Progression and mortality in patients with CKD attending outpatient nephrology clinics across Europe: A novel analytic approach

The incidence of renal replacement therapy (RRT) varies across countries. Yet, little is known about the epidemiology of chronic kidney disease (CKD) outcomes. Our aim was to describe progression and mortality risk in CKD patients not on RRT attending outpatient nephrology clinics across Europe. We used individual data from nine CKD cohorts participating in the European CKD Burden Consortium. A joint model was used to estimate mean eGFR change and mortality risk simultaneously, thereby accounting for mortality risk when estimating eGFR decline and vice versa, while also correcting for the measurement error in eGFR. Results were adjusted for important risk factors (baseline eGFR, age, sex, albuminuria, primary renal disease, diabetes, hypertension, obesity and smoking). 27,771 patients from five countries were included. The adjusted mean annual eGFR decline varied from 0.77 (95%CI 0.45,1.08) ml/min/1.73m2 in the Belgium cohort to 2.43 (95%CI 2.11,2.75) ml/min/1.73m2 in the Spanish cohort. As compared to the Italian PIRP cohort, the adjusted mortality hazard ratio varied from 0.22 (95%CI 0.11,0.43) in the London LACKABO cohort to 1.30 (95%CI 1.13,1.49) in the English CRISIS cohort. Outcomes in CKD patients attending outpatient nephrology clinics varied markedly across European regions. Although eGFR decline showed minor variation, the most variation was observed in CKD mortality. Our results suggest that different healthcare organization systems are potentially associated with differences in outcome of CKD patients within Europe. These results can be used by policy makers to plan resources on a regional, national and European level

Timing, causes, predictors and prognosis of switching from peritoneal dialysis to hemodialysis: a prospective study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The use of peritoneal dialysis (PD) has declined in the United States over the past decade and technique failure is also reportedly higher in PD compared to hemodialysis (HD), but there are little data in the United States addressing the factors and outcomes associated with switching modalities from PD to HD.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>In a prospective cohort study of 262 PD patients enrolled from 28 peritoneal dialysis clinics in 13 U.S. states, we examined potential predictors of switching from PD to HD (including demographics, clinical factors, and laboratory values) and the association of switching with mortality. Cox proportional hazards regression was used to assess relative hazards (RH) of switching and of mortality in PD patients who switched to HD.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Among 262 PD patients, 24.8% switched to HD; with more than 70% switching within the first 2 years. Infectious peritonitis was the leading cause of switching. Patients of black race and with higher body mass index were significantly more likely to switch from PD to HD, RH (95% CI) of 5.01 (1.15–21.8) for black versus white and 1.09 (1.03–1.16) per 1 kg/m²increase in BMI, respectively. There was no difference in survival between switchers and non-switchers, RH (95% CI) of 0.89 (0.41–1.93).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Switching from PD to HD occurs early and the rate is high, threatening long-term viability of PD programs. Several patient characteristics were associated with the risk of switching. However, there was no survival difference between switchers and non-switchers, reassuring providers and patients that PD technique failure is not necessarily associated with poor prognosis.</p

Medicamentos excepcionais para doença renal crônica: gastos e perfil de utilização em Minas Gerais, Brasil Dispensing of exceptional drugs for chronic renal failure: expenditures and patients' profile in Minas Gerais State, Brazil

No Brasil, os medicamentos para o tratamento da doença renal crônica são disponibilizados gratuitamente pelo Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS). Este estudo teve como objetivos descrever os gastos públicos com esses medicamentos em Minas Gerais, Brasil, e o perfil dos usuários; objetivou, também, analisar os fatores associados ao gasto médio mensal individual. Observou-se que o gasto total com os medicamentos estudados (R$41,6 milhões) representa uma parcela significativa do gasto total com procedimentos ambulatoriais no SUS (9,6$ 41.6 million, or U$25 million) represents a significant portion of total spending on outpatient procedures in the National health System (9.6%). Most patients are young adult males with arterial hypertension as the main cause of chronic renal failure. Multivariate analysis showed a trend towards lower spending on elderly patients, those with diabetes as the main underlying disease, those using iron hydroxide, and in municipalities with a lower human development index, or HDI (p < 0.05). Finally, the study indicated the importance of management tools that allow monitoring the trajectory of individual patients in the health system and support appropriate health policymaking