Increased bone fractures among elderly United States hemodialysis patients

Background. Fractures are an important cause of morbidity in hemodialysis patients. Multiple advances in the treatment of mineral and bone disease in hemodialysis patients have oc-curred. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the rate of fractures in hemodialysis patients has changed over time. Methods. We studied US Renal Data System (USRDS) data-sets to determine the rates of hospitalized fractures among hemodialysis patients. The primary outcome was incidence of fractures requiring hospitalization. The fracture rate per 1000 person-years was calculated by year from 1992 to 2009. The first 90 days after initiating dialysis were excluded from analysis. Results. The incidence of hip and vertebral fractures increased from 12.5 fractures per 1000 patient-years in 1992 to 25.3 per 1000 patient-years in 2004 (P < 0.0001). Arm and leg fractures increased from 3.2 per 1000 patient-years in 1992 to 7.7 per 1000 patient-years in 2009 (P < 0.0001). The greatest increase in hip and verterbral fracture rate was seen in white patients>65 years of age. After 2004, the incidence rate of these fractures stabilized and subtly declined, but did not decrease significantly. Conclusions. Fracture rates increased significantly in hemo-dialysis patients from 1992 to 2004, with most of the increase occurring in elderly white patients. Assessment of fracture risk and management in dialysis patients at greatest risk requires greater emphasis and further study

Cardiovascular Risk Factors and Incident Acute Renal Failure in Older Adults: The Cardiovascular Health Study

Background and objectives: Although the elderly are at increased risk for acute renal failure, few prospective studies have identified risk factors for acute renal failure in the elderly

Vitamin D insufficiency and bone fractures in patients on maintenance hemodialysis

BACKGROUND: The incidence of fractures is substantially increased in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) compared to the general population. The factors associated with increased bone fracture in this population are not well understood. Vitamin D deficiency has been associated with decreased bone mass and higher incidence of fractures in the general population. In this study, we aimed to assess the association between fracture and vitamin D status and other factors potentially associated with fracture in patients on maintenance hemodialysis. METHODS: One hundred and forty-four patients were assessed and interviewed about previous low-trauma fractures. Evidence of fracture was obtained from medical records and also through patient interviews. Routine laboratory results were collected from medical records. Serum intact PTH (iPTH) and 25(OH) vitamin D(3) were measured. All patients underwent bone densitometry of the lumbar spine, femoral neck and distal radius. Bone quality was also assessed with quantitative bone ultrasound (QUS). Descriptive statistics, logistic regression models were used to analyze factors associated with fractures. RESULTS: One hundred and thirty patients were included in the final analysis. Patients with fractures (n = 21) had lower 25(OH) vitamin D(3) levels (15.8 nmol/l (interquartile range, IQR: 27) vs. 30.0 nmol/l (IQR: 28.5), P = 0.029), were more likely females, had longer duration of end-stage kidney disease, and lower bone mineral density (BMD) at the distal radius. QUS parameters were not associated with fractures. Multivariate analyses revealed that serum 25(OH) vitamin D(3) concentration, BMD at the radius, iPTH less than 100 pg/ml and history of fractures were independent predictors of new bone fracture after the initiation of dialysis therapy. CONCLUSION: Increased bone fragility in dialysis patients is associated with vitamin D deficiency and relative hypoparathyroidism in addition to reduced BMD at the radius. Further studies are needed to determine whether patients with vitamin D deficiency benefit from vitamin D supplementation to reduce fracture risk

Bone mineral density and parathyroid function in patients on maintenance hemodialysis

BACKGROUND: The relationship between parathyroid function, an important determinant of bone turnover, and bone mineral density (BMD) in patients with chronic kidney disease is not fully understood. We wanted to analyze the association between BMD and parathyroid function in hemodialysis patients in details. METHODS: In a cross-sectional design, data from 270 patients (age 55 +/- 15 years, 60% men, all Caucasian) on maintenance hemodialysis were analyzed. All patients underwent dual energy X-ray absorptiometry of the lumbar spine (LS), femoral neck (FN) and distal radius (DR). In addition to routine laboratory tests, blood samples were collected for iPTH, serum markers of bone metabolism (alkaline phosphatase, type I collagen crosslinked-C-telopeptide) and 25OH vitamin D. RESULTS: Based on Z-scores, bone mineral density was moderately reduced only at the femoral neck in the total cohort. The average Z-score of the "low PTH" group (iPTH 100 pg/ml (rho = -0.255, -0.278 and -0.251 for LS, FN and DR, respectively, P < 0.001 for all), BMD was independent of iPTH in patients with iPTH < 100 pg/ml. Furthermore, iPTH was not associated with serum markers of bone metabolism, but these markers were negatively correlated with BMD in the "low PTH" group. CONCLUSIONS: Low PTH levels are not associated with low BMD in patients with end-stage kidney disease. Furthermore, bone metabolism seems to be independent of iPTH in patients with relative hypoparathyroidism likely reflecting skeletal resistance to PTH