death and sudden cardiac death were less common among H-ISDN users than nonusers, Weighted HR was 0.62 (95% CI 0.53–0.71) and 0.62 (95% CI 0.52–0.73), respectively. In contrast, HF admission and MI were more frequent in patients treated with H-ISDN (195.5 and 18.0 events/100-PY) compared with nonusers (73.4 and 10.2 events/100-PY).ConclusionH-ISDN therapy may improve cardiovascular outcomes in maintenance dialysis patients with HF.

Single-centre cross-sectional study on the impact of cumulative erythropoietin on bone mineral density in maintenance dialysis patients

ObjectivesNumerous factors are associated with the risk of osteoporosis in patients with chronic kidney disease, including vitamin D deficiency, hypocalcaemia, hyperphosphataemia and secondary hyperparathyroidism. This study aimed to assess the...

Waning Humoral Response after COVID-19 mRNA Vaccination in Maintenance Dialysis Patients and Recovery after a Complementary Third Dose.

The aim of this study was to analyze the waning of anti-spike (S) antibodies after mRNA vaccination against COVID-19 in maintenance dialysis patients, and to assess the safety and effectiveness of the complementary third dose. This was a prospective, longitudinal study in which we analyzed the kinetics of antibodies up to six months after a two-dose vaccination (first protocol) in infection-naïve dialysis patients (IN-Ds), previously infected dialysis patients (PI-Ds) and subjects without chronic kidney disease (the controls), as well as their humoral response to the third dose of the same mRNA vaccine (second protocol). The respective reduction in antibody titer after 3 and 6 months by 82.9% and 93.03% in IN-Ds (n = 109), 73.4% and 93.36% in PI-Ds (n = 32) and 75.5% and 88.8% in the controls (n = 20) was demonstrated. Consequently, a protective antibody titer above 141 BAU/mL was found in only 47.7% and 23.8% of IN-Ds after 3 and 6 months, respectively. After the third vaccine dose, a significant increase in antibody titer was observed in all groups, with increases by a factor of ×51.6 in IN-Ds, ×30.1 in the controls and ×8.4 in PI-Ds. The median antibody titer after the third dose differed significantly between groups, and was the highest in PI-Ds: PI-Ds, 9090 (3300–15,000) BAU/mL; the controls, 6945 (2130–11,800); IN-Ds, 3715 (1470–7325) (p < 0.001). In conclusion, we observed similar degrees of antibody waning in all patients. After 3 months, over half of the infection-naïve dialysis patients had a very low antibody titer, and almost twenty percent of them had no antibodies at all. The humoral response to the third dose was very good, raising their titer of antibodies to a higher level than those in the general population who have received the primary two-dose scheme. The results support the administration of a complementary third dose of the mRNA vaccine for dialysis patients as soon as possible.

Seroresponse to SARS-CoV-2 Vaccines among Maintenance Dialysis Patients over 6 Months.

Although most patients receiving maintenance dialysis exhibit initial seroresponse to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) vaccination, concerns exist regarding the durability of this antibody response. This study evaluated seroresponse over time. This retrospective cohort study included patients on maintenance dialysis, from a midsize national dialysis provider, who received a complete SARS-CoV-2 vaccine series and had at least one antibody titer checked after full vaccination. IgG spike antibodies (anti-spike IgG) titers were assessed monthly with routine laboratory tests after vaccination; the semiquantitative assay reported a range between zero and ≥20 Index. Descriptive analyses compared trends over time by history of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and vaccine type. Time-to-event analyses examined the outcome of loss of seroresponse (anti-spike IgG <1 Index or development of COVID-19). Cox regression adjusted for additional clinical characteristics. Among 1870 patients receiving maintenance dialysis, 1569 had no prior COVID-19. Patients without prior COVID-19 had declining titers over time. Among 443 recipients of BNT162b2 (Pfizer), median (interquartile range) anti-spike IgG titer declined from ≥20 (5.89 to ≥20) in month 1 after full vaccination to 1.96 (0.60-5.88) by month 6. Among 778 recipients of mRNA-1273 (Moderna), anti-spike IgG titer declined from ≥20 (interquartile range, ≥20 to ≥20) in month 1 to 7.99 (2.61 to ≥20) by month 6. The 348 recipients of Ad26.COV2.S (Janssen) had a lower titer response than recipients of an mRNA vaccine over all time periods. In time-to-event analyses, recipients of Ad26.COV2.S and mRNA-1273 had the shortest and longest time to loss of seroresponse, respectively. The maximum titer reached in the first 2 months after full vaccination was associated with durability of the anti-spike IgG seroresponse; patients with anti-spike IgG titer 1-19.99 had a shorter time to loss of seroresponse compared with patients with anti-spike IgG titer ≥20 (hazard ratio, 15.5; 95% confidence interval, 11.7 to 20.7). Among patients receiving maintenance dialysis, vaccine-induced seroresponse wanes over time across vaccine types. Early titers after full vaccination are associated with the durability of seroresponse.

Immunogenicity and reactogenicity of homologous mRNA-based and vector-based SARS-CoV-2 vaccine regimens in patients receiving maintenance dialysis

Patients receiving maintenance dialysis (MD) are vulnerable to COVID-19-related morbidity and mortality. Currently, data on SARS-CoV-2-specific cellular and humoral immunity post-vaccination in this population are scarce.We conducted a prospective single-center study exploring the specific cellular (interferon-γ and interleukin-2 ELISpot assays) and humoral immune responses (dot plot array and chemiluminescent microparticle immunoassay [CMIA]) at 4 weeks and 6 weeks following a single dose or a complete homologous dual dose SARS-CoV-2 vaccine regimen in 60 MD patients (six with a history of COVID-19).Our results show that MD patients exhibit a high seroconversion rate (91.7%) but the anti-spike IgG antibodies (CMIA) tend to wane rapidly after full immunization. Only 51.7% of the patients developed T cell immune response. High anti-spike IgG antibodies may predict a better cellular immunity. While patients with prior COVID-19 showed the best response after one, SARS-CoV-2-naïve patients may benefit from a third vaccine injection.

Dialysis attendance patterns and health care utilisation of Aboriginal patients attending dialysis services in urban, rural and remote locations

BackgroundAboriginal people in the Northern Territory (NT) suffer the heaviest burden of kidney failure in Australia with most living in remote areas at time of dialysis commencement. As there are few dialysis services in remote areas, many Aboriginal people are required to relocate often permanently, to access treatment. Missing dialysis treatments is not uncommon amongst Aboriginal patients but the relationship between location of dialysis service and dialysis attendance (and subsequent hospital use) has not been explored to date.AimTo examine the relationships between location of dialysis service, dialysis attendance patterns and downstream health service use (overnight hospital admissions, emergency department presentations) among Aboriginal patients in the NT.MethodsUsing linked hospital and dialysis registry datasets we analysed health service activity for 896 Aboriginal maintenance dialysis patients in the NT between 2008 and 2014. Multivariate linear regression and negative binomial regression analyses explored the associations between dialysis location, dialysis attendance and health service use.ResultsWe found missing two or more dialysis treatments per month was more likely for Aboriginal people attending urban services and this was associated with a two-fold increase in the rate of hospital admissions and more than three-fold increase in ED presentations. However, we found higher dialysis attendance and lower health service utilisation for those receiving care in rural and remote settings. When adjusted for age, time on dialysis, region, comorbidities and residence pre-treatment, among Aboriginal people from remote areas, those dialysing in remote areas had lower rates of hospitalisations (IRR 0.56; P < 0.001) when compared to those who relocated and dialysed in urban areas.ConclusionThere is a clear relationship between the provision and uptake of dialysis services in urban, rural and remote areas in the NT and subsequent broader health service utilisation. Our study suggests that the low dialysis attendance associated with relocation and care in urban models for Aboriginal people can potentially be ameliorated by access to rural and remote models and this warrants a rethinking of service delivery policy. If providers are to deliver effective and equitable services, the full range of intended and unintended consequences of a dialysis location should be incorporated into planning decisions.

The Protective Effects of Lipid-Lowering Agents on Cardiovascular Disease and Mortality in Maintenance Dialysis Patients: Propensity Score Analysis of a Population-Based Cohort Study.

Lipid-lowering agents display limited benefits on cardiovascular diseases and mortality in patients undergoing dialysis. Therefore, they are not routinely recommended for dialysis patients. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of lipid-lowering agents on clinical outcomes in dialysis patients on the basis of real-world evidence. This research used Taiwan’s National Health Insurance Research Database to identify dialysis patients from January 2009 to December 2015; patients were then categorized into a case group treated with lipid-lowering agents (n = 3,933) and a control group without lipid-lowering agents (n = 24,267). Patients were matched by age, sex, and comorbidities in a 1:1 ratio. This study used the Cox regression model to estimate the hazard ratios (HRs) for mortality and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) for events recorded until December 2017. During a mean follow-up period of approximately 3.1 years, 1726 [43.9%, incidence 0.123/person-year (PY)] deaths and 598 (15.2%, incidence 0.047/PY) MACEs occurred in the case group and 2031 (51.6%, incidence 0.153/PY) deaths and 649 (16.5% incidence 0.055/PY) MACEs occurred in the control group. In the multivariable analysis of the Cox regression model, lipid-lowering agent users showed a significantly lower risk of death [HR: 0.75; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.70–0.80] and MACEs (HR: 0.88; 95% CI: 0.78–0.98) than lipid-lowering agent non-users. Moreover, the survival benefit of lipid-lowering agents was significant across most subgroups. Dialysis patients treated with lipid-lowering agents display a 25 and 12% reduction in their risk of mortality and MACEs, respectively. Therefore, lipid-lowering agents might be considered when treating dialysis patients with hyperlipidemia.

Proportional integral feedback control of ultrafiltration rate in hemodialysis

Most hemodialysis patients without residual kidney function accumulate fluid between dialysis session that needs to be removed by ultrafiltration. Ultrafiltration usually results in a decline in relative blood volume (RBV). Recent epidemiological research has identified RBV ranges that were associated with significantly better survival. The objective of this work was to develop an ultrafiltration controller to steer a patient's RBV trajectory into these favorable RBV ranges. We designed a proportional-integral feedback ultrafiltration controller that utilizes signals from a device that reports RBV. The control goal is to attain the RBV trajectory associated with improved patient survival. Additional constraints such as upper and lower bounds of ultrafiltration volume and rate were realized. The controller was evaluated in in silico and ex vivo bench experiments, and in a clinical proof-of-concept study in two maintenance dialysis patients. In all tests, the ultrafiltration controller performed as expected. In the in silico and ex vivo bench experiments, the controller showed robust reaction toward deliberate disruptive interventions (e.g. signal noise; extreme plasma refill rates). No adverse events were observed in the clinical study. The ultrafiltration controller can steer RBV trajectories toward desired RBV ranges while obeying to a set of constraints. Prospective studies in hemodialysis patients with diverse clinical characteristics are warranted to further explore the controllers impact on intradialytic hemodynamic stability, quality of life, and long-term outcomes.