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Despite the high prevalence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and its high cardiovascular risk, patients with CKD, especially those with advanced CKD (stages 4–5 and patients on kidney replacement therapy), are excluded from most cardiovascular clinical trials. It is particularly relevant in patients with advanced CKD and heart failure (HF) who have been underrepresented in many pivotal randomized trials that have modified the management of HF. For this reason, there is little or no direct evidence for HF therapies in patients with advanced CKD and treatment is extrapolated from patients without CKD or patients with earlier CKD stages. The major consequence of the lack of direct evidence is the under-prescription of HF drugs to this patient population. As patients with advanced CKD and HF represent probably the highest cardiovascular risk population, the exclusion of these patients from HF trials is a serious deontological fault that must be solved. There is an urgent need to generate evidence on how to treat HF in patients with advanced CKD. This article briefly reviews the management challenges posed by HF in patients with CKD and proposes a road map to address them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A proportion of end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) patients require kidney replacement therapy to maintain clinical stability. Home dialysis therapies offer convenience, autonomy and potential quality of life improvements, all of which were heightened during the COVID-19 pandemic. While the superiority of specific modalities remains uncertain, patient choice and informed decision-making remain crucial. Missed opportunities for home therapies arise from systemic, programmatic and patient-level barriers. This paper introduces the integrated care model which prioritizes the safe and effective uptake of home therapies while also emphasizing patient-centered care, informed decision-making, and comprehensive support. The integrated care framework addresses challenges in patient identification, assessment, eligibility determination, education and modality transitions. Special considerations for urgent dialysis starts are discussed, acknowledging the unique barriers faced by this population. Continuous quality improvement is emphasized, with the understanding that local challenges may require tailored solutions. Overall, the integrated care model aims to create a seamless and beneficial transition to home dialysis therapies, promoting flexibility and improved quality of life for ESKD patients globally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and hypothesis There seems to be a lack of consensus on the necessity and the modality of psychological and specifically cognitive assessment of candidates for kidney transplantation. Both points are often delegated to individual hospitals/centres, whereas international guidelines are inconsistent. We think it is essential to investigate professionals' opinions to advance towards a consistent clinical practice. Methods This paper presents the results of an international survey among clinical professionals, mainly nephrologists from the CONNECT (Cognitive decline in Nephro-Neurology: European Cooperative Target) network and beyond (i.e. from personal contacts of CONNECT members). The survey investigated their opinions about the question of whether cognitive decline in patients with chronic kidney disease may affect their eligibility for kidney transplantation. Results Our results show that most clinicians working with patients affected by chronic kidney disease think that cognitive decline may challenge their eligibility for transplantation despite data that suggest that, in some patients, cognitive problems improve after kidney transplantation. Conclusion We conclude that three needs emerge as particularly pressing: defining agreed-on standards for a multifaceted and multifactorial assessment (i.e. including both clinical/medical and psychosocial factors) of candidates with chronic kidney disease to kidney transplantation; further investigating empirically the causal connection between chronic kidney disease and cognition; and further investigating empirically the possible partial reversibility of cognitive decline after kidney transplantation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background The European Renal Association (ERA) Registry collects data on kidney replacement therapy (KRT) in patients with end-stage kidney disease (ESKD). This paper is a summary of the ERA Registry Annual Report 2021, including a comparison across treatment modalities. Methods Data was collected from 54 national and regional registries from 36 countries, of which 35 registries from 18 countries contributed individual patient data and 19 registries from 19 countries contributed aggregated data. Using this data, incidence and prevalence of KRT, kidney transplantation rates, survival probabilities and expected remaining lifetimes were calculated. Result In 2021, 533.2 million people in the general population were covered by the ERA Registry. The incidence of KRT was 145 per million population (pmp). In incident patients, 55% were 65 years or older, 64% were male, and the most common primary renal disease (PRD) was diabetes (22%). The prevalence of KRT was 1040 pmp. In prevalent patients, 47% were 65 years or older, 62% were male, and the most common PRDs were diabetes and glomerulonephritis/sclerosis (both 16%). On 31 December 2021, 56% of patients received haemodialysis, 5% received peritoneal dialysis, and 39% were living with a functioning graft. The kidney transplantation rate in 2021 was 37 pmp, a majority coming from deceased donors (66%). For patients initiating KRT between 2012–2016, 5-year survival probability was 52%. Compared to the general population, life expectancy was 65% and 68% shorter for males and females receiving dialysis, and 40% and 43% shorter for males and females living with a functioning graft. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although home therapies treatments may put a substantial burden on patients and their caregivers [[8]], Lambie and Davies [[9]] describe in their paper that absolute contraindications for these are rare. Over recent decades, people have argued for replacing paternalistic methods of managing long-term conditions with models that consider patients to be equal partners in treatment decision-making, disease management, and health service design and research [[1], [3]]. At some point, you run out of resilience, and I've run out. i PATIENT INVOLVEMENT IN DISEASE MANAGEMENT After making a shared treatment decision, patients are encouraged to continue playing an active role in managing their kidney disease, especially if they opted for home dialysis. [Extracted from the article]

The coexistence of osteoporosis and chronic kidney disease (CKD) is an evolving healthcare challenge in the face of increasingly aging populations. Globally, accelerating fracture incidence causes disability, impaired quality of life and increased mortality. Consequently, several novel diagnostic and therapeutic tools have been introduced for treatment and prevention of fragility fractures. Despite an especially high fracture risk in CKD, these patients are commonly excluded from interventional trials and clinical guidelines. While management of fracture risk in CKD has been discussed in recent opinion-based reviews and consensus papers in the nephrology literature, many patients with CKD stages 3–5D and osteoporosis are still underdiagnosed and untreated. The current review addresses this potential treatment nihilism by discussing established and novel approaches to diagnosis and prevention of fracture risk in patients with CKD stages 3–5D. Skeletal disorders are common in CKD. A wide variety of underlying pathophysiological processes have been identified, including premature aging, chronic wasting, and disturbances in vitamin D and mineral metabolism, which may impact bone fragility beyond established osteoporosis. We discuss current and emerging concepts of CKD–mineral and bone disorders (CKD-MBD) and integrate management of osteoporosis in CKD with current recommendations for management of CKD-MBD. While many diagnostic and therapeutic approaches to osteoporosis can be applied to patients with CKD, some limitations and caveats need to be considered. Consequently, clinical trials are needed that specifically study fracture prevention strategies in patients with CKD stages 3–5D. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Chronic kidney disease–associated pruritus (CKD-aP) is a common and burdensome condition for end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) patients, especially those receiving haemodialysis. High-quality evidence of the relationship between CKD-aP and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) can therefore inform clinicians and policymakers about treatment choice and reimbursement decisions. Methods A systematic literature review and narrative synthesis stratified by study design and HRQoL instrument was conducted to evaluate in adult ESKD patients receiving in-centre haemodialysis the relationship between CKD-aP and HRQoL assessed using multi dimensional generic or condition-specific preference- or non-preference-based measures. MEDLINE, Embase, Web of Science, BIOSIS Citation Index, Cochrane Library and PsycINFO from inception to March 2020 were searched, with two reviewers extracting data independently. Results Searches identified 2684 unique records, of which 20 papers relating to 18 unique studies [5 randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and 13 observational studies] were included. HRQoL was assessed using four generic and eight disease-specific measures. The impact of CKD-aP was assessed by comparison of means, linear regression and correlation. Observational studies employing comprehensively adjusted multivariable linear regression largely found associations between CKD-aP severities and HRQoL. Analyses suggest this relationship is partially mediated by the sleep disturbance caused by CKD-aP. RCTs showing improvements in CKD-aP severity were associated with clinically meaningful improvements in HRQoL. Compared with generic measures, disease-specific HRQoL instruments reported greater changes with reduced CKD-aP. Heterogeneity in study design and reporting precluded meta-analysis. Conclusions CKD-aP severity was found to be associated with a worsening of HRQoL in the majority of observational and RCT studies. Parallel improvements in CKD-aP and HRQoL with interventions may support their use (PROSPERO registration 175035). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Despite a plethora of studies on the effect of urate-lowering therapy (ULT) in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), current guidelines on the treatment of hyperuricaemia and gout vary, especially concerning the need for dose adjustment of allopurinol, whose main metabolite is accumulating with declining renal function. Data on allopurinol dosing and its relationship to renal function, co-medication and sex and the resulting urate level in large cohorts are missing. Methods We studied a subgroup of 2378 patients of the German Chronic Kidney Disease (GCKD) study to determine prescription patterns of ULT among CKD patients under nephrological care and the relationship of ULT dose to urate levels. Prescription and dosing of ULT were manually abstracted from the patient's paper charts at the baseline visit, in which all currently used medications and their dosing were recorded. Results In this cohort, 39.6% were women, the mean estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was 51.3 ± 19.3 mL/min/1.73 m2 and the mean age was 59.0 ± 12.4 years. Of the 2378 examined patients, 666 (28.0%) received ULT. The dose of ULT was available for 572 patients. The main ULT agent was allopurinol (94.4%), followed by febuxostat (2.9%) and benzbromarone (2.6%). Of the 540 patients who used allopurinol with a reported daily dose, 480 had an eGFR <60 mL/min/1.73 m2 and 320 had an eGFR <45 mL/min/1.73 m2, 31.5% of the latter (n  = 101) received a dose >150 mg/day, the recommended maximal dose for this level of eGFR. The prescribed dose was not related to eGFR: the median eGFR for patients taking 100, 150 and 300 mg/day was 40 [interquartile range (IQR) 32–49], 43 (34–52) and 42 (35–54) mL/min/1.73 m2, respectively. Patients with lower doses of allopurinol had higher serum urate levels than patients with higher (than recommended) allopurinol doses. Sex, alcohol intake, eGFR, use of diuretics and treatment with allopurinol were independent determinants of serum urate levels in multivariate regression analysis. Conclusions The most frequently used drug to lower serum urate levels in this CKD cohort was allopurinol. Even in patients regularly seen by nephrologists, the dose of allopurinol is often not adjusted to the current eGFR. Patients with higher ULT doses achieved better control of their serum urate levels. Lowering of serum urate in CKD patients requires balancing potential adverse effects of allopurinol with suboptimal control of serum urate levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Although patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) are gaining increased interest in developing health care quality and are a useful tool in person-centered care, their use in routine care is still limited. The aim of this study is to describe the implementation and initial results of PROMs via the Swedish Renal Registry (SRR) on a national level. Methods After testing and piloting the electronic PROM application, nationwide measures were carried out in 2017 for completing the RAND-36 questionnaire online or by paper in a wide range of chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients (Stages 3–5, dialysis and transplantation) through the SRR. Cross-sectional results during the first year were analyzed by descriptive statistics and stratified by treatment modality. Results A total of 1378 patients from 26 of 68 renal units (39%) completed the questionnaire. The response rate for all participating hemodialysis units was 38.9%. The CKD patients had an impaired health profile compared with a Swedish general population, especially regarding physical functions and assessed general health (GH). Transplanted patients had the highest scores, whereas patients on dialysis treatment had the lowest scores. The youngest age group assessed their physical function higher and experienced fewer physical limitations and less bodily pain than the other age groups but assessed their GH and vitality (VT) relatively low. The oldest age group demonstrated the lowest health profile but rated their mental health higher than the other age groups. The older the patient, the smaller the difference compared with persons of the same age in the general population. Conclusions Nationwide, routine collection of PROMs is feasible in Sweden. However, greater emphasis is needed on motivating clinical staff to embrace the tool and its possibilities in executing person-centered care. CKD patients demonstrate impaired health-related quality of life, especially regarding limitations related to physical problems, GH and VT/energy/fatigue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper by Jardine et al. reporting results from the South African Renal Registry describes a 2-fold success. First, even in a limited-resource environment, survival of patients on renal replacement therapy (RRT) is favourable. Secondly, this information is available because a few years ago, South African nephrologists started a renal registry. These successes cannot conceal, however, that numerous patients are not offered RRT. Robust health information systems make it possible to define chronic kidney disease and end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) burdens, guide resource allocation, inform service planning and enable policy. Registries can highlight inequitable RRT access and help support advocacy in favour of additional resources for ESKD care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fatigue is a common and debilitating symptom, affecting 42-89% of end-stage kidney disease patients, persisting even in pre-dialysis care and stable kidney transplantation, with huge repercussions on functioning, quality of life and patient outcomes. This paper presents a critical review of current evidence for the role of psychological factors in renal fatigue. To date, research has concentrated primarily on the contribution of depression, anxiety and subjective sleep quality to the experience of fatigue. These factors display consistent and strong associations with fatigue, above and beyond the role of demographic and clinical factors. Considerably less research is available on other psychological factors, such as social support, stress, self-efficacy, illness and fatigue-specific beliefs and behaviours, and among transplant recipients and patients in pre-dialysis care. Promising evidence is available on the contribution of illness beliefs and behaviours to the experience of fatigue and there is some indication that these factors may vary according to treatment modality, reflecting the differential burdens and coping necessities associated with each treatment modality. However, the use of generic fatigue scales casts doubt on what specifically is being measured among dialysis patients, illness-related fatigue or post-dialysis-specific fatigue. Therefore, it is important to corroborate the available evidence and further explore, qualitatively and quantitatively, the differences in fatigues and fatigue-specific beliefs and behaviours according to renal replacement therapy, to ensure that any model and subsequent intervention is relevant and grounded in the experiences of patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Shared decision making is considered an important aspect of chronic disease management. We explored the feasibility of routinely measuring kidney patients' involvement in making decisions about renal replacement therapy (RRT) in National Health Service settings. Methods: We disseminated a 17-item paper questionnaire on involvement in decision-making among adult patients with established kidney failurewho made a decision about RRT in the previous 90 days (Phase 1) and patients who had been receiving RRT for 90-180 days (Phase 2). Recruitment rates were calculated as the ratio between the number of included and expected eligible patients (I : E ratio). We assessed our sample's representativeness by comparing demographics between participants and incident patients in the UK Renal Registry. Results: Three hundred and five (Phase 1) and 187 (Phase 2) patients were included. For Phase 1, the I : E ratio was 0.44 (range, 0.08-2.80) compared with 0.27 (range, 0.04-1.05) in Phase 2. Study participants were more likely to be white compared with incident RRT patients (88 versus 77%; P < 0.0001).We found no difference in age, gender or social deprivation. In Phases 1 and 2, the majority reported a collaborative decision-making style (73 and 69%), and had no decisional conflict (85 and 76%); the median score for shared decision-making experience was 12.5 (Phase 1) and 10 (Phase 2) out of 20. Conclusion: Our study shows the importance of assessing the feasibility of data collection in a chronic disease context prior to implementation in routine practice. Routine measurement of patient involvement in established kidney disease treatment decisions is feasible, but there are challenges in selecting the measure needed to capture experience of involvement, reducing variation in response rate by service and identifying when to capture experience in a service managing people's chronic disease over time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]