Changes in serum calcium, phosphate, and PTH and the risk of death in incident dialysis patients: A longitudinal study

Elevated bone mineral parameters have been associated with mortality in dialysis patients. There are conflicting data about calcium, parathyroid hormone (PTH), and mortality and few data about changes in bone mineral parameters over time. We conducted a prospective cohort study of 1007 incident hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis patients. We examined longitudinal changes in bone mineral parameters and whether their associations with mortality were independent of time on dialysis, inflammation, and comorbidity. Serum calcium, phosphate, and calcium–phosphate product (CaP) increased in these patients between baseline and 6 months (P<0.001) and then remained stable. Serum PTH decreased over the first year (P<0.001). In Cox proportional hazards models adjusting for inflammation, comorbidity, and other confounders, the highest quartile of phosphate was associated with a hazard ratio (HR) of 1.57 (1.07–2.30) using both baseline and time-dependent values. The highest quartiles of calcium, CaP, and PTH were associated with mortality in time-dependent models but not in those using baseline values. The lowest quartile of PTH was associated with an HR of 0.65 (0.44–0.98) in the time-dependent model with 6-month lag analysis. We conclude that high levels of phosphate both at baseline and over follow-up are associated with mortality in incident dialysis patients. High levels of calcium, CaP, and PTH are associated with mortality immediately preceding an event. Promising new interventions need to be rigorously tested in clinical trials for their ability to achieve normalization of bone mineral parameters and reduce deaths of dialysis patients

The Black Church and Public Health: A Key Partnership for Theory Driven COVID-19 Recovery Efforts

The COVID-19 epidemic has negatively impacted the Black community in the United States. Despite current disease mitigation efforts, work is still needed to ensure that Black individuals living in the United States understand their risks regarding COVID-19 infection whether vaccinated or unvaccinated. Thus, the current article posits that the Black church, in concert with public health practitioners, is a venue through which theoretically based health messages should be designed and disseminated regarding COVID-19 recovery efforts. The Health Belief Model and the Harm Reduction approach are posed as theoretical frameworks to facilitate the design of such messages

“The Times They Are A-Changin’” at Diabetes Care

Every five years or so, the editorial team leading Diabetes Care turns over with the appointment of new leadership. This issue of volume 46 represents the first of a new editorial team, making it the tenth group to be responsible for the scientific content of the journal. Starting in 1978 with Jay Skyler as its first editor, Diabetes Care has gone from strength to strength with new initiatives and a steady increase in its influence. This impact has been in line with the charge given at the journal’s founding by the then president of the American Diabetes Association Norbert Freinkel when he wrote, “The new journal is designed to promote better patient care by serving the expanded needs of all health professionals committed to the care of patients with diabetes.

Factors associated with depressive symptoms and use of antidepressant medications among participants in the Chronic Renal Insufficiency Cohort (CRIC) and Hispanic-CRIC Studies

BACKGROUND: Depressive symptoms are correlated with poor health outcomes in adults with chronic kidney disease (CKD). The prevalence, severity, and treatment of depressive symptoms and potential risk factors, including level of kidney function, in diverse populations with CKD have not been well studied. STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional analysis SETTINGS AND PARTICIPANTS: Participants at enrollment into the Chronic Renal Insufficiency Cohort (CRIC) and Hispanic-CRIC (H-CRIC) Studies. CRIC enrolled Hispanics and non-Hispanics at seven centers from 2003-2007, and H-CRIC enrolled Hispanics at the University of Illinois from 2005-2008. MEASUREMENT: Depressive symptoms measured by Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) PREDICTORS: Demographic and clinical factors OUTCOMES: Elevated depressive symptoms (BDI >= 11) and antidepressant medication use RESULTS: Among 3853 participants, 28.5% had evidence of elevated depressive symptoms and 18.2% were using antidepressant medications; 30.8% of persons with elevated depressive symptoms were using antidepressants. The prevalence of elevated depressive symptoms varied by level of kidney function: 25.2% among participants with eGFR ≥ 60 ml/min/1.73m(2), and 35.1% of those with eGFR < 30 ml/min/1.73m(2). Lower eGFR (OR per 10 ml/min/1.73m(2) decrease, 1.09; 95% CI, 1.03-1.16), Hispanic ethnicity (OR, 1.65; 95% CI, 1.12-2.45), and non-Hispanic black race (OR, 1.43; 95% CI, 1.17-1.74) were each associated with increased odds of elevated depressive symptoms after controlling for other factors. In regression analyses incorporating BDI score, while female sex was associated with a greater odds of antidepressant use, Hispanic ethnicity, non-Hispanic black race, and higher levels of urine albumin were associated with decreased odds of antidepressant use (p<0.05 for each). LIMITATIONS: Absence of clinical diagnosis of depression and use of non-pharmacologic treatments CONCLUSIONS: Although elevated depressive symptoms were common in individuals with CKD, use of antidepressant medications is low. African Americans, Hispanics, and individuals with more advanced CKD had higher odds of elevated depressive symptoms and lower odds of antidepressant medication use

Supplementary Material for: Race, Mineral Homeostasis and Mortality in Patients with End-Stage Renal Disease on Dialysis

<b><i>Background:</i></b> Abnormalities in mineral homeostasis are ubiquitous in patients on dialysis, and influenced by race. In this study, we determine the race-specific relationship between mineral parameters and mortality in patients initiating hemodialysis. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> We measured the levels of fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23) and 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25 D) in 184 African American and 327 non-African American hemodialysis patients who enrolled between 1995 and 1998 in the Choices for Healthy Outcomes in Caring for ESRD Study. Serum calcium, phosphorus, parathyroid hormone (PTH) and total alkaline phosphatase levels were averaged from clinical measurements during the first 4.5 months of dialysis. We evaluated the associated prospective risk of mortality using multivariable Cox proportional hazards models stratified by race. <b><i>Results:</i></b> PTH and total alkaline phosphatase levels were higher, whereas calcium, phosphorus, FGF23 and 25 D levels were lower in African Americans compared to those of non-African Americans. Higher serum phosphorus and FGF23 levels were associated with greater mortality risk overall; however, phosphorus was only associated with risk among African Americans (HR 5.38, 95% CI 2.14-13.55 for quartile 4 vs. 1), but not among non-African Americans (p-interaction = 0.04). FGF23 was associated with mortality in both groups, but more strongly in African Americans (HR 3.91, 95% CI 1.74-8.82 for quartiles 4 vs. 1; p-interaction = 0.09). Serum calcium, PTH, and 25 D levels were not consistently associated with mortality. The lowest and highest quartiles of total alkaline phosphatase were associated with higher mortality risk, but this did not differ by race (p-interaction = 0.97). <b><i>Conclusions:</i></b> Aberrant phosphorus homeostasis, reflected by higher phosphorus and FGF23, may be a risk factor for mortality in patients initiating hemodialysis, particularly among African Americans

Supplementary Material for: Healthy Behaviors, Risk Factor Control and Awareness of Chronic Kidney Disease

<b><i>Background/Aims:</i></b> The association between chronic kidney disease (CKD) awareness and healthy behaviors is unknown. We examined whether CKD self-recognition is associated with healthy behaviors and achieving risk-reduction targets known to decrease risk of cardiovascular morbidity and CKD progression. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> CKD awareness, defined as a ‘yes’ response to ‘Has a doctor or other health professional ever told you that you had kidney disease?’, was examined among adults with CKD (eGFR <60 ml/min/1.73 m²) who participated in the REasons for Geographic And Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) study. Odds of participation in healthy behaviors (tobacco avoidance, avoidance of regular nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug use, and physical activity) and achievement of risk-reduction targets (angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor/angiotensin receptor blocker use, systolic blood pressure control and glycemic control among those with diabetes) among those aware versus unaware of their CKD were determined by logistic regression, controlling for sociodemographics, access to care and comorbid conditions. Systolic blood pressure control was defined as <130 mm Hg (primary definition) or <140 mm Hg (secondary definition). <b><i>Results:</i></b> Of 2,615 participants, only 6% (n = 166) were aware of having CKD. Those who were aware had 82% higher odds of tobacco avoidance compared to those unaware (adjusted OR = 1.82, 95% CI 1.02–3.24). CKD awareness was not associated with other healthy behaviors or achievement of risk-reduction targets. <b><i>Conclusions:</i></b> Awareness of CKD was only associated with participation in one healthy behavior and was not associated with achievement of risk-reduction targets. To encourage adoption of healthy behaviors, a better understanding of barriers to participation in CKD-healthy behaviors is needed

New Creatinine- and Cystatin C-Based Equations to Estimate GFR without Race.

Current equations for estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) that use serum creatinine or cystatin C incorporate age, sex, and race to estimate measured GFR. However, race in eGFR equations is a social and not a biologic construct. We developed new eGFR equations without race using data from two development data sets: 10 studies (8254 participants, 31.5% Black) for serum creatinine and 13 studies (5352 participants, 39.7% Black) for both serum creatinine and cystatin C. In a validation data set of 12 studies (4050 participants, 14.3% Black), we compared the accuracy of new eGFR equations to measured GFR. We projected the prevalence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and GFR stages in a sample of U.S. adults, using current and new equations. In the validation data set, the current creatinine equation that uses age, sex, and race overestimated measured GFR in Blacks (median, 3.7 ml per minute per 1.73 m &lt;sup&gt;2&lt;/sup&gt; of body-surface area; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.8 to 5.4) and to a lesser degree in non-Blacks (median, 0.5 ml per minute per 1.73 m &lt;sup&gt;2&lt;/sup&gt; ; 95% CI, 0.0 to 0.9). When the adjustment for Black race was omitted from the current eGFR equation, measured GFR in Blacks was underestimated (median, 7.1 ml per minute per 1.73 m &lt;sup&gt;2&lt;/sup&gt; ; 95% CI, 5.9 to 8.8). A new equation using age and sex and omitting race underestimated measured GFR in Blacks (median, 3.6 ml per minute per 1.73 m &lt;sup&gt;2&lt;/sup&gt; ; 95% CI, 1.8 to 5.5) and overestimated measured GFR in non-Blacks (median, 3.9 ml per minute per 1.73 m &lt;sup&gt;2&lt;/sup&gt; ; 95% CI, 3.4 to 4.4). For all equations, 85% or more of the eGFRs for Blacks and non-Blacks were within 30% of measured GFR. New creatinine-cystatin C equations without race were more accurate than new creatinine equations, with smaller differences between race groups. As compared with the current creatinine equation, the new creatinine equations, but not the new creatinine-cystatin C equations, increased population estimates of CKD prevalence among Blacks and yielded similar or lower prevalence among non-Blacks. New eGFR equations that incorporate creatinine and cystatin C but omit race are more accurate and led to smaller differences between Black participants and non-Black participants than new equations without race with either creatinine or cystatin C alone. (Funded by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.)