Cardiovascular Mortality Can Be Predicted by Heart Rate Turbulence in Hemodialysis Patients

Background: Excess mortality in hemodialysis patients is mostly of cardiovascular origin. We examined the association of heart rate turbulence (HRT), a marker of baroreflex sensitivity, with cardiovascular mortality in hemodialysis patients. Methods: A population of 290 prevalent hemodialysis patients was followed up for a median of 3 years. HRT categories 0 (both turbulence onset [TO] and slope [TS] normal), 1 (TO or TS abnormal), and 2 (both TO and TS abnormal) were obtained from 24 h Holter recordings. The primary end-point was cardiovascular mortality. Associations of HRT categories with the endpoints were analyzed by multivariable Cox regression models including HRT, age, albumin, and the improved Charlson Comorbidity Index for hemodialysis patients. Multivariable linear regression analysis identified factors associated with TO and TS. Results: During the follow-up period, 20 patients died from cardiovascular causes. In patients with HRT categories 0, 1 and 2, cardiovascular mortality was 1, 10, and 22%, respectively. HRT category 2 showed the strongest independent association with cardiovascular mortality with a hazard ratio of 19.3 (95% confidence interval: 3.69-92.03;P < 0.001). Age, calcium phosphate product, and smoking status were associated with TO and TS. Diabetes mellitus and diastolic blood pressure were only associated with TS. Conclusion: Independent of known risk factors, HRT assessment allows identification of hemodialysis patients with low, intermediate, and high risk of cardiovascular mortality. Future prospective studies are needed to translate risk prediction into risk reduction in hemodialysis patients

Barriers and opportunities to increase PD incidence and prevalence: Lessons from a European Survey.

INTRODUCTION: Peritoneal dialysis (PD) remains underutilised and unplanned start of dialysis further diminishes the likelihood of patients starting on PD, although outcomes are equal to haemodialysis (HD). METHODS: A survey was sent to members of EuroPD and regional societies presenting a case vignette of a 48-year-old woman not previously known to the nephrology department and who arrives at the emergency department with established end-stage kidney disease (unplanned start), asking which dialysis modality would most likely be chosen at their respective centre. We assessed associations between the modality choices for this case vignette and centre characteristics and PD-related practices. RESULTS: Of 575 respondents, 32.8%, 32.2% and 35.0% indicated they would start unplanned PD, unplanned HD or unplanned HD with intention to educate patient on PD later, respectively. Likelihood for unplanned start of PD was only associated with quality of structure of the pre-dialysis program. Structure of pre-dialysis education program, PD program in general, likelihood to provide education on PD to unplanned starters, good collaboration with the PD access team and taking initiatives to enhance home-based therapies increased the likelihood unplanned patients would end up on PD. CONCLUSIONS: Well-structured pre-dialysis education on PD as a modality, good connections to dedicated PD catheter placement teams and additional initiatives to enhance home-based therapies are key to grow PD programs. Centres motivated to grow their PD programs seem to find solutions to do so

Assisted peritoneal dialysis across Europe: Practice variation and factors associated with availability

Background: In Europe, the number of elderly end-stage kidney disease patients is increasing. Few of those patients receive peritoneal dialysis (PD), as many cannot perform PD autonomously. Assisted PD programmes are available in most European countries, but the percentage of patients receiving assisted PD varies considerably. Hence, we assessed which factors are associated with the availability of an assisted PD programme at a centre level and whether the availability of this programme is associated with proportion of home dialysis patients. Methods: An online survey was sent to healthcare professionals of European nephrology units. After selecting one respondent per centre, the associations were explored by chi (2) tests and (ordinal) logistic regression. Results: In total, 609 respondents completed the survey. Subsequently, 288 respondents from individual centres were identified; 58% worked in a centre with an assisted PD programme. Factors associated with availability of an assisted PD programme were Western European and Scandinavian countries (OR: 5.73; 95% CI: 3.07-10.68), non-academic centres (OR: 2.01; 95% CI: 1.09-3.72) and centres with a dedicated team for education (OR: 2.87; 95% CI: 1.35-6.11). Most Eastern & Central European respondents reported that the proportion of incident and prevalent home dialysis patients was 30% for both incident and prevalent home dialysis patients. Availability of an assisted PD programme was associated with a higher incidence (cumulative OR: 1.91; 95% CI: 1.21-3.01) and prevalence (cumulative OR: 2.81; 95% CI: 1.76-4.47) of patients on home dialysis. Conclusions: Assisted PD was more commonly offered among non-academic centres with a dedicated team for education across Europe, especially among Western European and Scandinavian countries where higher incidence and prevalence of home dialysis patients was reported

Developing a toolkit for the assessment and monitoring of musculoskeletal ageing

The complexities and heterogeneity of the ageing process have slowed the development of consensus on appropriate biomarkers of healthy ageing. The Medical Research Council–Arthritis Research UK Centre for Integrated research into Musculoskeletal Ageing (CIMA) is a collaboration between researchers and clinicians at the Universities of Liverpool, Sheffield and Newcastle. One of CIMA’s objectives is to ‘Identify and share optimal techniques and approaches to monitor age-related changes in all musculoskeletal tissues, and to provide an integrated assessment of musculoskeletal function’—in other words to develop a toolkit for assessing musculoskeletal ageing. This toolkit is envisaged as an instrument that can be used to characterise and quantify musculoskeletal function during ‘normal’ ageing, lend itself to use in large-scale, internationally important cohorts, and provide a set of biomarker outcome measures for epidemiological and intervention studies designed to enhance healthy musculoskeletal ageing. Such potential biomarkers include: biochemical measurements in biofluids or tissue samples, in vivo measurements of body composition, imaging of structural and physical properties, and functional tests. This review assesses candidate biomarkers of musculoskeletal ageing under these four headings, details their biological bases, strengths and limitations, and makes practical recommendations for their use. In addition, we identify gaps in the evidence base and priorities for further research on biomarkers of musculoskeletal ageing

Mediators and mechanisms of change in internet- and mobile-based interventions for depression:A systematic review

The efficacy of Internet- and mobile-based interventions (IMIs) for depression in adults is well established. Yet, comprehensive knowledge on the mediators responsible for therapeutic change in these interventions is pending. Therefore, we conducted the first systematic review on mediators in IMIs for depression, investigating mechanisms of change in interventions with different theoretical backgrounds and delivery modes (PROSPERO CRD42019130301). Two independent reviewers screened references from five databases (i.e., Cochrane Library, Embase, MEDLINE/PubMed, PsycINFO and ICTRP), selected studies for inclusion and extracted data from eligible studies. We included 26 RCTs on mediators in IMIs for depression (6820 participants), rated their risk of bias and adherence to methodological quality criteria for psychotherapy process research. Primary studies examined 64 mediators, with cognitive variables (e.g., perceived control, rumination or interpretation bias) being the largest group of both examined (m = 28) and significant mediators (m = 22); followed by a range of other mediators, including mindfulness, acceptance and behavioral activation. Our findings might contribute to the empirically-informed advancement of interventions and mental health care practices, enabling optimized treatment outcomes for patients with depression. Furthermore, we discuss implications for future research and provide methodological recommendations for forthcoming mediation studies with more pertinent designs, allowing for inferences with higher causal specificity

Mineralocorticoid Receptor Antagonists and Empagliflozin in Patients With Heart Failure and Preserved Ejection Fraction

Background: Mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (MRAs) may be beneficial in reducing heart failure (HF) hospitalizations in patients with HF with preserved ejection fraction. The effect of sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors in patients with HF with preserved ejection fraction according to MRA background therapy has not been reported. Objectives: The aim of this study was to examine the effect of empagliflozin in MRA users and nonusers in the EMPEROR-Preserved (Empagliflozin Outcome Trial in Patients With Chronic Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction) trial. Methods: Survival analyses were conducted comparing the effects of empagliflozin vs placebo in MRA users and nonusers at baseline with treatment-by-MRA use interaction terms. Results: A total of 5,988 patients were included, of whom 2,244 (37.5%) were using MRAs at baseline. MRA users had higher event rates than MRA nonusers (placebo group primary outcome 9.4 vs 8.2 events per 100 person-years). The benefit of empagliflozin to reduce the primary outcome was not significantly different between MRA nonusers and MRA users (HR: 0.73 [95% CI: 0.62-0.87] and HR: 0.87 [95% CI: 0.71-1.06]; interaction P = 0.22). The effect of empagliflozin to reduce first and recurrent HF hospitalizations was more pronounced in MRA nonusers than in MRA users (HR: 0.60 [95% CI: 0.47-0.77] and HR: 0.90 [95% CI: 0.68-1.19]; interaction P = 0.038). MRA users experienced almost twice as many hyperkalemia events as MRA nonusers, and empagliflozin reduced the risk for hyperkalemia or initiation of potassium binders regardless of MRA use (MRA nonusers: HR: 0.90 [95% CI: 0.69-1.19]; MRA users: HR: 0.74 [95% CI: 0.56-0.96]; interaction P = 0.29). Conclusions: The benefit of empagliflozin to reduce the primary outcome was not significantly different between MRA nonusers and MRA users. The effect of empagliflozin to reduce first and recurrent HF hospitalizations was more pronounced in MRA nonusers. Empagliflozin reduced hyperkalemia, with no significant treatment-by-MRA subgroup interaction. (Empagliflozin Outcome Trial in Patients With Chronic Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction [EMPEROR-Preserved]; NCT03057951) © 2022 The Author

Interplay of Mineralocorticoid Receptor Antagonists and Empagliflozin in Heart Failure: EMPEROR-Reduced

Background: Mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (MRAs) and sodium glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitors favorably influence the clinical course of patients with heart failure and reduced ejection fraction. Objectives: This study sought to study the mutual influence of empagliflozin and MRAs in EMPEROR-Reduced (Empagliflozin Outcome Trial in Patients With Chronic Heart Failure With Reduced Ejection Fraction). Methods: Secondary analysis that compared the effects of empagliflozin versus placebo in 3,730 patients with heart failure and a reduced ejection fraction, of whom 71% used MRAs at randomization. Results: The effects of empagliflozin on the primary endpoint, on most efficacy endpoints, and on safety were similar in patients receiving or not receiving an MRA (interaction p &gt; 0.20). For cardiovascular death, the hazard ratios for the effect of empagliflozin versus placebo were 0.82 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.65 to 1.05) in MRA users and 1.19 (95% CI: 0.82 to 1.71) in MRA nonusers (interaction p = 0.10); a similar pattern was seen for all-cause mortality (interaction p = 0.098). Among MRA nonusers at baseline, patients in the empagliflozin group were 35% less likely than those in the placebo group to initiate treatment with an MRA following randomization (hazard ratio: 0.65; 95% CI: 0.49 to 0.85). Among MRA users at baseline, patients in the empagliflozin group were 22% less likely than those in the placebo group to discontinue treatment with an MRA following randomization (hazard ratio: 0.78; 95% CI: 0.64 to 0.96). Severe hyperkalemia was less common in the empagliflozin group. Conclusions: In EMPEROR-Reduced, the use of MRAs did not influence the effect of empagliflozin to reduce adverse heart failure and renal outcomes. Treatment with empagliflozin was associated with less discontinuation of MRAs. (Empagliflozin Outcome Trial in Patients With Chronic Heart Failure With Reduced Ejection Fraction [EMPEROR-Reduced]; NCT03057977) © 2021 The Author

Mineralocorticoid Receptor Antagonists and Empagliflozin in Patients With Heart Failure and Preserved Ejection Fraction.

BACKGROUND: Mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (MRAs) may be beneficial in reducing heart failure (HF) hospitalizations in patients with HF with preserved ejection fraction. The effect of sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors in patients with HF with preserved ejection fraction according to MRA background therapy has not been reported. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to examine the effect of empagliflozin in MRA users and nonusers in the EMPEROR-Preserved (Empagliflozin Outcome Trial in Patients With Chronic Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction) trial. METHODS: Survival analyses were conducted comparing the effects of empagliflozin vs placebo in MRA users and nonusers at baseline with treatment-by-MRA use interaction terms. RESULTS: A total of 5,988 patients were included, of whom 2,244 (37.5%) were using MRAs at baseline. MRA users had higher event rates than MRA nonusers (placebo group primary outcome 9.4 vs 8.2 events per 100 person-years). The benefit of empagliflozin to reduce the primary outcome was not significantly different between MRA nonusers and MRA users (HR: 0.73 [95% CI: 0.62-0.87] and HR: 0.87 [95% CI: 0.71-1.06]; interaction P = 0.22). The effect of empagliflozin to reduce first and recurrent HF hospitalizations was more pronounced in MRA nonusers than in MRA users (HR: 0.60 [95% CI: 0.47-0.77] and HR: 0.90 [95% CI: 0.68-1.19]; interaction P = 0.038). MRA users experienced almost twice as many hyperkalemia events as MRA nonusers, and empagliflozin reduced the risk for hyperkalemia or initiation of potassium binders regardless of MRA use (MRA nonusers: HR: 0.90 [95% CI: 0.69-1.19]; MRA users: HR: 0.74 [95% CI: 0.56-0.96]; interaction P = 0.29). CONCLUSIONS: The benefit of empagliflozin to reduce the primary outcome was not significantly different between MRA nonusers and MRA users. The effect of empagliflozin to reduce first and recurrent HF hospitalizations was more pronounced in MRA nonusers. Empagliflozin reduced hyperkalemia, with no significant treatment-by-MRA subgroup interaction. (Empagliflozin Outcome Trial in Patients With Chronic Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction [EMPEROR-Preserved]; NCT03057951)