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Background: Sarcopenia, the progressive loss of muscle mass and strength, is common among patients with chronic kidney disease, especially those on maintenance hemodialysis. This condition often arises from factors like reduced physical activity and metabolic changes associated with chronic kidney disease. This study aims to assess the prevalence and severity of sarcopenia in patients on maintenance hemodialysis (MHD), focusing on probable sarcopenia and its correlations with physical activity, body mass index, and inorganic phosphorus levels. Methods: This cross-sectional study involved 220 patients on MHD who visited to West China Hospital of Sichuan University between February and April 2023. The demographic data, body measurements, and laboratory results were retrospectively collected. Sarcopenia was assessed using the 2019 criteria from the Asian Working Group and the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People, and physical activity was measured via the International Physical Activity Questionnaire. Results: Of the study participants, 141 (64.1%) were diagnosed with probable [110 (50.0%) or confirmed sarcopenia [31 (14.1%)], including 22 (10%) with severe sarcopenia. Multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed that physical activity (International Physical Activity Questionnaire score, OR = 0.998, 95% CI: 0.998–0.999, P < 0.001), body mass index (OR = 0.868, 95% CI: 0.788–0.957, P = 0.004), and inorganic phosphorus levels (OR = 0.513, 95% CI: 0.270–0.975, P = 0.042) independently influenced the likelihood of sarcopenia. Within the sarcopenic group, physical activity and BMI significantly correlated with the condition's severity. Conclusion: The prevalence of probable or confirmed sarcopenia in patients on MHD is significant. Factors such as physical activity, body mass index, and inorganic phosphorus levels are independently associated the presence and severity of sarcopenia in this population. Trial registration: Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR2100051111), registered on 2021–09–13. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractObjectivesMetchodsResultsConclusion\nIMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATIONMaintenance hemodialysis patients’ psychology and physiology will have negative effects. Adherence to exercise can effectively enhance the physical function of maintenance hemodialysis patients and reduce the negative psychological emotions. In recent years, virtual reality technology has been gradually applied to the hemodialysis group, providing a new way for the rehabilitation training and healthy life of maintenance hemodialysis patients.To understand the real experience of maintenance hemodialysis patients participating in virtual reality rehabilitation training, and to make reference for the future clinical development of a more perfect virtual reality rehabilitation training program.Phenomenological research method was used to conduct semi-structured interviews with 10 maintenance hemodialysis patients, and the interview data were compiled and analyzed using Colaizzi’s seven-step analysis.Four themes were distilled: (1) Maintenance hemodialysis patients’ overall perceptual experience of the virtual reality rehabilitation system; (2) Physical and psychological improvement of maintenance hemodialysis patients with virtual reality rehabilitation system; (3) Individualized needs of maintenance hemodialysis patients during virtual reality rehabilitation training; (4) Future improvements and recommendations for the virtual reality rehabilitation system.The results of the study suggest that virtual reality improves patients’ motivation to recover and shows positive results and potential benefits in improving physical functioning and negative emotions in maintenance hemodialysis patients.Regular and continuous rehabilitation training is a very effective non-pharmacological treatment to improve the physical functioning and mental health of maintenance hemodialysis patients.Virtual reality technology can stimulate the underlying motivation of maintenance hemodialysis patients to undergo rehabilitation, thus, they are guided to adopt a healthy lifestyle.Virtual reality technology can be an effective aid in the rehabilitation of maintenance hemodialysis patients, thus reducing the workload of rehabilitation clinicians.Regular and continuous rehabilitation training is a very effective non-pharmacological treatment to improve the physical functioning and mental health of maintenance hemodialysis patients.Virtual reality technology can stimulate the underlying motivation of maintenance hemodialysis patients to undergo rehabilitation, thus, they are guided to adopt a healthy lifestyle.Virtual reality technology can be an effective aid in the rehabilitation of maintenance hemodialysis patients, thus reducing the workload of rehabilitation clinicians. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The aim of this study was to systematically retrieve and evaluate published risk prediction models for autogenous arteriovenous fistula (AVF) failure post‐formation in maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) patients, with the goal of assisting healthcare providers in selecting or developing appropriate risk assessment tools and providing a reference for future research. Methods: A systematic search of relevant studies was conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, CINAHL, Embase, CNKI, Wanfang Database, VIP Database, and CBM Database up to February 1, 2024. Two researchers independently performed literature screening, data extraction, and methodological quality assessment using the Prediction Model Risk of bias (ROB) Assessment Tool. Results: A total of 4869 studies were identified, from which 25 studies with 28 prediction models were ultimately included. The incidence of autogenous AVF failure in MHD patients ranged from 3.9% to 39%. The most commonly used predictors were age, vein diameter, history of diabetes, AVF blood flow, and sex. The reported area under the curve (AUC) ranged from 0.61 to 0.911. All studies were found to have a high ROB, primarily due to inappropriate data sources and a lack of rigorous reporting in the analysis domain. The pooled AUC of five validation models was 0.80 (95% confidence interval: 0.79–0.81), indicating good predictive accuracy. Conclusion: The included studies indicated that the predictive models for AVF failure post‐formation in MHD patients are biased to some extent. Future research should focus on developing new models with larger sample sizes, strict adherence to reporting procedures, and external validation across multiple centers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Autogenous arteriovenous fistula (AVF) is the preferred vascular access in patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis (MHD). However, complications such as thrombosis may occur. This study aimed to construct and validate a machine learning-based risk-prediction model for AVF thrombosis, hypothesizing that such a model can effectively predict occurrences, providing a foundation for early clinical intervention. Methods: The retrospective longitudinal study included a total of 270 patients who underwent MHD at the Hemodialysis Center of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University between March 2021 and December 2022. During this study, baseline data and scale information of patients between March 2020 and December 2021 were collected. We recorded outcome indicators between March 2021 and December 2022 for subsequent analyses. Five machine learning models were developed (artificial neural network, logistic regression, ridge classification, random forest, and adaptive boosting). The sensitivity (recall), specificity, accuracy, and precision of each model were evaluated. The effect size of each variable was analyzed and ranked. Models were assessed using the area under the receiver-operating characteristic (AUROC) curve. Results: Among the 270 included patients, 105 had AVF thrombosis (55 male and 50 female patients; age range, 29–79 years; mean age, 56.72 years; standard deviation [SDs], ±13.10 years). Conversely, 165 patients did not have AVF thrombosis (99 male and 66 female patients; age range, 23–79 years; mean age, 53.58 years; SD, ± 13.33 years). During the observation period, approximately 52.6% of patients with AVF experienced long-term complications. The most common complications associated with AVF were thrombosis (105; 38.9%), aneurysm formation (27; 10%), and excessively high output flow (10; 3.7%). Fifty-four (20%) patients with AVF required intervention because of complications associated with vascular access. The AUROC curve of the testing set was between 0.858 and 0.903. Conclusion: In this study, we developed five machine learning models to predict the risk of AVF thrombosis, providing a reference for early clinical intervention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The application value of myocardial work (MW) in evaluating myocardial function and predicting major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) patients has not been fully explored. Purpose: Comparing noninvasive MW parameters between MHD patients and healthy controls, and further determining its value in predicting MACE in MHD patients. Methods: A prospective single‐institution study included 92 MHD patients without prior cardiovascular disease and 40 age‐ and sex‐matched healthy controls. Conventional echocardiographic data, global longitudinal strain (GLS), and MW parameters (global work index [GWI], global constructive work [GCW], global work efficiency [GWE], global wasted work [GWW]) were derived and compared between MHD and the control. Logistic regression was used to determine the predictive value of these parameters for MACE. The receiver operating characteristic curve was utilized to compare the predictive differences of MACE between GWE and GLS. Results: Compared with healthy individuals, MHD patients had significantly reduced GWE, GLS and elevated LVMI, GWW (all p < 0.001), while there was no significant difference in left ventricular ejection fraction. Twenty eight (30%) MHD patients experienced MACE. Two nested models adding GWE and GLS, respectively, showed that age (p < 0.005), GWE (p = 0.034), and GLS (p = 0.014) were independent predictors of MACE. The AUC derived from GWE for predicting MACE was significantly higher than that derived from GLS (0.836 vs. 0.743, p = 0.039). Conclusions: Myocardial work is a novel tool for assessing left ventricular myocardial performance in MHD patients. GWE is an independent predictor of MACE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The utilization of ultrapure dialysate has been shown to decrease dialysate contamination and mitigate inflammatory responses. The central dialysate delivery system (CDDS) has the potential to attain a level of purity similar to ultrapure dialysate. Nevertheless, there is limited research examining the impact of CDDS on inflammation in comparison to single-patient dialysis fluid delivery system(SPDDS). This study aims to investigate the effects of CDDS utilizing ultrapure dialysate on ameliorating the microinflammatory state in hemodialysis patients. Method: A retrospective cohort clinical study enrolled a total of 125 hemodialysis patients, with 58 patients from the CDDS unit and 67 patients from the SPDDS unit. Each participant was monitored for a period of 6 months, and the repeated measurement data was analyzed using a generalized linear mixed models (GLMM). Results: The average age of the studty cohort was 56.22 ± 12.64 years. The GLMM analysis showed a significant time*group interaction effect on hs-CRP changes over the follow-up period (β = -1.966, FTime* CDDS group = 13.389, P < 0.001). A linear mixed model analysis with random slope showed that a different slope was observed between CDDS group and SPDDS group (βCDDS =—0.793; βSPDDS = 0.791), indicating a decreased hs-CRP levels in CDDS group, while increased in the SPDDS group over the follow-up period. However, no significant time*group interaction effect were observed on albumin and β2-microglobulin levels during follow-up period(β2-microglobulin: β = -0.658, FTime* CDDS group = 1.228, P = 0.269; albumin: β = 0.012, FTime* CDDS group = 1.429, P = 0.233). Conclusion: Using ultrapure dialysate in the CDDS is associated with an improvement in hs-CRP levels compared to standard dialysate, which might confer long-term clinical advantages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To analyse the elements that influence oral frailty in elderly maintenance hemodialysis patients and to comprehend the present state of this condition. Methods: A survey of 325 elderly maintenance hemodialysis patients from three hospitals in Huzhou City was conducted using a general information questionnaire, the Oral Health Assessment Tool, the Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice of Oral Health Questionnaire, the Social Frailty, the Frail Scale, and the Oral Frailty Index. Results: In elderly maintenance hemodialysis patients, the prevalence of oral frailty was 45.2%. Factors influencing it include the Oral Health Knowledge Score (OR = 0.84, 95% CI 0.72–0.98), Oral Health Behavior Score (OR = 0.95, 95% CI 0.92–0.98), insufficient dialysis (OR = 0.30, 95% CI 0.14–0.63), social frailty (OR = 3.72, 95% CI 1.57–8.83), physical frailty (OR = 3.12, 95% CI 1.55–6.30), number of missing teeth (OR = 1.09, 95% CI 1.03–1.15), swallowing abnormalities (OR = 2.84, 95% CI 1.26–6.38), and oral health scores (OR = 1.34, 95% CI 1.14–1.57) (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Patients on elderly maintenance hemodialysis are more susceptible to oral frailty. Nursing staff should develop scientifically sound, effective, and targeted oral management strategies for these patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Skin conditions are common in patients on maintenance hemodialysis and those with pancreatitis. However, there is a lack of research on dermatological issues in patients who have both hemodialysis and pancreatitis concurrently. Case presentation: A 62-year-old male patient with a 4-year history of maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) presented with pain and was diagnosed with acute pancreatitis and gallbladder stones. Markedly elevated blood amylase, creatine kinase, and myoglobin were noted, alongside a purplish-red skin discoloration. Treatment included inhibition of digestive fluid secretion, anti-infection measures, blood purification, fasting, rehydration, and symptomatic care. Notably, continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) combined with hemoperfusion (HP) was employed. The patient's dialysis effluent initially appeared red. Upon examination of the patient's peripheral blood smear, red blood cell debris was not observed. The dialysis effluent (on Day 0) was analyzed, revealing no hemoglobin (0 g/L) but an elevated myoglobin concentration of 80.4 U/L. After the therapeutic intervention, the indicators, including the blood amylase, C-reactive protein, total bilirubin, creatine kinase, and myoglobin were improved. The patient experienced resolution of sternal and upper abdominal pain within two days. After four consecutive days of CRRT and HP treatment, the skin color returned to normal, alongside improved clarity of the dialysis effluent. Subsequently, the patient's method of blood purification was reverted to conventional hemodialysis. On the eighth day of hospitalization, the patient resumed normal diet and was discharged. Conclusions: In the case of the current patient with acute pancreatitis undergoing MHD, it is noteworthy to report the observation of a unique purplish-red skin discoloration. This phenomenon may be attributable to inflammation resulting from acute pancreatitis, and the retention of myoglobin within the body. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The purpose of this study is to investigate the prevalence and risk factor of cognitive frailty in patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis. Methods: Systematically searched PubMed, EmBase, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, SinoMed, China Knowledge Resource Integrated Database, Wanfang Database, and Weipu Database from inception until January 1, 2024. Two researchers were independently screened and cross‐checked. Stata 15.1 software was used to perform the meta‐analysis. Results: A total of 15 articles were included, including 5398 patients. The results showed that the prevalence of cognitive frailty in patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis was 24%. Among them, age (odds ratio [OR] = 1.33, 95% CI [1.16, 1.53]), waist circumference (OR = 1.05, 95% CI [1.03, 1.08]), malnutrition (OR = 2.91, 95% CI [1.94, 4.35]), comorbidities (OR = 1.93, 95% CI [1.47, 2.54]), stroke history (OR = 2.94, 95% CI [1.72, 5.03]), and depression (OR = 3.26, 95% CI [1.91, 5.57]) were the main risk factors for cognitive frailty in patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis. Education level (OR = 0.48, 95% CI [0.31, 0.73]) was protective factors for cognitive frailty in patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis. Conclusions: Current evidence showed that the prevalence of cognitive frailty in patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis was high, and there were many risk factors. Therefore, early identification and intervention of cognitive frailty in maintenance hemodialysis patients should be carried out, which may be helpful to reduce the prevalence rate and occurrence of adverse events and improve the prognosis of patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Depression is a major concern in maintenance hemodialysis. However, given the elusive nature of its risk factors and the redundant nature of existing assessment forms for judging depression, further research is necessary. Therefore, this study was devoted to exploring the risk factors for depression in maintenance hemodialysis patients and to developing and validating a predictive model for assessing depression in maintenance hemodialysis patients. Patients and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted from May 2022 to December 2022, and we recruited maintenance hemodialysis patients from a multicentre hemodialysis centre. Risk factors were identified by Lasso regression analysis and a Nomogram model was developed to predict depressed patients on maintenance hemodialysis. The predictive accuracy of the model was assessed by ROC curves, area under the ROC (AUC), consistency index (C-index), and calibration curves, and its applicability in clinical practice was evaluated using decision curves (DCA). Results: A total of 175 maintenance hemodialysis patients were included in this study, and cases were randomised into a training set of 148 and a validation set of 27 (split ratio 8.5:1.5), with a depression prevalence of 29.1%. Based on age, employment, albumin, and blood uric acid, a predictive map of depression was created, and in the training set, the nomogram had an AUC of 0.7918, a sensitivity of 61.9%, and a specificity of 89.2%. In the validation set, the nomogram had an AUC of 0.810, a sensitivity of 100%, and a specificity of 61.1%. The bootstrap-based internal validation showed a c-index of 0.792, while the calibration curve showed a strong correlation between actual and predicted depression risk. Decision curve analysis (DCA) results indicated that the predictive model was clinically useful. Conclusion: The nomogram constructed in this study can be used to identify depression conditions in vulnerable groups quickly, practically and reliably. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) are a high‐risk group susceptible to SARS‐CoV‐2 infection and long‐COVID syndrome appearance. However, there is limited and unclear evidence for long COVID in MHD patients. We collected the general information, symptoms, signs and laboratory indices of 366 MHD patients infected with COVID‐19 and conducted 12 months follow‐up with a series of questionnaires. As a result, 285 MHD patients had long COVID, with the most common symptoms were fatigue (84.69%) and muscle weakness (72.45%). Mobility problem (p < 0.001), anxiety/depression (p = 0.002) and breathlessness (p < 0.001) were more prevalent in long COVID patients than in non‐long COVID patients. Persistent long COVID people were more likely to report all domains problems of the EQ‐5D‐5L. Age, female, inadequate dialysis (Kt/V < 1.2), coagulation abnormalities (d‐dimer > 1 mg/L) and more comorbidities were risk factors for the development of long COVID. In addition to these factors, elevated inflammatory markers (CRP > 10 mg/L) represent an extra risk factor for the persistence of long COVID symptoms in MHD patients. And more than 80% of long COVID symptoms would resolve after 1 year in MHD patients, of which the sixth month after COVID‐19 infection is a critical turning point. In conclusion, more than 68% of MHD patients have long COVID, which has a poor impact on their health status and quality of life. These risk factors for the development and persistence of long COVID deserve the attention of clinicians. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims/Background Pre-frailty is common in patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis (MHD). Without proper management, it can quickly worsen and progress into frailty, leading to various adverse clinical outcomes. Therefore, timely interventions for pre-frail MHD patients are crucial. However, the response of pre-frail MHD patients to such interventions is currently unclear. This study evaluated the effect of a multicomponent intervention on changes in pre-frailty status, risk factors for frailty, quality of life, and clinical outcomes in pre-frail patients undergoing MHD. Methods Sixty MHD patients were randomly assigned to intervention (received a 12-week multicomponent intervention) and control (received standard care) groups, with 30 participants per group, between February and May 2018. Data were collected at baseline and at 3 and 9 months thereafter. Analyzed outcomes included changes in pre-frailty status, frailty risk factors (such as albumin level, pain, and anxiety), quality of life, and clinical outcomes during the follow-up period. Results Data from a total of 58 MHD patients were collected at three time points. At week 12, frailty scores were 0.9 points lower in the intervention group compared to the control group (p = 0.007). The intervention group showed a 26.2% higher proportion of patients who improved from pre-frailty to non-frailty compared to the control group (p = 0.029), and a 25.9% lower proportion of patients who progressed from pre-frailty to frailty (p = 0.021). Additionally, improvements in albumin levels, pain, anxiety, and quality of life were more significant in the intervention group (all p < 0.05). Although there were fewer incidents of falls and rehospitalizations in the intervention group during follow-up, these differences did not reach statistical significance (all p > 0.05). Conclusion This study validates the effectiveness and practicality of a multicomponent intervention in improving pre-frailty status, frailty risk factors, and quality of life in patients undergoing MHD. Clinical Trial Registration Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR-IOR-17012176). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Sarcopenia, the progressive loss of muscle mass and strength, is common among patients with chronic kidney disease, especially those on maintenance hemodialysis. This condition often arises from factors like reduced physical activity and metabolic changes associated with chronic kidney disease. This study aims to assess the prevalence and severity of sarcopenia in patients on maintenance hemodialysis (MHD), focusing on probable sarcopenia and its correlations with physical activity, body mass index, and inorganic phosphorus levels. Methods This cross-sectional study involved 220 patients on MHD who visited to West China Hospital of Sichuan University between February and April 2023. The demographic data, body measurements, and laboratory results were retrospectively collected. Sarcopenia was assessed using the 2019 criteria from the Asian Working Group and the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People, and physical activity was measured via the International Physical Activity Questionnaire. Results Of the study participants, 141 (64.1%) were diagnosed with probable [110 (50.0%) or confirmed sarcopenia [31 (14.1%)], including 22 (10%) with severe sarcopenia. Multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed that physical activity (International Physical Activity Questionnaire score, OR = 0.998, 95% CI: 0.998–0.999, P

Abstract This study explores the feasibility, safety, and efficacy of percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) for reinserting tunneled cuffed catheters (TCC) with a Dacron sheath in the right internal jugular vein (RIJV) in hemodialysis patients with a history of prior RIJV catheterization and subsequent stenosis or occlusion of the RIJV, right innominate vein, and superior vena cava. Clinical data from 21 hemodialysis patients with dysfunctional vascular access who underwent PTA for reinsertion of TCC in the RIJVs from July 2020 to June 2023 at the First and Second Affiliated Hospitals of Bengbu Medical College were retrospectively analyzed. Clinical efficacy during hospitalization, postoperative TCC blood flow, and related complications during follow-up were observed. The procedure was successful in all 21 patients, with postoperative TCC blood flow meeting daily hemodialysis requirements. Only one case experienced acute bleeding with contrast agent extravasation at the intersection of the left and right innominate veins during sharp recanalization. No severe complications, such as arrhythmias, vascular rupture, pneumothorax, mediastinal hematoma, or pericardial tamponade, occurred during the procedures. Upon discharge, all patients exhibited satisfactory TCC blood flow (247.14 ± 11.46 ml/min). Postoperatively, TCC blood flow ranged between 200 and 260 ml/min, meeting the demands of regular hemodialysis. For patients with a history of repeated TCC or non-tunneled catheter (NTC) placement in the RIJV, reinserting TCC in the RIJVs through PTA is a safe and reliable technique. It effectively utilizes vascular resources and prevents vascular resource depletion associated with changing the venous catheter placement location.

Abstract Background The utilization of ultrapure dialysate has been shown to decrease dialysate contamination and mitigate inflammatory responses. The central dialysate delivery system (CDDS) has the potential to attain a level of purity similar to ultrapure dialysate. Nevertheless, there is limited research examining the impact of CDDS on inflammation in comparison to single-patient dialysis fluid delivery system(SPDDS). This study aims to investigate the effects of CDDS utilizing ultrapure dialysate on ameliorating the microinflammatory state in hemodialysis patients. Method A retrospective cohort clinical study enrolled a total of 125 hemodialysis patients, with 58 patients from the CDDS unit and 67 patients from the SPDDS unit. Each participant was monitored for a period of 6 months, and the repeated measurement data was analyzed using a generalized linear mixed models (GLMM). Results The average age of the studty cohort was 56.22 ± 12.64 years. The GLMM analysis showed a significant time*group interaction effect on hs-CRP changes over the follow-up period (β = -1.966, FTime* CDDS group = 13.389, P

Abstract Objectives To analyse the elements that influence oral frailty in elderly maintenance hemodialysis patients and to comprehend the present state of this condition. Methods A survey of 325 elderly maintenance hemodialysis patients from three hospitals in Huzhou City was conducted using a general information questionnaire, the Oral Health Assessment Tool, the Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice of Oral Health Questionnaire, the Social Frailty, the Frail Scale, and the Oral Frailty Index. Results In elderly maintenance hemodialysis patients, the prevalence of oral frailty was 45.2%. Factors influencing it include the Oral Health Knowledge Score (OR = 0.84, 95% CI 0.72–0.98), Oral Health Behavior Score (OR = 0.95, 95% CI 0.92–0.98), insufficient dialysis (OR = 0.30, 95% CI 0.14–0.63), social frailty (OR = 3.72, 95% CI 1.57–8.83), physical frailty (OR = 3.12, 95% CI 1.55–6.30), number of missing teeth (OR = 1.09, 95% CI 1.03–1.15), swallowing abnormalities (OR = 2.84, 95% CI 1.26–6.38), and oral health scores (OR = 1.34, 95% CI 1.14–1.57) (P

Abstract Background Skin conditions are common in patients on maintenance hemodialysis and those with pancreatitis. However, there is a lack of research on dermatological issues in patients who have both hemodialysis and pancreatitis concurrently. Case presentation A 62-year-old male patient with a 4-year history of maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) presented with pain and was diagnosed with acute pancreatitis and gallbladder stones. Markedly elevated blood amylase, creatine kinase, and myoglobin were noted, alongside a purplish-red skin discoloration. Treatment included inhibition of digestive fluid secretion, anti-infection measures, blood purification, fasting, rehydration, and symptomatic care. Notably, continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) combined with hemoperfusion (HP) was employed. The patient’s dialysis effluent initially appeared red. Upon examination of the patient’s peripheral blood smear, red blood cell debris was not observed. The dialysis effluent (on Day 0) was analyzed, revealing no hemoglobin (0 g/L) but an elevated myoglobin concentration of 80.4 U/L. After the therapeutic intervention, the indicators, including the blood amylase, C-reactive protein, total bilirubin, creatine kinase, and myoglobin were improved. The patient experienced resolution of sternal and upper abdominal pain within two days. After four consecutive days of CRRT and HP treatment, the skin color returned to normal, alongside improved clarity of the dialysis effluent. Subsequently, the patient’s method of blood purification was reverted to conventional hemodialysis. On the eighth day of hospitalization, the patient resumed normal diet and was discharged. Conclusions In the case of the current patient with acute pancreatitis undergoing MHD, it is noteworthy to report the observation of a unique purplish-red skin discoloration. This phenomenon may be attributable to inflammation resulting from acute pancreatitis, and the retention of myoglobin within the body.

Background: Recent studies have shown that the baseline values of absolute aortic root diameter (ARD) and indexed diameter are associated with all-cause mortality and cardiovascular events in the general population, even in the absence of aneurysmal aortic disease. However, there is limited available data on the association between ARD and prognosis in end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients receiving maintenance hemodialysis (MHD). Accordingly, the purpose of this study is to investigate the predictive value of ARD for all-cause mortality and cardiovascular events in this specific population.Methods: ARD was measured by echocardiography at the level of the sinuses of Valsalva at end diastole and indexed to body surface area (BSA). The primary endpoint was all-cause mortality. The secondary endpoint was major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), including cardiovascular mortality, myocardial infarction and stroke. Cox proportional hazards models were conducted to evaluate the association between baseline ARD/BSA and clinical outcomes.Results: A total of 391 patients were included in this study. The primary endpoint occurred in 95 (24.3%) patients while the secondary endpoint occurred in 71 (18.2%) patients. Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that ARD/BSA was an independent prognostic factor for all-cause mortality (HR, per 1-SD increase, 1.403; 95% CI, 1.118–1.761; p = 0.003) as well as MACE (HR, per 1-SD increase, 1.356; 95% CI, 1.037–1.772; p = 0.026).Conclusions: Our results show that ARD/BSA is predictive of all-cause mortality and MACE in MHD patients with ESRD and support the view that assessment of ARD/BSA may refine risk stratification and preventive strategies in this population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To delineate the efficacy and safety profile of hemodiafiltration with endogenous reinfusion (HFR) for uremic toxin removal in patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis (MHD). Patients who have been on MHD for a period of at least 3 months were enrolled. Each subject underwent one HFR and one hemodiafiltration (HDF) treatment. Blood samples were collected before and after a single HFR or HDF treatment to test uremic toxin levels and to calculate clearance rate. The primary efficacy endpoint was to compare uremic toxin levels of indoxyl sulfate (IS), λ-free light chains (λFLC), and β2-microglobulin (β2-MG) before and after HFR treatment. Secondary efficacy endpoints was to compare the levels of urea, interleukin-6 (IL-6), P-cresol, chitinase-3-like protein 1 (YKL-40), leptin (LEP), hippuric acid (HPA), trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO), asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23) before and after HFR treatment. The study also undertook a comparative analysis of uremic toxin clearance between a single HFR and HDF treatment. Meanwhile, the lever of serum albumin and branched-chain amino acids before and after a single HFR or HDF treatment were compared. In terms of safety, the study was meticulous in recording vital signs and the incidence of adverse events throughout its duration. The study enrolled 20 patients. After a single HFR treatment, levels of IS, λFLC, β2-MG, IL-6, P-cresol, YKL-40, LEP, HPA, TMAO, ADMA, TNF-α, and FGF23 significantly decreased (p < 0.001 for all). The clearance rates of λFLC, β2-MG, IL-6, LEP, and TNF-α were significantly higher in HFR compared to HDF (p values: 0.036, 0.042, 0.041, 0.019, and 0.036, respectively). Compared with pre-HFR and post-HFR treatment, levels of serum albumin, valine, and isoleucine showed no significant difference (p > 0.05), while post-HDF, levels of serum albumin significantly decreased (p = 0.000). HFR treatment effectively eliminates uremic toxins from the bloodstream of patients undergoing MHD, especially protein-bound toxins and large middle-molecule toxins. Additionally, it retains essential physiological compounds like albumin and branched-chain amino acids, underscoring its commendable safety profile. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The relationship between serum total cholesterol (TC) and triglyceride (TG) levels and mortality in maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) patients remains inconsistent. We aimed to explore the individual and combined association of TC and TG levels with the risk of mortality in Chinese MHD patients. 1036 MHD patients were enrolled in this multicenter, prospective cohort study. The serum levels of total cholesterol and triglycerides were measured at baseline. The primary outcome was all-cause mortality and secondary outcome was cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality. During a median follow-up duration of 4.4 years (IQR= 2.0–7.9 years), 549 (53.0%) patients died, and 297 (28.7%) deaths were attributed to CVD. Compared with patients with TC levels in the first three quartiles (<182.5 mg/dL), a significantly higher risk of all-cause mortality was found in participants with TC in the fourth quartile (hazard ratio [HR], 1.43; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.17–1.76). However, a significantly lower risk of all-cause mortality was observed in participants with TG in the fourth quartile (≥193.9 mg/dL) (HR, 0.78; 95%CI: 0.63–0.98), compared with participants with TG in the first three quartiles. Similar trends were observed in CVD mortality. When analyzed jointly, patients with lower TC (<182.5 mg/dL) and higher TG (≥193.9 mg/dL) levels had the lowest risk of all-cause mortality and CVD mortality. Conclusions: In MHD patients in southern China, higher TC levels were associated with higher risk of mortality, while higher TG levels were related to lower risk of mortality. Patients with lower TC and higher TG levels had the best survival prognosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To examine the effectiveness of psychoeducational interventions on depression, anxiety, and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) for people undergoing maintenance hemodialysis (MHD). This review used systematic review and meta-analysis as the research design. Nine databases, including PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, CINAHL Complete, Cochrane Library, CNKI, WanFang, VIP, and Chinese Biomedical Literature Database, were searched from the inception to the 8th of July 2023. Two reviewers independently identified randomized controlled trials (RCT) examining the effects of psychoeducational interventions on MHD patients. Fourteen studies involving 1134 MHD patients were included in this review. The results of meta-analyses showed that psychoeducational intervention had significant short-term (< 1 m) (SMD: −0.87, 95% CI: −1.54 to −0.20, p = 0.01, I2 = 91%; 481 participants), and medium-term (1–3 m) (SMD: −0.29, 95% CI: −0.50 to −0.08, p = 0.01, I2 = 49%; 358 participants) on anxiety in MHD patients, but the effects could not be sustained at longer follow-ups. Psychoeducational interventions can also have short-term (< 1 m) (SMD: −0.65, 95% CI: −0.91 to −0.38, p < 0.00001, I2 = 65%; 711 participants) and medium-term (1–3 m) (SMD: −0.42, 95% CI: −0.76 to −0.09, p = 0.01, I2 = 69%; 489 participants) effects in reducing depression levels in MHD patients. Psychoeducational interventions that use coping strategies, goal setting, and relaxation techniques could enhance the QOL in MHD patients in the short term (< 1 m) (SMD: 0.86, 95% CI: 0.42 to 1.30, p = 0.02, I2 = 86%; 241 participants). Psychoeducational interventions have shown great potential to improve anxiety, depression, and quality of life in patients with MHD at the short- and medium-term follow-ups. Trial registration number: CRD42023440561. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anemia is a common complication of chronic kidney disease with major option treatment of erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs). This study aimed to investigate the influencing factors of erythropoietin resistance index (ERI) and its association with mortality in maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) patients. Patients enrolled from China Dialysis Outcomes and Practice Patterns Study (DOPPS) 5 were included. ERI was calculated as follows: ESA (IU/week)/weight (kg, post-dialysis)/hemoglobin level (g/dL). The Cox regression model was used to analyze the influencing factors on survival outcomes. Stepwise multivariate logistic regression was used to identify the related risk factors, and subgroup analyses were performed. A total of 1270 MHD subjects (687 males and 583 females) were included, with an average age of 60 (49.0, 71.0) years. All subjects were divided into two groups by the median ERI of 14.03. Multivariate logistic regression showed that dialysis vintage (OR 0.957, 95% CI: 0.929–0.986), white blood cells (OR 0.900, 95% CI: 0.844–0.960), high flux dialyzer use (OR 0.866, 95% CI: 0.755–0.993), body mass index (OR 0.860, 95% CI: 0.828–0.892), males (OR 0.708, 95% CI: 0.625–0.801), and albumin (OR 0.512, 95% CI: 0.389–0.673) had a negative association with high ERI baseline (all p < 0.05). There were 176 (13.9%) deaths in total including 89 cardiac/vascular deaths during follow-up. Cox regression analysis showed that ERI was positively associated with all-cause mortality, especially in some subgroups. ERI was associated with increased all-cause mortality in MHD patients, indicating the possibility of death prediction by ERI. Patients with high ERI warrant more attention. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Serum lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] is an independent risk factor for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) in the general population, its association with ASCVD incidence in Chinese maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) patients remains unclear. We aimed to evaluate the relationship between Lp(a) levels and ASCVD incidence among MHD patients in Beijing, China. Methods This retrospective, observational cohort study included MHD patients at Beijing Tongren Hospital from January 1, 2013 to December 1, 2020, and followed until December 1,2023. The primary outcome was ASCVD occurrence. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was used to evaluate ASCVD-free survival in MHD patients, with stratification based on Lp(a) levels. Cox regression analyses were conducted to assess the association between Lp(a) levels and the occurrence of ASCVD. Results A total of 265 patients were enrolled in the study. The median follow-up period were 71 months.78 (29.4%) participants experienced ASCVD events, and 118 (47%) patients died, with 58 (49.1%) deaths attributed to ASCVD. Spearman rank correlation analyses revealed positive correlations between serum Lp(a) levels and LDL-c levels, and negative correlations with hemoglobin, triglyceride, serum iron, serum creatinine, and albumin levels. Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that Lp(a) levels ≥ 30 mg/L, increased age, decreased serum albumin levels, and a history of diabetes mellitus were significantly associated with ASCVD incidence. Conclusions This study demonstrated an independent and positive association between serum Lp(a) levels and the risk of ASCVD in MHD patients, suggesting that serum Lp(a) could potentially serve as a clinical biomarker for estimating ASCVD risk in this population.

Yong-Yao Wu,1,&ast; Jun-Yuan Li,1,&ast; Qiao-Jing Xia,1 Yi-Yi Gao,1 Chao Zhang,1 Peng-Jie Xu,1 Jiang Liu,1 Hao-Jie Zhang,1 Ri-Zhen Yu2 1Department of Nephrology, Ningbo Medical Center Lihuili Hospital, Ningbo, Zhejiang Province, 315099, People’s Republic of China; 2Urology & Nephrology Center, Department of Nephrology, Affiliated People’s Hospital, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, 310014, People’s Republic of China&ast;These authors contributed equally to this workCorrespondence: Hao-Jie Zhang, Department of Nephrology, Ningbo Medical Center Lihuili Hospital, No. 1111 Jiangnan Road, Yinzhou District, Ningbo City, Zhejiang Province, 315099, People’s Republic of China, Email zhang_haojie843@outlook.com Ri-Zhen Yu, Urology & Nephrology Center, Department of Nephrology, Affiliated People’s Hospital, Hangzhou Medical College, No. 158 Shangtang Road, Gongshu District, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310014, People’s Republic of China, Tel +86 571-85893889, Fax +86 571-85131448, Email rizhen_3180yu83@126.comObjective: Sarcopenia is more common in maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) patients, and the aim of this study is to analyze the risk factors associated with sarcopenia in MHD patients, along with its correlation to emotional status and quality of life.Methods: This is a cross-sectional cohort study. A total of 111 MHD patients who were treated in the Department of Nephrology of our hospital were selected as the study subjects by convenience sampling. The quality of life and emotional status were evaluated by health survey scale (SF-36), self-rating anxiety scale (SAS) and self-rating depression scale (SDS). Regression analysis was used to explore the influencing factors of sarcopenia. Correlation analysis was used to investigate the correlation between sarcopenia and quality of life and emotional status.Results: The prevalence of sarcopenia was 59.8%. The results showed that age, gender, body mass index (BMI), dialysis time, economic status, marital status and pre-dialysis creatinine were significant factors affecting the development of sarcopenia in hemodialysis patients (p< 0.05). The SF-36 total score was significantly lower in the sarcopenia group (72.05± 12.28 vs 78.03± 10.55) than in the non-sarcopenia group, but the anxiety scale score (52.97± 4.67 vs 36.2± 3.36) and depression scale score (57.67± 4.58 vs 38.71± 3.77) were significantly higher than those in the non-sarcopenia group (p< 0.001). Correlation analysis showed that sarcopenia was positively correlated with SAS and SDS scores and negatively correlated with SF-36 total score (p < 0.05).Conclusion: The risk of sarcopenia was higher among MHD patients who were older, male, single, with a longer MHD duration, lower economic status, lower BMI, comorbid diabetes and lower levels of creatinine.Keywords: maintenance hemodialysis, sarcopenia, quality of life, risk factors, cross-sectional studies

Abstract The current research focuses on the effects of nutritional supplementation and exercise on dialysis patients, but whether physical activity (PA) can reduce the risk of adverse outcomes for patients with different nutritional status is not clear. The maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) patients were recruited from April 2021 to April 2022. The information of PA was obtained from the international physical activity questionnaire (IPAQ). The outcomes were cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, stroke, heart failure, atrial fibrillation, tumor and all-cause death. We used COX proportional risk model to estimate the association between PA and the outcomes of MHD patients. Patients are classified into two groups based on geriatric nutritional risk index (GNRI) and classified by age, and we used COX proportional risk model to estimate the association of PA and outcomes in subgroups. The isotemporal substitution model (ISM) was used to estimate the effects of replacing light physical activity (LPA) with moderate physical activity (MPA) or vigorous physical activity (VPA) on risk of cardiovascular events, tumors, and all-cause death in different subgroups. The effects of PA on ankle-brachial index (ABI) and body fat content were analyzed in different IPAQ groups. A total of 241 maintenance hemodialysis patients were included, 105 peoples developed cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, stroke, heart failure, atrial fibrillation, tumor and all-cause death (43.6%). The median follow-up time was 12 months. MPA reduced the risk of outcome in MHD patients or high GNRI patients (40% vs 39%).In MHD patients who was under 65 years with high GNRI, MPA reduced cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, stroke, heart failure, atrial fibrillation, tumor and all-cause death by 55%.PA reduced the risk of cardiovascular event by 65%, but did not reduce the risk of tumor or all-cause death. Replacing LPA with VPA did not improve clinical outcomes. It actually increases the risk of heart failure 0.4%. MPA reduced the risk of cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, stroke, heart failure, atrial fibrillation, tumor, all-cause death in MHD patients under 65 years, while VPA had no health benefit. Trial registration: ChiCTR210050998.

Ning-ning Xia, Kuei-ching Pan, Jing Liu, Daxi Ji Department of Nephrology, Nanjing BenQ Medical Center, BenQ Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Kuei-ching Pan; Jing Liu, Email PKJ13951672501@126.com; liujing66382@126.comObjective: To investigate current status of quality of life and the association between depression and symptom burden in a sample of Chinese maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) patients.Methods: A self-designed patient general information questionnaire, disease-related information questionnaire, dialysis patient symptom burden scale, depression scale, and quality of survival scale were used to investigate 380 maintenance haemodialysis patients in haemodialysis centres. A regression model of the factors affecting the quality of survival was established using structural equation modelling.Results: The regression model data had a high goodness of fit: c2/df = 4.736, RMSEA = 0.099, GFI = 0.918, CFI = 0.972, TLI = 0.962, SRMR = 0.0469. Structural equation model analysis showed that depression had a positive predictive effect on symptom burden, β = 0.398, P

Abstract Background Social alienation refers to the state of feeling isolated, helpless, and unsatisfied due to maintaining distance from others or avoiding social interaction and activities. This phenomenon is caused by a lack of social skills, social anxiety, physical health problems, and other reasons. Older maintenance hemodialysis patients are exposed to a higher risk of social alienation. However, previous studies have been performed using the total score of the scale, which does not allow the identification of the characteristics of various patient groups with different levels of social alienation. In contrast, latent profile analysis can classify individuals into different categories based on continuous observational indicators, which improves accuracy and provides a more objective assessment by accounting for the uncertainty of variables. Given the concealed nature of social alienation and the differences in characteristics and treatment measures between different profiles, developing a predictive model for social alienation in older maintenance hemodialysis patients holds significance. Objective To explore the latent profile analysis of social alienation in older maintenance hemodialysis patients and to develop and validate a predictive model for social alienation in this population. Methods A total of 350 older maintenance hemodialysis patients were selected as the study subjects using convenience sampling. A cross-sectional survey was conducted using a general information questionnaire, the Generalized Alienation Scale, and the Self-Perceived Burden Scale. Based on the results of the Generalized Alienation Scale, a latent profile analysis was performed, followed by univariate analysis and multinomial logistic regression to develop a predictive model. The effectiveness of the predictive model was evaluated in terms of its authenticity, reliability, and predictive ability. Results Three hundred nineteen valid questionnaires were collected. The social alienation of older maintenance hemodialysis patients based on latent profile analysis were divided into three profiles, which were named the low/medium/high-symptom groups, comprising 21%, 38.9%, and 40.1% of participants, respectively. Based on male, monthly social activity hours, Age-Adjusted Charlson Comorbidity Index, dialysis age, and Self-Perceived Burden Scale, a predictive model of social alienation for older maintenance hemodialysis patients was developed, and the Hosmer–Lemeshow tests showed no statistical significance (P > 0.05). The model has high predictive efficiency in authenticity, reliability and predictability. Conclusion Older maintenance hemodialysis patients exhibited moderate to high levels of social alienation. The latent profile analysis based method was used to divide patients into low/medium/high-symptom profiles, and the predictive model demonstrates excellent authenticity, reliability, and predictability.

Background: Patients on maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) have been disproportionately affected by COVID-19. Identifying factors associated with disease severity and viral clearance times can inform better clinical management for this high-risk group. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed clinical and hematological data from 85 COVID-19 positive MHD patients. Disease severity was classified as non-severe (mild/moderate) or severe (severe/critical). Logistic regression was used to evaluate factors associated with disease severity. The time to viral clearance was assessed and correlated with clinical variables. Results: Cardiovascular disease (OR=11.19, 95% CI 2.35–53.38), neutrophilia (OR=1.24, 95% CI 1.01–1.53), and elevated inflammatory markers (procalcitonin and white blood cell count) were independent predictors of severe COVID-19. A prognostic model incorporating these factors showed good discrimination for severity risk (AUC=0.835). The median time to viral clearance was 19 days. Delayed clearance was associated with higher levels of C-reactive protein, troponin, and N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide. Conclusions: We identified key prognostic factors for COVID-19 severity and characterized the time to viral clearance in MHD patients. These findings can aid in risk stratification and optimize management for this vulnerable population. Further research through multicenter collaborative studies is warranted to validate these results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) patients suffer from enormous physical, mental stress and poor quality of life, so an increasing number of patients are in a long-term state of depression. A prominent feature of MHD patients is chronic persistent inflammation, which is also an important mechanism for the onset of depression. Therefore, finding economically convenient inflammatory markers to predict and diagnose the onset of depression in MHD patients is of great value. As a novel inflammatory marker, systemic immune inflammation index (SII) can more comprehensively reflect the inflammation and immunity level of patients. This study aims to explore the relationship between SII and depressive symptoms in MHD patients. Methods: A cross-sectional studywas conducted on 206MHD patients fromthree dialysis centers. Based on the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) scores, patients were divided into non-depression and depression groups. Inter group comparison and multivariate logistic regression analysis were performed to determinewhether SII is an independent risk factor for depression inMHD patients. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to evaluate the predictive value of SII on depression symptoms in MHD patients. Results: According to the HADS scale score, 38.83% of the included patients were in a state of depression. After adjusting for all confounding factors, MHD patients with SII>963.93 had a 4.709 times higher risk of depression than those with SII = 478.32 (OR=4.709, 95% CI 1.821-12.178, P<0.01). ROC analysis showed that SII>685.11 was the best cutoff value for MHD depression patients, and the area under the curve (AUC) was 0.681. Conclusions: High SII is an independent risk factor for depressed MHD patients and an ideal inflammatory marker for predicting and identifying depression in MHD patients as assessed by the HADS scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Serum lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] is an independent risk factor for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) in the general population, its association with ASCVD incidence in Chinese maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) patients remains unclear. We aimed to evaluate the relationship between Lp(a) levels and ASCVD incidence among MHD patients in Beijing, China. Methods: This retrospective, observational cohort study included MHD patients at Beijing Tongren Hospital from January 1, 2013 to December 1, 2020, and followed until December 1,2023. The primary outcome was ASCVD occurrence. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was used to evaluate ASCVD-free survival in MHD patients, with stratification based on Lp(a) levels. Cox regression analyses were conducted to assess the association between Lp(a) levels and the occurrence of ASCVD. Results: A total of 265 patients were enrolled in the study. The median follow-up period were 71 months.78 (29.4%) participants experienced ASCVD events, and 118 (47%) patients died, with 58 (49.1%) deaths attributed to ASCVD. Spearman rank correlation analyses revealed positive correlations between serum Lp(a) levels and LDL-c levels, and negative correlations with hemoglobin, triglyceride, serum iron, serum creatinine, and albumin levels. Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed that Lp(a) levels ≥ 30 mg/L, increased age, decreased serum albumin levels, and a history of diabetes mellitus were significantly associated with ASCVD incidence. Conclusions: This study demonstrated an independent and positive association between serum Lp(a) levels and the risk of ASCVD in MHD patients, suggesting that serum Lp(a) could potentially serve as a clinical biomarker for estimating ASCVD risk in this population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current research focuses on the effects of nutritional supplementation and exercise on dialysis patients, but whether physical activity (PA) can reduce the risk of adverse outcomes for patients with different nutritional status is not clear. The maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) patients were recruited from April 2021 to April 2022. The information of PA was obtained from the international physical activity questionnaire (IPAQ). The outcomes were cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, stroke, heart failure, atrial fibrillation, tumor and all-cause death. We used COX proportional risk model to estimate the association between PA and the outcomes of MHD patients. Patients are classified into two groups based on geriatric nutritional risk index (GNRI) and classified by age, and we used COX proportional risk model to estimate the association of PA and outcomes in subgroups. The isotemporal substitution model (ISM) was used to estimate the effects of replacing light physical activity (LPA) with moderate physical activity (MPA) or vigorous physical activity (VPA) on risk of cardiovascular events, tumors, and all-cause death in different subgroups. The effects of PA on ankle-brachial index (ABI) and body fat content were analyzed in different IPAQ groups. A total of 241 maintenance hemodialysis patients were included, 105 peoples developed cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, stroke, heart failure, atrial fibrillation, tumor and all-cause death (43.6%). The median follow-up time was 12 months. MPA reduced the risk of outcome in MHD patients or high GNRI patients (40% vs 39%).In MHD patients who was under 65 years with high GNRI, MPA reduced cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, stroke, heart failure, atrial fibrillation, tumor and all-cause death by 55%.PA reduced the risk of cardiovascular event by 65%, but did not reduce the risk of tumor or all-cause death. Replacing LPA with VPA did not improve clinical outcomes. It actually increases the risk of heart failure 0.4%. MPA reduced the risk of cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, stroke, heart failure, atrial fibrillation, tumor, all-cause death in MHD patients under 65 years, while VPA had no health benefit. Trial registration: ChiCTR210050998. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Regional anticoagulation in hemodialysis avoids the use of heparin, which is responsible for both hemorrhagic and non‐hemorrhagic complications. Typically, blood is decalcified by injecting citrate into the arterial line of the extracorporeal circuit. Calcium‐free dialysate improves anticoagulation efficacy but requires injection of a calcium‐containing solution into the venous line and strict monitoring of blood calcium levels. Recent improvements have made regional anticoagulation with calcium‐free dialysate safer and easier. Observations: (1) Adjusting the calcium injection rate to ionic dialysance avoids the risk of dyscalcemia, thus making unnecessary the monitoring of blood calcium levels. This adjustment could be carried out automatically by the hemodialysis monitor. (2) As calcium‐free dialysate reduces the amount of citrate required, this can be supplied by dialysate obtained from currently available concentrates containing citric acid. This avoids the need for citrate injection and the risk of citrate overload. (3) Calcium‐free dialysate no longer needs the dialysate acidification required for avoiding calcium carbonate precipitation in bicarbonate‐containing dialysate. Conclusions: Regional anticoagulation with calcium‐free dialysate enables an acid‐ and heparin‐free procedure that is more biocompatible and environmentally friendly than conventional bicarbonate hemodialysis. The availability of specific acid‐free concentrates and adapted hemodialysis monitors is required to extend this procedure to maintenance hemodialysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Lack of evaluations of the dietary phosphorus and dialysis phosphorus removal in daily clinical practice are common obstacles to assessing phosphorus balance and controlling phosphorus in hemodialysis patients. We aimed to investigate whether individualized therapy using a phosphorus balance calculator improves phosphorus control. Methods A randomized, open-label, multicenter, 4-week clinical trial was conducted. A total of 119 maintenance hemodialysis patients aged 18–85 years old and with serum phosphorus level >1.45 mmol/L from three university teaching hospitals in Shanghai were enrolled. Patients were randomized in a 1:1 ratio to individualized therapy (n  = 60) or conventional therapy (n  = 59). The primary outcome was the serum phosphorus concentration after 4-week treatment. Secondary outcomes included the serum calcium and parathyroid hormone (PTH) concentrations, changes in serum phosphorus, calcium and PTH concentrations, and the proportion of patients achieving target ranges of serum phosphorus, calcium and PTH after 4-week treatment. Results Among 119 randomized participants [mean age 62 years; 68 male (57%)], 116 completed the trial. Using the phosphorus balance calculator, the individualized group achieved a better phosphorus balance state and significantly reduced serum phosphorus (1.62 ± 0.45 mmol/L versus 1.85 ± 0.45 mmol/L, P  = .006), increased the proportions of patients achieving target serum phosphorus range (41% versus 18%, P  = .006) and had greater adjusted mean difference in change in serum phosphorus over the 4 weeks (−0.47 versus −0.23 mmol/L, P  = .010) when compared with conventional therapy. No significant changes were observed in serum calcium and PTH levels, the proportion of patients achieving target serum calcium or PTH levels, or the adjusted mean difference of serum calcium and PTH levels over the treatment period. Conclusion Phosphorus balance calculator was proved to improve serum phosphorus control in patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis, offering a new tool for managing hyperphosphatemia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Psychological resilience plays an important role in overcoming emotional distress among people receiving maintenance hemodialysis (MHD). This study aimed to investigate how social support and family resilience interact to influence psychological resilience among Chinese people receiving MHD. This was a prospective longitudinal study with three time points: baseline (T1), 3 months (T2), and 6 months (T3) later. A convenience sample of 252 participants (67.1% male; 57.6 ± 13.8 years of age) from Zhejiang Province, China, who completed baseline measures of social support, family resilience, and psychological resilience, were further assessed for psychological resilience at T2 and T3. Polynomial regression (PR) and response surface analysis (RSA) were used to analyze the data. At all time points, and in the case of agreement between social support and family resilience, the combined effect of both variables manifested as a positive linear association with psychological resilience. Instead, at baseline, and in case of disagreement, the same combined effect manifested as a negative linear relationship related to psychological resilience. The findings highlighted the importance of considering the conjoint influence of social support and family resilience when developing interventions to improve the psychological resilience of people receiving MHD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Social alienation refers to the state of feeling isolated, helpless, and unsatisfied due to maintaining distance from others or avoiding social interaction and activities. This phenomenon is caused by a lack of social skills, social anxiety, physical health problems, and other reasons. Older maintenance hemodialysis patients are exposed to a higher risk of social alienation. However, previous studies have been performed using the total score of the scale, which does not allow the identification of the characteristics of various patient groups with different levels of social alienation. In contrast, latent profile analysis can classify individuals into different categories based on continuous observational indicators, which improves accuracy and provides a more objective assessment by accounting for the uncertainty of variables. Given the concealed nature of social alienation and the differences in characteristics and treatment measures between different profiles, developing a predictive model for social alienation in older maintenance hemodialysis patients holds significance. Objective: To explore the latent profile analysis of social alienation in older maintenance hemodialysis patients and to develop and validate a predictive model for social alienation in this population. Methods: A total of 350 older maintenance hemodialysis patients were selected as the study subjects using convenience sampling. A cross-sectional survey was conducted using a general information questionnaire, the Generalized Alienation Scale, and the Self-Perceived Burden Scale. Based on the results of the Generalized Alienation Scale, a latent profile analysis was performed, followed by univariate analysis and multinomial logistic regression to develop a predictive model. The effectiveness of the predictive model was evaluated in terms of its authenticity, reliability, and predictive ability. Results: Three hundred nineteen valid questionnaires were collected. The social alienation of older maintenance hemodialysis patients based on latent profile analysis were divided into three profiles, which were named the low/medium/high-symptom groups, comprising 21%, 38.9%, and 40.1% of participants, respectively. Based on male, monthly social activity hours, Age-Adjusted Charlson Comorbidity Index, dialysis age, and Self-Perceived Burden Scale, a predictive model of social alienation for older maintenance hemodialysis patients was developed, and the Hosmer–Lemeshow tests showed no statistical significance (P > 0.05). The model has high predictive efficiency in authenticity, reliability and predictability. Conclusion: Older maintenance hemodialysis patients exhibited moderate to high levels of social alienation. The latent profile analysis based method was used to divide patients into low/medium/high-symptom profiles, and the predictive model demonstrates excellent authenticity, reliability, and predictability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: This study aims to analyze the risk factors for severe fatigue in maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) patients and develop a clinical prediction model to help doctors and patients prevent severe fatigue. Methods: Multicentre MHD patients were included in this study. The objective was to investigate the risk factors for severe fatigue in MHD patients and develop a prediction model. Results: A total of 243 MHD patients were included in the study, and the incidence of severe fatigue was found to be 20.99%. Using age, body mass index, total cholesterol, and albumin levels, a predictive nomogram for fatigue was constructed. In the training set, the nomogram had an area under the curve of 0.851, sensitivity of 82.86%, specificity of 81.76%, and c‐index of 0.851. The nomogram was accurate in calibration and proved to be clinically useful. Conclusion: The nomogram developed in this study is a practical and reliable tool for quickly identifying severe fatigue in MHD patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

IntroductionPatients on maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) were more vulnerable to and had a higher mortality during the COVID-19 pandemic. As angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) and transmembrane protease serine S1 member 2 (TMPRSS2) played crucial roles in viral entry into the human host cells, we therefore investigated in the MHD patients whether their plasma levels were associated with susceptibility to the COVID-19.MethodsBlood samples were collected from the patients in our then COVID-19 free center immediately upon lifting of the stringent quarantine measures in early December of 2022 and infection situation was observed within the following 2 weeks. Plasma levels of the soluble ACE2 (sACE2), ACE (sACE) and TMPRSS2 (sTMPRSS2) were measured with ELISA method. Data were stepwisely tested for independent effect, relevant role and synergistic action on the susceptibility by multiple logistic regression, receiver operating characteristic curve and multiple dimensionality reduction (MDR) method, respectively.ResultsAmong the 174 eligible patients, 95 (54.6%) turned COVID-19 positive with a male to female ratio of 1.57 during the observation period. Comparing with the uninfected, the infected had significantly higher sACE2 and lower sTMPRSS2 levels upon comparable sACE concentration. Besides the sACE2, factors associated with susceptibility were vintage and individual session time of the hemodialysis, smoking and comorbidity of hepatitis, whereas lymphocyte counts showed a tendency (p = 0.052). Patients simultaneously manifesting higher sACE2 level and lower lymphocyte counts had an increased infection risk as confirmed by the MDR method.ConclusionBy sorting out the susceptible ones expeditiously, this algorithmic approach may help the otherwise vulnerable MHD patients weather over future wave of COVID-19 variants or outbreak of other viral diseases.

BackgroundFew studies have investigated the relationship between sarcopenia and the incidence of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), which are common complications in maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) patients. This study thus explored the association between sarcopenia and MACE in a prospective cohort with mediation analysis.MethodsAdult MHD patients in Jiangdu People’s Hospital in December 2019 were screened. The exposure was sarcopenia, as defined by the 2019 Asian Working Group. The primary endpoint was the occurrence of MACE, defined as the composite of all-cause mortality or hospital admission with a primary diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction, stroke, or heart failure during a 3-year follow-up period. Multivariate Cox regression analyses were used to test the association between sarcopenia and subsequent MACE incidence. Mediation analyses were used to investigate whether potential mediators influenced the association between sarcopenia and MACE.ResultsOf the 230 patients enrolled, 57% were male, with a median age of 57 years (interquartile range [IQR]: 50 to 66), and a median dialysis vintage of 67 months (IQR: 32 to 119). The prevalence of sarcopenia was 45.2%. The presence of sarcopenia was significantly correlated with age (Spearman’s r = 0.47, p

Objective: To identify distinct trajectories of psychological resilience among Chinese patients with maintenance hemodialysis, explore influencing factors and inform the formulation of corresponding interventions. Methods: This was a multi-center longitudinal study with a 6-month follow-up. With convenience sampling, a total of 231 patients with maintenance hemodialysis were recruited between September 2020 and July 2021. Patients’ characteristics, including sociodemographic information, social support and family resilience was collected through structured questionnaires as potential baseline influencing factors of psychological resilience trajectories. Psychological resilience was evaluated using the 25-item Chinese version of the Conner and Davidson resilience scale. Latent class growth modeling was conducted to identify homogeneous subgroups with distinct trajectories of psychological resilience. Univariable and multinomial logistic regression analysis were used to examine whether baseline influencing factors were associated with trajectories in patients with maintenance hemodialysis. Results: Five distinct psychological resilience trajectory groups were identified: declining group (n = 20, 8.7 %), rising group (n = 17, 7.4 %), moderate-stable group (n = 128, 55.4 %), high-stable group (n = 7, 3.0 %) and low-stable group (n = 59, 25.5 %). High-stable group and moderate-stable group were combined into the well-psychological resilience group for multinomial logistic regression analysis. The multinomial logistic regression analysis showed that influencing factors associated with trajectories of psychological resilience were age, religion, monthly household income per capita, and baseline family resilience. Conclusions: The results highlight the heterogeneity in the development of psychological resilience among Chinese patients with maintenance hemodialysis. There is a need for healthcare professionals to screen for trajectories of psychological resilience in Chinese maintenance hemodialysis patients and prepare individual mental healthcare interventions.

Objective: The objective of this study was to analyze the current status of barriers to exercise participation (EP) among patients on maintenance hemodialysis (MHD). Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 277 outpatients undergoing MHD in 2 tertiary first-class hospitals in Beijing from February 2023 to June 2023 who were selected using convenience sampling method. The data of patients on MHD were collected using the general information questionnaire, Physical Activity Rating Scale, Exercise Benefits/Barriers Scale (EBBS), and Exercise Self-Efficacy Scale (ESES). The relationship between EP and barriers to EP was analyzed through univariate and multivariate linear regression models. Results: Patients on MHD had a low exercise volume score of 13.71 ± 0.68 points and a medium EBBS score of 63.36 ± 0.40 points. Multivariate logistic analysis showed that exercise volume was significantly related to the following four aspects, including low monthly household income per capita (odds ratio [OR] = 86.741, 95% confidence interval [CI] [1.164–6.465], P = 0.042), primary underlying disease of diabetic nephropathy (OR = 45.993, 95% CI [1.353–1.564], P = 0.033), the belief that “fatigue in lower extremities hinders exercise” (OR = 4.697, 95% CI [1.127–19.585], P = 0.034), and the belief that “physical exercise bringing optimistic and positive life attitude” (OR = 0.074, 95% CI [0.007–0.830], P = 0.035). Conclusions: Since patients on MHD had low physical exercise volume, the health-care provider should pay more attention on the controllable factors that affect the EP of patients on MHD. Therefore, feasible and effective intervention measures can be formulated based on ESES in clinical nursing.

Abstract Background and aims Patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) experience increased mortality and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risks; however, the potential connection between pinch strength (PS) and the prognosis of these patients remains unknown. Consequently, this study aimed to comprehensively assess the influence of PS and handgrip strength (HGS) on both survival and cardiovascular events (CVE) in patients undergoing MHD. Methods Data were gathered from patients undergoing MHD at the Hemodialysis Center of Guangzhou Red Cross Hospital in March 2021. We performed a retrospective follow-up spanning 24 months, with death serving as the primary endpoint for observation and CVE as the secondary endpoint. Multifactorial Cox regression analysis, Kaplan–Meier survival curves, trend tests, and restricted cubic spline were applied to explore the association. Results During a 24-month follow-up, data were collected from 140 patients undergoing MHD with an average age of 66.71 ± 12.61 years. Among them, 52 (37.14%) experienced mortality, whereas 36 (40.00%) had CVE without baseline CVD. Kaplan–Meier survival curves demonstrated better survival rates and reduced CVE risk for patients in the second, third, and fourth quartiles compared with those in the first quartile for PS. Adjusted analyses in different models revealed higher PS levels were independently associated with all-cause mortality (major model, model 4, HR, 0.78; 95% CI, 0.64–0.95) but not with CVE risk (unadjusted HR, 0.90; 95% CI, 0.77–1.05). Compared with lower quartile PS levels, higher PS levels significantly reduced all-cause mortality (HR, 0.31; 95% CI, 0.10–1.02), and this trend remained consistent (P for trend = 0.021). Finally, the restricted cubic spline method using different models showed a linear relationship between PS and all-cause mortality (P > 0.05), when PS exceeded 4.99 kg, the all-cause mortality of MHD patients significantly decreased. Conclusions PS was independently associated with all-cause mortality but not with CVE in patients undergoing MHD.

Abstract Objective Restless legs syndrome (RLS) stands as a prevalent neurological complication within maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) patients. However, the alterations in cerebral blood flow (CBF) among MHD-RLS patients remain uncharted. Through the utilization of the arterial spin labeling (ASL) technique, we evaluated the fluctuations in CBF within distinct brain regions and analyzed the risk factors for the development of RLS in MHD patients in the context of the clinic. Methods Thirty-one MHD patients with concomitant RLS (MHD-RLS group) and thirty-one non-RLS patients matched based on age, gender, as well as cognitive function (MHD-nRLS group) were included. Through image preprocessing and data analysis, the changes in CBF values in distinct brain regions were obtained, and the CBF values of brain regions with substantial differences between the two groups were correlated with the RLS scores. Furthermore, the differences in baseline data were compared, and through the utilization of multifactorial logistic regression, the independent risk factors for the development of RLS were examined. Results Compared with the MHD-nRLS group, the MHD-RLS group had increased CBF in the right superior temporal gyrus, reduced CBF in the right hippocampus, left middle frontal gyrus, inferior frontal gyrus of right triangle, middle frontal gyrus of left orbit, left precentral gyrus, and left precuneus. Only left precentral gyrus CBF were negatively correlated with RLS scores after correction for dialysis duration(r = -0.436, P = 0.016). Accordingly, multifactorial regression analysis by stepwise method yielded that the left precentral gyrus CBF values(OR: 0.968, 95%CI: 0.944–0.993, P = 0.012) remained an independent risk factor for RLS in MHD patients. In addition, the results showed that hemodialysis duration (OR: 1.055, 95%CI: 1.014–1.098, P = 0.008) and serum iron levels (OR: 0.685, 95%CI: 0.551–0.852, P = 0.001) were also risk factors for the development of RLS. Conclusion Patients afflicted with MHD-RLS exhibit alterations in CBF across several brain regions. Notably, the left precentral gyrus might serve as a pivotal region influencing the onset of RLS among MHD patients. Furthermore, extended hemodialysis duration and a relative insufficiency in serum iron levels independently contribute as risk factors for RLS development within the MHD patient population.

Abstract Background Primary caregivers of hemodialysis patients suffer from varying degrees of stress from their patients. Caring for hemodialysis patients can expose caregivers to many problems, leading to an increased burden of care and even impacting the quality of care. The purpose of our study was to examine whether family resilience could be a mediating variable moderating the relationship between patient coping styles and caregiver burden. Methods The study was a cross-sectional and descriptive-analytical study that interviewed 173 pairs of hemodialysis patients and their caregivers at a blood purification center in a public hospital in China. The Brief Coping Styles Scale (Chinese version) was used to assess individuals’ coping styles for disease and treatment. From the caregiver’s perspective, the Family Resilience Assessment Scale (Chinese version) was used to understand the resilience of families, and the Zarit Caregiver Burden Scale was used to capture the caregiver’s subjective experience of burden. Statistical analyses were conducted using SPSS version 23 and Amos version 26 to analyze the relationships between variables to examine for correlation and construct mediated effects models. Results Coping styles showed a significant positive correlation with family resilience (r = 0.347, P

Abstract Background The single-pool model urea clearance index (single-pool Kt/Vurea; spKt/V) is the most commonly used method for dialysis adequacy assessment. However, only a few studies have examined the relationship between spKt/V values and parameters related to sarcopenia and nutritional status. This study aimed to evaluate whether the spKt/V is an indicator of sarcopenia and nutritional status in patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis (MHD). Methods A total of 142 patients were included in this single-center, cross-sectional study. Venous blood samples were collected shortly before the hemodialysis session. The adequacy of dialysis in patients receiving MHD was assessed using spKt/V. Sarcopenia was identified according to the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia (2019) definition. Receiver operating characteristic curve and area under the curve were used to evaluate the predictive value of spKt/V in sarcopenia. Univariate and multivariate binary logistic regression analyses were used to determine the association between spKt/V and sarcopenia and nutritional status. Results The mean spKt/V level was 1.3 ± 0.2, the prevalence of sarcopenia was 15.5% in patients on MHD. The best cutoff value of spKt/V in sarcopenia was 1.45 for both sexes, 1.33 and 1.45 for men and women, respectively (P

To determine the relationship of hemodialysis access with vital sign variability and hemodialysis-related headache (HRH). Adult outpatients receiving maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) were prospectively recruited, and 12 consecutive dialysis sessions were monitored. Intradialysis (hour-to-hour) and interdialysis (dialysis day-to-day) vital sign variabilities were assessed via three metrics: the difference between the maximum and minimum values, average real variability (ARV), and residuals. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to explore the factors triggering HRH. A total of 91 Chinese MHD patients (60.4% male) aged 58.5 ± 17.2 years were included, with 59 patients using radiocephalic arteriovenous fistulas (RCAVFs) and 32 patients using tunneled cuffed catheters (TCCs) for dialysis. The median dialysis vintage was 26.8 (12.0–44.7) months. Compared with the RCAVF group, the TCC group had significantly greater urea reduction (71.1 ± 9.3% vs. 61.7 ± 10.5%, p

Background Patients receiving maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) frequently encounter a drop in blood pressure during dialysis, known as intradialytic hypotension (IDH). The AIP is associated with diseases such as diabetes and cardiovascular events. It remains unclear whether the AIP is associated with IDH. The present study aimed to explore the association between AIP and IDH in MHD patients.Methods In this multi-center cross-sectional study, we included 1946 adult hemodialysis patients from twenty dialysis centers. Patients were divided into four groups based on the AIP quartiles. Linear regression and multiple logistic regression models were used to analyze the relationship between AIP and IDH. Subgroup analyses were further conducted to assess the robustness of the association between the AIP and IDH.Results After adjusting for potential confounding variables, each 1-unit increase in AIP was associated with a 21% increase in the odds of IDH. The odds ratios (ORs) of IDH increased gradually with higher quartiles of AIP compared with the Q1 reference group (Q2: OR, 1.41, 95% CI: 0.91-2.18; Q3: OR, 1.63, 95% CI: 1.07-2.49; Q4: OR, 1.57, 95% CI: 1.01-2.42). No interaction was observed in the subgroup analysis stratified by age, sex, history of diabetes, heart failure, and myocardial infarction.Conclusion Elevated AIP levels are associated with a heightened risk of IDH in MHD patients.

Purpose To investigate the dietary nutrient intake of Maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) patients, identify influencing factors, and explore the correlation between dietary nutrient intake and nutritional and disease control indicators.Methods This was a multicenter cross-sectional study. A dietary survey was conducted using a three-day dietary record method, and a self-designed diet management software was utilized to calculate the daily intake of dietary nutrients. The nutritional status and disease control indicators were assessed using subjective global assessment, handgrip strength, blood test indexes, and dialysis adequacy.Results A total of 382 MHD patients were included in this study. Among them, 225 (58.9%) and 233 (61.0%) patients’ protein and energy intake did not meet the recommendations outlined in the National Kidney Foundation’s Kidney Disease Outcomes Quality Initiative Clinical Practice Guideline for Nutrition in Chronic Kidney Disease (2020 update). The average protein and energy intake for these patients were 0.99 ± 0.32 g/kg/d and 29.06 ± 7.79 kcal/kg/d, respectively. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that comorbidity-diabetes had a negative influence on normalized daily energy intake (nDEI = DEI / ideal body weight) (B = −2.880, p = 0.001) and normalized daily protein intake (nDPI = DPI / ideal body weight) (B = −0.109, p = 0.001). Pearson correlation analysis revealed that dietary DPI (r = −0.109, p