Renal Replacement Therapy Group Research Articles

Predictors of Renal Replacement Therapy in Cardiac Surgery-Associated Acute Kidney Injury Patients: A Single-Centered, Retrospective Study

Abstract Background: Studies have reported that cardiac surgery-associated acute kidney injury (CSA-AKI) patients requiring dialysis or renal replacement therapy (RRT) have a higher risk of in-hospital mortality. This study aimed to investigate the predictors contributing to postoperative RRT. Materials and Methods: This retrospective observational study was conducted at a single cardiovascular center. Patients who underwent cardiac surgery complicated with CSA-AKI in the intensive care unit (ICU) from January 2020 to December 2022 were included. They were categorized into two groups: those who required RRT (group A, n = 302) and those who did not (group B, n = 811). Bivariable and multivariable analyzes were conducted to compare the risk with odds ratio (OR) for in-hospital mortality between those groups. Results: We analyzed 1113 patients (29.4%) in the final analysis. The in-hospital mortality rate was 31.8% vs. 4.2% (OR = 10.6, P < 0.001). Variables that significantly predicted postoperative RRT requirements in CSA-AKI patients included female sex (P = 0.038), coronary artery bypass graft (P = 0.001), multiple valves surgery (P = 0.032), diabetes (P = 0.01), renal disease (P = 0.005), postoperative serum creatinine >3.0 mg/dL (P < 0.001), mechanical ventilation use of ≥48 h (P < 0.001), ICU length of stay of >5 days (P < 0.001), use of more than two inotropes and vasoactive agents, (P < 0.001), and postoperative intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP) (P < 0.001). Conclusion: CSA-AKI patients who require dialysis are associated with a higher mortality. Predictors of postoperative RRT included female sex, certain types of surgery, diabetes, postoperative serum creatinine >3.0 mg/dL, mechanical ventilation use of ≥48 h, ICU length of stay of >5 days, use of more than two inotropes and vasoactive agents, and postoperative IABP.

Uplift modeling to predict individual treatment effects of renal replacement therapy in sepsis-associated acute kidney injury patients

Renal replacement therapy (RRT) is a crucial treatment for sepsis-associated acute kidney injury (S-AKI), but it is uncertain which S-AKI patients should receive immediate RRT. Identifying the characteristics of patients who may benefit the most from RRT is an important task. This retrospective study utilized a public database and enrolled S-AKI patients, who were divided into RRT and non-RRT groups. Uplift modeling was used to estimate the individual treatment effect (ITE) of RRT. The validity of different models was compared using a qini curve. After labeling the patients in the validation cohort, we characterized the patients who would benefit the most from RRT and created a nomogram. A total of 8289 patients were assessed, among whom 591 received RRT, and 7698 did not receive RRT. The RRT group had a higher severity of illness than the non-RRT group, with a Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score of 9 (IQR 6,11) vs. 5 (IQR 3,7). The 28-day mortality rate was higher in the RRT group than the non-RRT group (34.83% vs. 14.61%, p < 0.0001). Propensity score matching (PSM) was used to balance baseline characteristics, 458 RRT patients and an equal number of non-RRT patients were enrolled for further research. After PSM, 28-day mortality of RRT and non-RRT groups were 32.3% vs. 39.3%, P = 0.033. Using uplift modeling, we found that urine output, fluid input, mean blood pressure, body temperature, and lactate were the top 5 factors that had the most influence on RRT effect. The area under the uplift curve (AUUC) of the class transformation model was 0.068, the AUUC of SOFA was 0.018, and the AUUC of Kdigo-stage was 0.050. The class transformation model was more efficient in predicting individual treatment effect. A logistic regression model was developed, and a nomogram was drawn to predict whether an S-AKI patient can benefit from RRT. Six factors were taken into account (urine output, creatinine, lactate, white blood cell count, glucose, respiratory rate). Uplift modeling can better predict the ITE of RRT on S-AKI patients than conventional score systems such as Kdigo and SOFA. We also found that white blood cell count is related to the benefits of RRT, suggesting that changes in inflammation levels may be associated with the effects of RRT on S-AKI patients.

Impact of Renal Replacement Therapy on Outcomes of Living Donor Liver Transplantation for Acute Liver Failure: A Cohort Study.

Despite the promising role of renal replacement therapy (RRT) in acute liver failure (ALF), high-risk patients need liver transplantation and remain at risk for death due to cerebral complications. The objective of this study was to report outcomes of living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) for ALF with perioperative RRT. This was a single-center retrospective cohort study. Out of 1167 LDLTs, 24 patients had ALF and met the King's College criteria for transplantation. They were categorized into no-RRT (n = 13) and RRT (n = 11) groups. We looked at 1-year posttransplant survival in these patients. The median serum ammonia level at the time of transplant in the no-RRT and RRT groups was 259.5 mcg/dL (222.7-398) and 70.6 mcg/dL (58.1-92.6) (p = 0.005). In the RRT group, serum ammonia level < 100 mcg/dL was achieved in all patients. Seven (53.8%) patients in the no-RRT group and 11/11 (100%) in the RRT group were extubated and regained full consciousness after LDLT (p = 0.013). The 90-day mortality was 6/13 (46.1%) and 2/11 (18.1%) (p = 0.211). There was no brainstem herniation-related mortality in the RRT group, that is, 5/13 (38.4%) and 0/11 (0%) (p = 0.030). The 1-year posttransplant survival was also significantly higher in the RRT group (p = 0.031). The use of RRT lowers serum ammonia levels and might reduce posttransplant mortality due to brainstem herniation.

Efficacy of immediate versus delayed renal replacement therapy in septic patients undergoing continuous renal replacement therapy.

To compare the therapeutic efficacy of immediate versus delayed renal replacement therapy (RRT) in septic patients undergoing continuous RRT. We retrospectively analyzed 98 septic patients who received continuous RRT between August 2021 and January 2023. Patients were divided into two groups: RRT group (n=50, immediate RRT) and delayed RRT group (n=48), where RRT was delayed by 48 hours in the absence of renal function recovery. Demographic data, comorbidities, vital signs, laboratory results, Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II scores, Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) scores, and follow-up details were compared between the two groups. The RRT group showed significantly lower serum interleukin-6 and creatinine levels at 1, 3, and 5 days of treatment (P=0.006, P=0.021, P=0.007; P=0.016, P=0.006, P=0.021, respectively) compared with the delayed RRT group. Additionally, the RRT group had shorter ICU stays, reduced duration of mechanical ventilation, and lower total treatment costs (P=0.016, P=0.003, P=0.029). Post-treatment, the RRT group exhibited significantly lower APACHE II and SOFA scores (P=0.031, P=0.018), a shorter average ICU stay (P=0.009), and a lower mortality rate (P=0.018) than the delayed RRT group. Immediate RRT in septic patients undergoing continuous RRT significantly reduces inflammatory markers, accelerates patient outcome, and decreases short-term mortality compared to delayed treatment.

Posterior urethral valves: risk factors of progression to end-stage chronic renal disease after 10 years of follow-up.

To determine risk factors (RF) of progression to end-stage chronic renal disease (ESCRD) and the need for renal replacement therapy (RRT) in patients with posterior urethral valve (PUV). A retrospective case and control study of patients diagnosed with PUV in the 1995-2023 period was carried out. Two study groups were created -RRT vs. no-RRT. Clinical, laboratory, and radiological variables were collected. A bivariate analysis and a binary logistic regression were conducted to detect RFs of the need for RRT. 127 patients were included, 12.% of whom had undergone RRT (n= 20). Mean follow-up was 9.87 years. Mean age at clinical onset was younger in the RRT group (3 months vs. 1.23 years; p= 0.010). Pathological prenatal ultrasonography (p< 0.001), increased Nadir creatinine levels (p< 0.001) and maximum creatinine levels in the first year of life (p< 0.001), and onset with acute renal insufficiency (p= 0.03) were more frequent in the RRT group. Increased creatinine levels in the first week of life (OR: 4.74) and younger age at clinical onset (OR: 1.2) were the only independent RFs to predict the need for RRT. Diagnostic-therapeutic delay and the presence of UTIs during follow-up are not predictive of the risk of final RRT. In PUV children, renal functional reserve at birth is the only ESCRD risk predictor. Early clinical onset implies a higher risk of RRT.

Differential effect on mortality of the timing of initiation of renal replacement therapy according to the criteria used to diagnose acute kidney injury: an IDEAL-ICU substudy

BackgroundThis substudy of the randomized IDEAL-ICU trial assessed whether the timing of renal replacement therapy (RRT) initiation has a differential effect on 90-day mortality, according to the criteria used to diagnose acute kidney injury (AKI), in patients with early-stage septic shock.MethodsThree groups were considered according to the criterion defining AKI: creatinine elevation only (group 1), reduced urinary output only (group 2), creatinine elevation plus reduced urinary output (group 3). Primary outcome was 90-day all-cause death. Secondary endpoints were RRT-free days, RRT dependence and renal function at discharge. We assessed the interaction between RRT strategy (early vs. delayed) and group, and the association between RRT strategy and mortality in each group by logistic regression.ResultsOf 488 patients enrolled, 205 (42%) patients were in group 1, 174 (35%) in group 2, and 100 (20%) in group 3. The effect of RRT initiation strategy on 90-day mortality across groups showed significant heterogeneity (adjusted interaction p = 0.021). Mortality was 58% vs. 42% for early vs. late RRT initiation, respectively, in group 1 (p = 0.028); 57% vs. 67%, respectively, in group 2 (p = 0.18); and 58% vs. 55%, respectively, in group 3 (p = 0.79). There was no significant difference in secondary outcomes.ConclusionThe timing of RRT initiation has a differential impact on outcome according to AKI diagnostic criteria. In patients with elevated creatinine only, early RRT initiation was associated with significantly increased mortality. In patients with reduced urine output only, late RRT initiation was associated with a nonsignificant, 10% absolute increase in mortality.

#5632 THE CLINICAL AND ECONOMIC BURDEN OF CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE IN GREECE

Abstract Background and Aims Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) is a progressive disorder with a substantial clinical and economic burden. This burden is expected to grow, mainly because of the ageing population, and the increasing incidence of diabetes mellitus and arterial hypertension. The objective of this study is to provide insights into the clinical and economic burden of CKD in Greece. Method A cost of illness (COI) study has been performed to approximate the burden of CKD in Greece from the perspective of EOPYY (National Organization for Health Care Services Provision), with reference year 2022. The COI model employs a prevalence-based approach using national and international sources and approximates the annual direct cost of CKD. The direct costs included in this analysis are categorized into primary care, medication, hospitalization and renal replacement therapy (RRT) costs. Results It has been estimated that there about 1,115,991 patients with CKD (stages 1–5) in Greece, most of them in stage 3 (about 534,694), and about 15,337 receiving RRT or having received a kidney transplant. In 2032 this population is expected to increase to approximately 1,249,475 patients. The total annual direct cost of CKD was estimated at €845,936,094. The main cost driver was RRT, which accounted for roughly 49% (417 millions) of total cost of care, followed by hospitalizations 29% (246 millions) and medications 17% (143 millions). The progression of the disease is strongly correlated with an increase in the annual management cost. About 1.4% of the CKD population (RRT group) spent about half of the total CKD budget or more than 4% of the total public health expenditure, higher than other European countries. Conclusion CKD is creating a high and growing clinical and economic burden, largely driven by the RRT cost. There is an urgent need for public health strategies aiming at early detection and management of CKD.

#4641 RISK FACTORS FOR RRT RESTART AFTER CESSATION OF CRRT: A MULTICENTER STUDY

Abstract Background and Aims Acute Kidney Injury occurs frequently in patients admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) is a commonly used treatment modality in these patients. Restart of renal replacement therapy (RRT) after initial discontinuation of CRRT is also frequently needed. The purpose of this study is to identify clinical characteristics and biomarkers influencing the restart of RRT after the cessation of CRRT, and to build a predictive model using these parameters. Method This multicenter retrospective study includes 891 patients who were treated using CRRT from July 2012 to December 2020 in the ICU of 3 academic hospitals. The primary end point observed was the restart of RRT during hospitalization. Baseline characteristics were compared between the no restart and restart RRT groups. Using univariate analysis and logistic regression, a prospective index was developed, and receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was performed to confirm the predictivity of the prognostic index. Results Restart of RRT was needed in 632 (71.2%) patients. Compared to patients that did not restarting, patients in the restart RRT group demonstrated higher age, higher BMI, higher baseline serum creatinine (Cr), lower urine output, longer ICU admission, and more comorbid conditions (HTN, DM, HF, ischemic heart disease). In the multivariate analysis, five parameters demonstrated independent influence on restart of RRT: HTN, Cr, ICU admission duration, BMI, and mean blood pressure. The prognostic index, which was calculated from these variables, showed a satisfactory potential to predict the restart of RRT after discontinuation of CRRT. ROC analysis revealed an area under the curve of 0.738 (95% CI, 0.703-0.773, p&amp;lt;0.001). Conclusion We found that 5 of the 40 parameters observed in our study were independent risk factors for the restart of RRT during admission and we successfully developed a prognostic index based on these variables to predict the restart of RRT after discontinuation of CRRT.

EARLY INITIATION OF RENAL REPLACEMENT THERAPY IN INTENSIVE CARE UNIT PATIENTS WITH BOTH ACUTE RESPIRATORY DISTRESS SYNDROME AND SEPSIS WITH OR WITHOUT RENAL FAILURE: A RETROSPECTIVE COHORT STUDY BASED ON PROPENSITY SCORE MATCHING.

Background: It is unknown whether early renal replacement therapy (RRT) initiation strategy in intensive care unit (ICU) patients with both acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and sepsis with or without renal failure is clinically beneficial. Patients and methods: A total of 818 patients with both ARDS and sepsis admitted to the ICU of Tianjin Medical University General Hospital were included in the analysis. Early RRT was defined as initiating the RRT strategy within 24 h of admission. The relationship between early RRT and clinical outcomes, including primary (30-day mortality) and secondary (90-day mortality, serum creatinine, Pa o2 /Fi o2 , duration of invasive mechanical ventilation, cumulative fluid output, and cumulative fluid balance) outcomes, was compared using propensity score matching (PSM). Results: A total of 277 patients (33.9% of the total population) underwent an early RRT initiation strategy before PSM. After PSM, a cohort of 147 patients with early RRT and 147 patients without early RRT with matched baseline characteristics (including serum creatinine at admission) were constructed. Early RRT was not significantly associated with 30- (hazard ratio [HR], 1.25; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.85-1.85; P = 0.258) or 90-day mortality (HR, 1.30; 95% CI, 0.91-1.87, P = 0.150). At each time point within 72 h after admission, there was no significant difference in serum creatinine, Pa o2 /Fi o2 and duration of mechanical ventilation between the early and the no early RRT groups. Early RRT significantly increased total output at all time points within 72 h of admission and reached a statistically significant negative fluid balance at 48 h. Conclusions: Early RRT initiation strategies had no statistically significant survival benefit in ICU patients with both ARDS and sepsis, with or without renal failure, nor did they significantly improve serum creatinine and oxygenation or shorten the duration of mechanical ventilation. The use and timing of RRT in such patients should be thoroughly investigated.

Comparison of early and delayed strategy for renal replacement therapy initiation for severe acute kidney injury with heart failure: a retrospective comparative cohort study.

Determining the timing of renal replacement therapy (RRT) in patients with acute kidney injury (AKI) and heart failure (HF) can optimize the clinical management strategy. We compared the impact of "early" and "delayed" timing of RRT on the prognosis of patients with AKI and HF. Clinical data from September 2012 to September 2022 were retrospectively analyzed. Patients with AKI complicated by HF and undergoing RRT in the intensive care unit (ICU) were enrolled. Patients with stage 3 AKI and fluid overload present (FOP) or who met the emergency indications for RRT were assigned to the delayed RRT group. Patients with stage 1 AKI or stage 2 AKI and without urgent indications for RRT and patients with stage 3 AKI without FOP and without urgent indications for RRT were enrolled in the Early RRT group. At 90-day follow-up after initiation of RRT, the mortality was compared between the two groups. Logistic regression analysis was performed to adjust for confounding factors affecting 90-day mortality. A total of 151 patients were enrolled, including 77 in the early RRT group and 74 in the delayed RRT group. For baseline characteristics, patients in the early RRT group had significantly lower acute physiology and chronic health evaluation-II (APACHE-II) score, sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA), serum creatinine (Scr) values and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) values on the day of ICU admission than those in the delayed RRT group (both P values <0.05), there were no significant differences in other baseline characteristics. The number of RRT-free days in the ICU was significantly longer in the early RRT group than in the delayed RRT group [1.69 (0.35-10.87) vs. 0.88 (0.20-4.55) days; P=0.046]. However, clinical outcomes (except for the number of RRT-free days) and complications showed no significant differences between these 2 groups (all P values >0.05). Multivariate binary logistic regression analysis showed early initiation of RRT was not an independent risk factor for increased 90-day mortality [odds ratio (OR): 0.671; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.314-1.434; P=0.303]. Early initiation of RRT is not recommended to reduce mortality in AKI patients with HF.

PS-C26-1: USEFUL MARKERS FOR RENAL PROGNOSIS IN HYPERTENSIVE EMERGENCIES WITH SEVERE RENAL DYSFUNCTION

Background: Hypertensive emergencies are poor prognosis conditions associated with rapid blood pressure (BP) elevation and various organ damage. The frequency of dialysis induction due to nephrosclerosis is high and early detection and appropriate therapeutic intervention are important. Methods: We selected 15 patients diagnosed as hypertensive emergencies with severe renal dysfunction (serum creatinine level &gt; 2.5 mg/dL) admitted to our hospital between 2005 and 2019. These were divided into two groups: those who received a renal replacement therapy (RRT) after 3 years and those who were not received (non-RRT). The clinical features and laboratory data between the two groups were reviewed and compared retrospectively. Results: The median age was 48 years old and the male to female ratio was 3:1. All the patients lacked medical examination and regular checkups after diagnosis of hypertension. 33% of them were obese with body mass index &gt; 25. Six patients resulted in end-stage renal disease and received RRT. On admission, about 80% had elevated plasma renin activity and serum aldosterone levels, while there were no cases of renal artery stenosis. Between two groups, there was no significant difference in serum creatinine levels. Serum LDH levels in the non-RRT group were higher than those in the RRT group. Serum potassium levels and platelet counts were lower, respectively. These data at post-antihypertensive treatment was improved significantly in the non-RRT group. Serum values of LDH, potassium, and platelet in the comparison of pre-and post-treatment data of the two groups showed significantly improved by two-way analysis of variance. Discussion and Conclusion: The mechanism of the onset of hypertensive emergencies is still unclear. Severe hypertension causes severe vascular injury and multiple organ damages. In our study, there were young or middle-aged adults and some of them were obese. Therefore, taking health-checkup is helpful for the prevention of the risk of hypertension and appropriate treatment. Higher LDH levels and decreased platelet counts in the non-RRT group suggested the development of severe endothelial damage with rapid BP elevation in the short term. Severe renal dysfunction in these cases can be improved to some extent by appropriate antihypertensive therapy. Furthermore, the lower potassium level suggested the aggravation of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) and early induction of RAS inhibitors would be beneficial for the maintenance of BP and renal protection. In conclusion, the value of serum LDH, platelet count, and serum potassium would be predictors of renal prognosis.

A retrospective analysis: the outcome of renal replacement therapies in critically ill children

A few pediatric studies were present which focused on renal replacement therapy used for critically ill children. This research aimed to determine the ratio of utilization of intermittent hemodialysis, continuous renal replacement therapy, and peritoneal dialysis, and to study the properties and outcomes of critically ill pediatric patients who underwent renal replacement therapy.Critically ill children admitted to the intensive care unit and received renal replacement therapy from February 2020 to May 2022 were included. The children were divided into three groups: hemodialysis, continuous renal replacement therapy, and peritoneal dialysis.A total of 37 patients (22 boys and 15 girls) who received renal replacement therapy met the criteria for this study. Continuous renal replacement therapy was used in 43%, hemodialysis in 38%, and peritoneal dialysis in 19%. In all, 28 (73%) children survived and 9 (27%) died in intensive care unit. The mean systolic blood pressure was significantly lower among children who received continuous renal replacement therapy (p<0.001). The need for inotropic medications and a higher PRISM III score were found to be the greatest indicators of mortality.The outcome of children receiving renal replacement therapy seems to be related to their needs for vasoactive drugs and the severity of the underlying disease in the continuous renal replacement therapy group relative to the other groups.

Posttransplant renal replacement therapy is an alarm signal for survival outcomes in pediatric liver transplantation.

The impact of renal replacement therapy (RRT) on the long-term survival outcomes of pediatric liver recipients remains controversial. A total of 224 patients aged <18 years, who underwent liver transplantation (LT), were divided into two groups: patients who underwent renal replacement therapy (RRT) (group R, n=25, 11.2%) and those who did not (group N, n=199, 88.8%). The posttransplant patient survival outcomes according to RRT use constituted the primary end-point. RRT was initiated preoperatively in 12 patients (48.0%) and postoperatively in 13 [early: <6 months after LT (n=5, 20.0%) and late: ≥6 months after LT (n=8, 32.0%)]. The indications for RRT included liver disease involving the kidney (44.0%) and hepatorenal syndrome (56.0%). The age at the time of LT (71.6 vs. 19.1 months) was higher, the pediatric end-stage liver disease score was lower (9.9 vs. 21.2), and the duration of hospitalization posttransplantation (41.0 vs. 27.0 days) was longer, while the rates of hepatic artery thrombosis (8.0% vs. 3.5%) were higher in group R (p < .05). The number of patients (60.0% vs. 93.0%; p < .001) and graft survival rates (68.0% vs. 93.0%; p < .001) were significantly lower in group R. Multivariate analysis revealed that posttransplant RRT and hepatic artery complications were risk factors for patient survival outcomes. Renal function was recovered in 7 patients (28.0%) in group R, and 9 (36.0%) eventually underwent kidney transplantation. The survival outcomes of children requiring posttransplant RRT were significantly worse than those of children, who did not undergo RRT. Physicians should pay meticulous attention to patients requiring post-LT RRT.

Timely renal replacement therapy linked to better outcome in patients with sepsis-associated acute kidney injury

BackgroundRecent studies suggest that acute kidney injury (AKI) can be treated with renal replacement therapy (RRT). However, its benefits to patients with sepsis-associated AKI (SA-AKI), which is linked to high mortality and morbidity rates, remain under debate. The aim of this study was to compare the outcomes of different RRT strategies for patients with SA-AKI. MethodsThis retrospective study evaluated patients who were admitted to the hospital with sepsis and developed SA-AKI during hospitalization from 1st January 2014 to 31st January 2019. Mortality, renal recovery, and systemic organ function at 90 days following admission were compared between the RRT group (RG) and non-RRT group (NRG), as well as the early-RRT group (EG) and delayed-RRT group (DG). The groups were defined according to the time from admission to RRT initiation (criterion 1, EG1 and DG1) and Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) classification (criterion 2, EG2 and DG2). Categorical and continuous variables were compared using the chi-squared test or Fisher's exact test and Student's t-test or Wilcoxon test. Kaplan–Meier curves were constructed to determine the unadjusted survival rates for the different subgroups. ResultsA total of 116 patients were included in this study; of those, 38 received RRT and 46 expired within 90 days. Among different strategies of RRT, there were no significant differences found in 90-day mortality (RG vs. NRG: χ2=0.610, P=0.435; EG1 vs. DG1: χ2 =0.835, P=0.360; EG2 vs. DG2: χ2=0.022, P=0.899) and renal recovery. However, the values of change in sequential organ failure assessment (ΔSOFA)max–min of patients in the EG and RG were significantly higher than those recorded in the NRG (ΔSOFARG=7.0, ΔSOFANRG=3.60, ΔSOFAEG1=9.00, ΔSOFAEG2=6.30; P<0.050). Also, the 90-day renal recovery in the EG was better than that noted in the DG with criterion 1 (87.5% vs. 38.5%, respectively, χ2=10.425, P=0.032), suggesting that RRT (especially timely RRT) may be beneficial to the restoration of systemic organ function in patients with SA-AKI. ConclusionRRT did not reduce the 90-day mortality among patients with SA-AKI. However, timely RRT may benefit the restoration of systemic organ function, thereby improving the quality of life of patients.

MO363: Target Trial Emulation on Timing of Start of Renal Replacement Therapy in Acute Kidney Injury: Lessons Learned

Abstract BACKGROUND AND AIMS Routinely collected data (RCD) are readily available at most ICUs. Their secondary analysis is expected to improve medical decision-making by providing expedited answers to clinical questions that would otherwise require conducting costly and less generalizable RCTs. However, doubts remain whether RCD can produce sound answers to comparative effectiveness questions. Trial emulation studies based on RCD closely mimic trial protocols, limit the risk of avoidable biases and could therefore be a powerful tool to expand our evidence base on patient management. We assess whether such an emulation of the ELAIN trial[1] can replicate results of this landmark study comparing timing strategies for initiating renal replacement therapy (RRT) in ICU patients with acute kidney injury (AKI). METHOD Using serum creatinine and urine output measures, we identified patients admitted to the Ghent University Hospital ICUs (2013–2017) who developed KDIGO stage 2 AKI. Other eligibility criteria from the ELAIN trial available from our linked databases were applied to obtain a final sample that matches the trial population. Based on time from study inclusion to RRT and/or progression to stage 3 AKI or reaching an absolute indication for RRT, we identified patients with a treatment history compatible with assignment either to the early RRT arm, the delayed RRT arm, or both. To avoid immortal time bias, patients who died or were discharged without RRT within the grace period for initiating RRT were also considered compatible with the respective RRT strategies. To avoid selection bias, more weight was given to compatible patients less likely to remain compatible through follow-up (inverse probability weighting). The number of patients receiving RRT and ICU mortality were compared between RRT groups (ad hoc approach) and emulated trial arms (emulation approach). RESULTS Finally, 2756 out of 16 434 patients (16.8%) would have been eligible for the ELAIN trial (Fig. 1). Of these, 2565 (93.1%) did not receive RRT at any time (Fig. 1: bottom, white boxes); 9.6% and 1.7% of patients compatible with assignment to early and delayed RRT, respectively, actually received RRT (Fig. 1: bottom, grey boxes). The majority of patients were discharged without RRT, did not progress to stage 3 AKI or did not reach an absolute indication for RRT. In contrast to the ELAIN trial, there was no evidence that early (versus delayed) RRT reduces mortality, neither using the ad hoc approach (59 versus 51%), or the emulation approach (6.4 versus 8%) (Fig. 2). Furthermore, mortality was comparable to that observed in the ELAIN trial using the ad hoc approach in the delayed arm but was &amp;gt;5 times lower using the emulation approach. CONCLUSION Our observational emulation of the ELAIN trial did not reproduce certain key aspects of the benchmark trial. In each of the emulated trial arms &amp;lt;10% of patients received RRT. Along with the much lower mortality (compared with the ELAIN trial), this may in part be due to too broad patient inclusion into the emulation, e.g. because of failure to emulate eligibility criteria unavailable in RCD or an implicit application of undocumented selection criteria in the ELAIN trial. Considering ICU mortality only in patients who did receive RRT (ad hoc approach) may conceal these discrepancies and lead to a false sense of comparability in terms of baseline risk. Although our bias corrections may better signal this issue, final mortality estimates cannot directly be compared head-to-head due to unadjusted confounding. In sum, emulation of even basic protocol components such as eligibility criteria and allocation to treatment strategies can be cumbersome if the available RCD does not contain sufficient information. Future emulations may therefore need to consider careful selection of available proxies of unavailable eligibility criteria and need to rely on adequate adjustment for confounding.

Prognostic Effect of Underlying Chronic Kidney Disease and Renal Replacement Therapy on the Outcome of Patients after Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest: A Nationwide Observational Study.

Background and Objectives: This study assessed the prognostic value of underlying chronic kidney disease (CKD) and renal replacement therapy (RRT) on the clinical outcomes from out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). Materials and Methods: This retrospective study was conducted utilizing the population-based OHCA data of South Korea between 2008 and 2018. Adult (>18 years) OHCA patients with a medical cause of cardiac arrest were included and classified into three categories based on the underlying CKD and RRT: (1) non-CKD group; (2) CKD without RRT group; and (3) CKD with RRT group. A total of 13,682 eligible patients were included (non-CKD, 9863; CKD without RRT, 1778; CKD with RRT, 2041). From the three comparison subgroups, data with propensity score matching were extracted. The influence of CKD and RRT on patient outcomes was assessed using propensity score matching and multivariate logistic regression analyses. The primary outcome was survival at hospital discharge and the secondary outcome was a good neurological outcome at hospital discharge. Results: The two CKD groups (CKD without RRT and CKD with RRT) showed no significant difference in survival at hospital discharge compared with the non-CKD group (CKD without RRT vs. non-CKD, p > 0.05; CKD with RRT vs. non-CKD, p > 0.05). The non-CKD group had a higher chance of having good neurological outcomes than the CKD groups (non-CKD vs. CKD without RRT, p < 0.05; non-CKD vs. CKD with RRT, p < 0.05) whereas there was no significant difference between the two CKD groups (CKD without RRT vs. CKD with RRT, p > 0.05). Conclusions: Compared with patients without CKD, the underlying cause of CKD—regardless of RRT—may be linked to poor neurological outcomes. Underlying CKD and RRT had no effect on the survival at hospital discharge.

Relation of Anxiety, Depression, and Behavioral Problems With Time Allocated to Television, Computer, and Smartphone in Children Receiving Renal Replacement Therapy.

Children and adolescents with chronic diseases have more screen exposure time compared with their healthy peers. In this study, we investigated screen exposure time of children who received renal replacement therapy, which included kidney transplant and dialysis treatment, versus a healthy control group. Our study included 55 children and adolescents between the ages of 8 and 18 years. Although 28 participants did not have any chronic disease, 27 had chronic diseases and received renal replacement therapy. Among these patients, 17 had kidney transplant and 10 were receiving dialysis. A sociodemographic information form and the Conners Short-Form Parent Rating Scale were given to parents. Pediatric and adolescent patients completed the Children's Depression Inventory and Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Scale-2. We analyzed differences between the groups with and without renal replacement therapy and examined relations between continuous variables. Duration of television screen time was significantly higher in children and adolescents receiving renal replacement therapy. Patients in the renal replacement therapy group showed a positive correlation between the Conners Short-Form Parent Rating Scale anxiety subscores and duration of smartphone use. In the kidney transplant recipient group, smartphone and computer durations were positively correlated and television duration was negatively correlated with the Conners Short-Form Parent Rating Scale behavioral problems subscores. Children on renal replacement therapy may be at risk in terms of excessive television exposure. Children who are on dialysis and have had a kidney transplant may be more prone to the negative effects of screen exposure than healthy peers who do not have chronic illnesses. These children and adolescents should be closely monitored to avoid the negative effects of excessive screen exposure.

Evaluation of a predictive model of end-stage kidney disease in a French-based cohort.

The risk of ESKD is highly heterogeneous among renal diseases, and risk scores were developed to account for multiple progression factors. Kidney failure risk equation (KFRE) is the most widely accepted, although external validation is scarce. The objective of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of this score in a French case-control cohort and test the pertinence of the proposed thresholds. A retrospective case-control study comparing a group of patients starting renal replacement therapy (RRT) to a group of patients with CKD stages 3-5. Multivariate analysis to assess the predictors of ESKD risk. Discrimination of 4-, 6- and 8-variable scores using ROC curves and compared with eGFR alone and albumin/creatinine ratio (ACR) alone. 314 patients with a ratio of 1 case for 1 control. In multivariate analysis, increasing age and higher eGFR were associated with a lower risk of ESKD (OR 0.62, 95% CI 0.48-0.79; and OR 0.72, 95% CI 0.59-0.86, respectively). The log-transformed ACR was associated with a higher risk of ESKD (OR 1.25 per log unit, 95% CI 1.02-1.55). The 4-variable score was significantly higher in the RRT group than in the CKD-ND group, and was more efficient than the eGFR (AUROC 0.66, 95% CI 0.60-0.72, p = 0.018) and the log-transformed ACR (AUROC 0.63 95% CI 0.60-0.72, p = 0.0087) to predict ESKD. The 6-variable score including BP metrics and diabetes was not more discriminant as the 4-variable score. The 8-variable score had similar performance compared with the 4-score (AUROC 8-variable score: 0.70, 95% CI 0.64-0.76, p = 0.526). A 40% and 20% score thresholds were not superior to eGFR < 15 and 20mL/min/1.73 m2, respectively. A 10% threshold was more specific than an eGFR < 30mL/min/1.73 m2. KFRE was highly discriminant between patients progressing to ESKD vs those non-progressing. The 4-variable score may help stratify renal risk and referral in the numerous patients with stage 3 CKD. Conversely, the proposed thresholds for creating vascular access or preemptive transplantation were not superior to eGFR alone.

Impact of haemodialysis in the development of atrial fibrillation: a retrospective cross-sectional study

Abstract Background Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a very common co-morbidity in patients with cardiovascular disease, particularly in those with atrial fibrillation (AF). There is an increasing number of patients on haemodialysis who have AF and its impact is not fully understood. Purpose To assess the prevalence of AF in patients on haemodialysis, trying to identify predictors of AF development. Methods Unicentric, retrospective study including all patients admitted to the Nephrology ward from October 2020 to December 2020 who had CKD. Cardiovascular risk factors, known cardiac disease, time on haemodialysis, type of vascular access and demographic data were analysed. The control group was comprised of hospitalized CKD patients who were not on renal replacement therapies. Results A total of 126 patients were included, 57 on dialysis. Mean age for the renal replacement therapy group was 71.07±15.68 years and for the control group was 72.59±14.74 years old (p=0.575). There was an increased proportion of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus in the control group (39 vs 20, p=0.021). No statistically significant differences were found regarding hypertension, heart failure, coronary disease or sleep apnoea between groups. The prevalence of AF was similar in both the haemodialysis and the control group (26.3% vs 24.6%, p=0.829). Age, heart failure and coronary disease were significant risk factors for AF, irrespective of the studied group (p&amp;lt;0.05). There was also a significant correlation between time on dialysis and a greater likelihood of presenting AF (p&amp;lt;0.05). There was no correlation with type of vascular access. Using the Youden index, an age of 80.5 years was determined as the cut-off for an increased prevalence of AF, irrespective of the study group (sensitivity of 66.7%; Specificity of 78.8%). Using ROC curves, an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.74 was obtained for age and the likelihood of AF (figure 1). Regarding time on dialysis, a cut-off point of 4.5 years was obtained with an AUC of 0.67 (sensitivity of 73% and specificity of 68.7%) (figure 2). Conclusion AF is very common in patients with end-stage renal disease, with a prevalence estimated to be 4 times greater than the general population. Our results suggested that, while haemodialysis may not be a risk factor for AF by itself, a longer time on haemodialysis may contribute to its onset. Age was also a contributing factor. Further prospective studies with more homogeneous groups are needed to clarify its role as an independent risk factor for AF. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding sources: None. Figure 1. Age as predictor of AFFigure 2. Time on dyalisis as predictor of AF

The Effect of Long-Term Duration Renal Replacement Therapy on Outcomes of Critically Ill Patients with Acute Kidney Injury: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Background Renal replacement therapy (RRT), as a cornerstone of supportive treatment, has long been performed in critically ill patients with acute kidney injury (AKI). However, the majority of studies may have neglected the effect of the duration of RRT on the outcome of AKI patients. This paper is aiming to explore the effect of the long duration of RRT on the outcome of critically ill patients with AKI. Methods This retrospective study was conducted by using the Multiparameter Intelligent Monitoring in Intensive Care II (MIMIC-II) database. The primary outcome measure of this study was the mortality at 28 days, 60 days, and 90 days in the long-duration RRT group and the non-long-duration RRT group. The secondary outcomes assessed the difference in clinical outcome in these two groups. Lastly, the effect of the duration of RRT on mortality in AKI patients was determined as the third outcome. Results We selected 1,020 patients in total who received RRT according to the MIMIC-II database. According to the inclusion and exclusion criteria, we finally selected 506 patients with AKI: 286 AKI patients in the non-long-duration RRT group and 220 in the long-duration RRT group. After 28 days, there was a significant difference in all-cause mortality between the long-duration RRT group and the non-long-duration RRT group (P=0.001). However, the difference disappeared after 60 days and 90 days (P=0.803 and P=0.925, respectively). The length of ICU stay, length of hospital stay, and duration of mechanical ventilation were significantly longer in the long-duration RRT group than those in the non-long-duration RRT group. Considering 28-day mortality, the longer duration of RRT was shown to be a protective factor (HR = 0.995, 95% CI 0.993–0.997, P < 0.0001), while 60-day and 90-day mortality were not correlated with improved protection. Conclusions The long duration of RRT can improve the short-term prognosis of AKI patients, but it does not affect the long-term prognosis of these patients. Prognosis is determined by the severity of the illness itself. This suggests that RRT can protect AKI patients through the most critical time; however, the final outcome cannot be altered.