Effects of lipid-lowering treatment on platelet function and hemostatic mechanisms in diabetic patients : influence of chronic kidney disease and inflammatory parameters

Diabetes mellitus (DM) and chronic kidney disease (CKD) are both associated with increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, and the risk is even higher when they are concurrent. Both diseases are considered to be prothrombotic states with increased inflammatory activity and major disturbances in the hemostasis. Lipid-lowering treatment (LLT) may have beneficial effects on inflammation, platelet activation and atherothrombotic mechanisms. We evaluated the prognostic implications of impaired renal function, measured as estimated creatinine clearance (eCrCl), in 808 patients with stable angina pectoris in a post hoc analysis of the Angina Prognosis Study In Stockholm (APSIS), which compared metoprolol and verapamil treatment in stable angina with a median follow-up of 40 months. A multivariate Cox analysis showed an independent prognostic importance of eCrCl for cardiovascular (CV) death and for CV death or myocardial infarction (MI). Patients with eCrCl <60 ml/min had a doubled risk of suffering CV death or MI, compared to patients with eCrCl ≥90 ml/min. We investigated the effects of LLT with simvastatin alone or in combination with ezetimibe in 18 patients with an estimated GFR (eGFR) of 15-59 ml/min/1.73m2 (DM-CKD) and 21 DM patients with eGFR >75 ml/min/1.73m2 (DM-only) in a randomized, double blind, cross- over study. Parameters reflecting platelet activity, microparticles (MP) formation and inflammatory parameters were measured. At baseline, after a placebo run-in period, we found signs of increased inflammatory activity, increased platelet activation and hypercoagulability in DM-CKD compared to DM-only patients with increased formation of platelet-leukocyte aggregates (PLA), elevated levels of proinflammatory cytokines and soluble CD40L (sCD40L) in plasma, as well as elevated levels of MPs derived from platelets (PMPs), monocytes (MMPs) and endothelial cells. Simvastatin treatment alone reduced the expression of P-selectin, tissue factor (TF) and CD40L on PMPs, and TF on MMPs in both patient groups. Simvastatin also reduced levels of total procoagulant MPs, PMPs and MMPs as well as IFNγ and MCP-1 in DM-CKD but not in DM-only patients. Furthermore, the combination of simvastatin+ezetimbe reduced PLA formation and sCD40L levels in DM patients with CKD compared to DM-only patients. Most differences between DM-CKD and DM-only patients were reduced or disappeared with LLT despite similar lipid levels in the two groups both before and during LLT. In conclusion, impaired renal function carries independent prognostic information in patients with stable angina pectoris, in agreement with findings in other patient categories. Patients with CKD should be identified early, as there is need for improved CV risk reduction therapy in these high-risk patients. DM patients with CKD stages 3-4 (eGFR 15-59 mL/min/1.73m2) have signs of increased inflammatory activity and platelet activation, and hypercoagulability compared to DM-patients with normal eGFR. LLT counteracted the differences between DM-CKD and DM-only patients, with reduced inflammatory activation and a less procoagulant milieu especially in the presence of CKD. This may contribute to the beneficial effects of LLT on atherothrombotic complications in DM patients with concurrent CKD

Patient-reported measures and lifestyle are associated with deterioration in nutritional status in CKD stage 4-5: the EQUAL cohort study

Objective: The aim of this study was to explore the changes in nutritional status before dialysis initiation and to identify modifiable risk factors of nutritional status decline in older adults with advanced renal disease.& nbsp;Design and Methods: The European Quality Study on treatment in advanced chronic kidney disease (EQUAL) is a prospective, observational cohort study involving six European countries. We included 1,103 adults > 65 years with incident estimated glomerular filtration rate = 2 points). The proportion of patients with low SGA (<= 5) increased every 6 months. Those who dropped in SGA also declined in estimated glomerular filtration rate and mental health score. Every 10 points decrease in physical function score increased the odds of decline in SGA by 23%. Lower physical function score at baseline, gastrointestinal symptoms, and smoking were risk factors for impaired nutritional status. There was an interaction between diabetes and physical function on SGA decline.& nbsp;Conclusions: Nutritional status deteriorated in more than one-third of the study participants during the first year of follow-up. Lower patient-reported physical function, more gastrointestinal symptoms, and current smoking were associated with decline in nutritional status. (C)& nbsp;2021 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. on behalf of the National Kidney Foundation, Inc.Clinical epidemiolog

Prevalence and risk of protein-energy wasting assessed by subjective global assessment in older adults with advanced chronic kidney disease:results from the EQUAL study

Prevalence and risk factors for protein-energy wasting (PEW) are poorly studied in the nondialysis, older population with advanced chronic kidney disease (CKD). Our aim was to evaluate the prevalence of PEW in advanced stage CKD patients aged greater than 65 years. Furthermore, we aimed to describe risk factors for PEW in the overall study population and among obese individuals. Prospective observational cohort study. 2not on dialysis attending nephrology care. PEW was assessed by 7-point Subjective Global Assessment (7-p SGA). 2), 25% were diagnosed with protein wasting. Risk factors for SGA ≤5 in obese people were similar to those for the overall study population. This European multicenter study shows that the prevalence of PEW is high in patients with advanced CKD aged >65 years. The risk of PEW increases substantially with age and is commonly characterized by muscle wasting. Our study suggests that focus on nutrition should start early in the follow-up of older adults with CK

Associations between depressive symptoms and disease progression in older patients with chronic kidney disease: results of the EQUAL study

Background Depressive symptoms are associated with adverse clinical outcomes in patients with end-stage kidney disease; however, few small studies have examined this association in patients with earlier phases of chronic kidney disease (CKD). We studied associations between baseline depressive symptoms and clinical outcomes in older patients with advanced CKD and examined whether these associations differed depending on sex. Methods CKD patients (&gt;= 65 years; estimated glomerular filtration rate &lt;= 20 mL/min/1.73 m(2)) were included from a European multicentre prospective cohort between 2012 and 2019. Depressive symptoms were measured by the five-item Mental Health Inventory (cut-off &lt;= 70; 0-100 scale). Cox proportional hazard analysis was used to study associations between depressive symptoms and time to dialysis initiation, all-cause mortality and these outcomes combined. A joint model was used to study the association between depressive symptoms and kidney function over time. Analyses were adjusted for potential baseline confounders. Results Overall kidney function decline in 1326 patients was -0.12 mL/min/1.73 m(2)/month. A total of 515 patients showed depressive symptoms. No significant association was found between depressive symptoms and kidney function over time (P = 0.08). Unlike women, men with depressive symptoms had an increased mortality rate compared with those without symptoms [adjusted hazard ratio 1.41 (95% confidence interval 1.03-1.93)]. Depressive symptoms were not significantly associated with a higher hazard of dialysis initiation, or with the combined outcome (i.e. dialysis initiation and all-cause mortality). Conclusions There was no significant association between depressive symptoms at baseline and decline in kidney function over time in older patients with advanced CKD. Depressive symptoms at baseline were associated with a higher mortality rate in men

Acute effects of haemodialysis on circulating microparticles

Background. Microparticles (MPs) are small cell membrane-derived vesicles regarded as both biomarkers and mediators of biological effects. Elevated levels of MPs have previously been associated with endothelial dysfunction and predict cardiovascular death in patients with end-stage renal disease. The objective of this study was to measure change in MP concentrations in contemporary haemodialysis (HD). Methods. Blood was sampled from 20 consecutive HD patients before and 1h into the HD session. MPs were measured by flow cytometry and phenotyped based on surface markers. Results. Concentrations of platelet (CD41(+)) (P = 0.039), endothelial (CD62E(+)) (P = 0.004) andmonocyte-derived MPs (CD14(+)) (P&lt;0.001) significantly increased during HD. Similarly, endothelial-(P = 0.007) and monocyte-derived MPs (P = 0.001) expressing tissue factor (TF) significantly increased as well as MPs expressing Klotho (P = 0.003) and receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE) (P = 0.009). Furthermore, MPs expressing platelet activationmarkers P-selectin (P = 0.009) and CD40L (P = 0.045) also significantly increased. The increase of endothelial (P = 0.034), monocyte (P = 0.014) and RAGE(+) MPs (P = 0.032) as well as TF+ platelet-derived MPs (P = 0.043) was significantly higher in patients treated with low-flux compared with high-flux dialysers. Conclusion. Dialysis triggers release of MPs of various origins with marked differences between high-flux and low-flux dialysers. The MPs carry surface molecules that could possibly influence coagulation, inflammation, oxidative stress and endothelial dysfunction. The clinical impact of these findings remains to be established in future studies

The safety of a low protein diet in older adults with advanced chronic kidney disease

Background: A low protein diet (LPD) is recommended to patients with advanced chronic kidney disease (CKD), whereas geriatric guidelines recommend a higher amount of protein. The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety of LPD treatment in older adults with advanced CKD.Methods: The EQUAL study is a prospective, observational study, including patients ≥65 years, incident estimated glomerular filtration rate &lt;20 ml/min/1.73m², in six European countries with follow-up up till six years. Nutritional status was assessed by 7-point subjective global assessment (SGA) every 3-6 months. Prescribed diet (gram protein/kilogram/bodyweight) was recorded on every study visit; measured protein intake was available in three countries. Time to death and decline in nutritional status (SGA decrease by ≥2 points) were analysed using marginal structural models with dynamic inverse probability of treatment and censoring weights. Results: Out of 1738 adults (631 prescribed LPD at any point during follow-up) there were 1319 with repeated SGA measurements of which 267 (20%) declined in SGA ≥ 2 points and 565 (32.5%) died. There was no difference in survival or decline in nutritional status for patients prescribed LPD ≤0.8 g/kg ideal bodyweight (Odds Ratio (OR) for mortality 1.15 (95% Confidence interval (CI) 0.86-1.55) and OR for decline in SGA 1.11 (95% CI 0.74-1.66) in the adjusted models. In patients prescribed LPD &lt;0.6 g/kg ideal bodyweight, the results were similar. There was a significant interaction with LPD and higher age &gt;75 years, lower SGA, and higher comorbidity burden for both mortality and nutritional status decline. Conclusions: In older adults with CKD approaching end-stage kidney disease, a traditional LPD prescribed and monitored according to routine clinical practice in Europe appears to be safe. <br/

Association Between Renal Function and Troponin T Over Time in Stable Chronic Kidney Disease Patients

Background: People with reduced glomerular filtration rate (GFR) often have elevated cardiac troponin T (cTnT) levels. It remains unclear how cTnT levels develop over time in those with chronic kidney disease (CKD). The aim of this study was to prospectively study the association between cTnT and GFR over time in older advanced-stage CKD patients not on dialysis. Methods and Results: The EQUAL (European Quality Study) study is an observational prospective cohort study in stage 4 to 5 CKD patients aged ≥65 years not on dialysis (incident estimated GFR, <20 mL/min/1.73 m²). The EQUAL cohort used for the purpose of this study includes 171 patients followed in Sweden between April 2012 and December 2018. We used linear mixed models, adjusted for important groups of confounders, to investigate the effect of both measured GFR and estimated GFR on high-sensitivity cTnT (hs-cTnT) trajectory over 4 years. Almost all patients had at least 1 hs-cTnT measurement elevated above the 99th percentile of the general reference population (≤14 ng/L). On average, hs-cTnT increased by 16%/year (95% CI, 13–19; P<0.0001). Each 15 mL/min/1.73 m2 lower mean estimated GFR was associated with a 23% (95% CI, 14–31; P<0.0001) higher baseline hs-cTnT and 9% (95% CI, 5–13%; P<0.0001) steeper increase in hs-cTnT. The effect of estimated GFR on hs-cTnT trajectory was somewhat lower than a previous myocardial infarction (15%), but higher than presence of diabetes mellitus (4%) and male sex (5%). Conclusions: In CKD patients, hs-cTnT increases over time as renal function decreases. Lower CKD stage (each 15 mL/min/1.73 m2 lower) is independently associated with a steeper hs-cTnT increase over time in the same range as other established cardiovascular risk factors

Association Between Renal Function and Troponin T Over Time in Stable Chronic Kidney Disease Patients

Background People with reduced glomerular filtration rate (GFR) often have elevated cardiac troponin T (cTnT) levels. It remains unclear how cTnT levels develop over time in those with chronic kidney disease (CKD). The aim of this study was to prospectively study the association between cTnT and GFR over time in older advanced‐stage CKD patients not on dialysis. Methods and Results The EQUAL (European Quality Study) study is an observational prospective cohort study in stage 4 to 5 CKD patients aged ≥65 years not on dialysis (incident estimated GFR, &lt;20 mL/min/1.73 m²). The EQUAL cohort used for the purpose of this study includes 171 patients followed in Sweden between April 2012 and December 2018. We used linear mixed models, adjusted for important groups of confounders, to investigate the effect of both measured GFR and estimated GFR on high‐sensitivity cTnT (hs‐cTnT) trajectory over 4 years. Almost all patients had at least 1 hs‐cTnT measurement elevated above the 99th percentile of the general reference population (≤14 ng/L). On average, hs‐cTnT increased by 16%/year (95% CI, 13–19; P&lt;0.0001). Each 15 mL/min/1.73 m2 lower mean estimated GFR was associated with a 23% (95% CI, 14–31; P&lt;0.0001) higher baseline hs‐cTnT and 9% (95% CI, 5–13%; P&lt;0.0001) steeper increase in hs‐cTnT. The effect of estimated GFR on hs‐cTnT trajectory was somewhat lower than a previous myocardial infarction (15%), but higher than presence of diabetes mellitus (4%) and male sex (5%). Conclusions In CKD patients, hs‐cTnT increases over time as renal function decreases. Lower CKD stage (each 15 mL/min/1.73 m2 lower) is independently associated with a steeper hs‐cTnT increase over time in the same range as other established cardiovascular risk factors

Association Between Renal Function and Troponin T Over Time in Stable Chronic Kidney Disease Patients

Background People with reduced glomerular filtration rate (GFR) often have elevated cardiac troponin T (cTnT) levels. It remains unclear how cTnT levels develop over time in those with chronic kidney disease (CKD). The aim of this study was to prospectively study the association between cTnT and GFR over time in older advanced-stage CKD patients not on dialysis. Methods and Results The EQUAL (European Quality Study) study is an observational prospective cohort study in stage 4 to 5 CKD patients aged ≥65 years not on dialysis (incident estimated GFR, <20 mL/min/1.73 m²). The EQUAL cohort used for the purpose of this study includes 171 patients followed in Sweden between April 2012 and December 2018. We used linear mixed models, adjusted for important groups of confounders, to investigate the effect of both measured GFR and estimated GFR on high-sensitivity cTnT (hs-cTnT) trajectory over 4 years. Almost all patients had at least 1 hs-cTnT measurement elevated above the 99th percentile of the general reference population (≤14 ng/L). On average, hs-cTnT increased by 16%/year (95% CI, 13-19; P<0.0001). Each 15 mL/min/1.73 m2 lower mean estimated GFR was associated with a 23% (95% CI, 14-31; P<0.0001) higher baseline hs-cTnT and 9% (95% CI, 5-13%; P<0.0001) steeper increase in hs-cTnT. The effect of estimated GFR on hs-cTnT trajectory was somewhat lower than a previous myocardial infarction (15%), but higher than presence of diabetes mellitus (4%) and male sex (5%). Conclusions In CKD patients, hs-cTnT increases over time as renal function decreases. Lower CKD stage (each 15 mL/min/1.73 m2 lower) is independently associated with a steeper hs-cTnT increase over time in the same range as other established cardiovascular risk factors