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The United States Preventive Services Task Force has no current recommendation to guide primary care physician screening for chronic kidney disease (CKD). This is misaligned with the scope of the CKD public health emergency, recommendations from clinical practice guidelines, health spending on CKD, the changing landscape of CKD detection and treatment, and the focus by policymakers on identifying tangible approaches to improving health equity. This review summarizes patient, clinician, health equity, and health system perspectives in support of screening adults with risk factors for CKD. This review concludes with the assessment that the United States Preventive Services Task Force should revisit targeted CKD screening specifically for adults with diabetes and/or hypertension.

Over the past 65 years, kidney transplantation has evolved into the optimal treatment for patients with kidney failure, dramatically reducing suffering through improved survival and quality of life. However, access to transplant is still limited by organ supply, opportunities for transplant are inequitably distributed, and lifelong transplant survival remains elusive. To address these persistent needs, the National Kidney Foundation convened an expert panel to define an agenda for future research. The key priorities identified by the panel center on the needs to develop and evaluate strategies to expand living donation, improve waitlist management and transplant readiness, maximize use of available deceased donor organs, and extend allograft longevity. Strategies targeting the critical goal of decreasing organ discard that warrant research investment include educating patients and clinicians about potential benefits of accepting nonstandard organs, use of novel organ assessment technologies and real-time decision support, and approaches to preserve and resuscitate allografts before implantation. The development of personalized strategies to reduce the burden of lifelong immunosuppression and support "one transplant for life" was also identified as a vital priority. The panel noted the specific goal of improving transplant access and graft survival for children with kidney failure. This ambitious agenda will focus research investment to promote greater equity and efficiency in access to transplantation, and help sustain long-term benefits of the gift of life for more patients in need.

Introduction Albuminuria is a sign of kidney disease and associated with adverse outcomes. However, most individuals with albuminuria are unaware of it. The Kidney Disease Screening and Awareness Program (KDSAP) aims for early detection and raising awareness of albuminuria, targeting underserved populations in communities. This study will assess the prevalence and awareness of albuminuria and identify associated risk factors among KDSAP participants. Methods KDSAP participants ≥18 years old without a history of dialysis or kidney transplant were included. Albuminuria was identified by dipstick urinalysis. Individuals with albuminuria who answered yes to either of the following 2 questions were defined as being aware: (i) Have you ever had protein in the urine? (ii) Do you have kidney disease? Results Among 2304 participants, 461 (20.0%) had albuminuria: 16.3% with trace or 1+ (low degree) and 3.7% with 2+ or more (high degree). Correlating factors of albuminuria included young age, male sex, African American descent, self-reported diabetes, hypertension, family history of kidney disease, and smoking. Overall albuminuria awareness was 15.8%, but awareness inversely correlated to younger age groups: 7.0% for ages 18–39 years, 13.5% for ages 40–59 years, and 24.0% for ages ≥60 years (P < 0.001). A high degree of albuminuria (vs. low, odds ratio: 5.04, P < 0.001) and concurrent hematuria (odds ratio: 2.12, P=0.024) were both associated with higher awareness; conversely, risk factors for low awareness included African American and better self-assessments of health. Conclusions There was a high albuminuria prevalence among KDSAP participants, yet low awareness. KDSAP can potentially be a useful model for detecting albuminuria and raising awareness in communities., Graphical abstract

Rationale & Objective Patients experience various symptoms during hemodialysis. We aimed to assess the frequency and severity of symptoms during hemodialysis and whether intradialytic symptoms are associated with recovery time postdialysis. Study Design An online questionnaire was sent to 10,000 patients in a National Kidney Foundation database. Setting & Participants Adult patients receiving in-center hemodialysis 3 times weekly for 3 or more months. Exposure Online questionnaire. Analytic Approach Tabulation of frequency and severity of events and recovery time as percent of respondents, construction of a total symptom score, followed by rank correlation analysis of symptom characteristics with total recovery time. Outcomes Patient-reported intradialytic symptoms and recovery time postdialysis. Results 359 patients met screening criteria and completed the questionnaire. Mean age was 62.5 ± 13.8 years, 207 (58%) were men, 74 (21%) were black/African American, 132 (37%) had diabetes, 252 (70%) had hypertension, and 102 (28%) had a history of myocardial infarction, heart surgery, or stent placement. 311 (87%) patients had symptoms during dialysis in the previous week, with mean severity of 2.7 (range for each symptom, 1-5). The most common symptoms were fatigue/feeling washed out (62%), cramps (44%), and symptoms of low blood pressure (42%). Median time to recovery was 3 (range, 0-24) hours, and this correlated with the incidence and severity of intradialytic symptoms (P < 0.0001). 40% of patients had time to recovery times of 4 hours or longer. 1 in 3 patients reported having stopped dialysis early for intradialytic symptoms and 6% reported skipping dialysis at least once because of intradialytic symptoms. Limitations Recall-based self-reported data with a relatively low response rate. Conclusions A majority of patients receiving in-center hemodialysis experience symptoms such as feeling washed out, fatigue, and cramping; these may be severe and are correlated with longer recovery time following hemodialysis, as well as shortened and skipped hemodialysis sessions., Graphical abstract

Introduction The uptake of the Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) 2012 chronic kidney disease (CKD) Guideline is not fully described in real-world nephrology practice across the world. Methods We used baseline data from the CKD Outcomes and Practice Patterns Study (2013–2017), a 4-country cohort of patients with estimated glomerular filtration rate, Graphical abstract

The 3SITES study randomly assigned a nontunneled central venous catheter site in over 3000 adults treated in intensive care units. The subclavian site was associated with a lower rate of short-term complications, including catheter-related bloodstream infection and deep venous thrombosis, compared to the femoral or internal jugular site. Nephrologists should be aware of this study and should continue to advocate for alternatives to subclavian vein catheter placement in patients with chronic kidney disease who are expected to require arteriovenous access for dialysis in the future.

Interventional trials of dietary sodium reduction have demonstrated improvements in blood pressure, cardiovascular events, and chronic kidney disease (CKD). Furthermore, public health initiatives to reduce population sodium intake in Finland and Japan have shown similar benefit in blood pressure and stroke reduction. Recent follow-up data from large cohort trials that suggest increased mortality among individuals with lower urinary sodium excretion have generated controversy regarding the optimal sodium intake. This paper reviews the evidence for the reduction of dietary sodium to prevent and manage chronic diseases, including hypertension, cardiovascular disease, and CKD.

KEEP is the world’s only sustained chronic disease screening and awareness program. Its success is partially attributable to the continued dedication and commitment of stakeholders (the National Kidney Foundation, local affiliates, and the academic community), but also to a unique set of methods that balance detail with simplicity and place efficiency and patient care at a premium. Early access to health care through primary care or nephrology referral is critical to improving CKD-related outcomes. However, our understanding of barriers to such care is limited. KEEP participants appear to experience lack of adequate health care access and nephrology care. This finding may be influenced by the nature of a large-scale screening program dedicated to providing some level of access to participants who are concerned about the personal possibility of CKD. Not surprisingly, we observed a low rate of CKD awareness among participants with CKD newly recognized through the KEEP screening, findings not modified by insurance or prescription drug coverage. However, the strongest association occurred between perceived difficulty obtaining access to care and greater CKD awareness. These findings may partially explain the findings of high-level cardiovascular risk factors and mortality in patients receiving nephrologist care. The KEEP Steering Committee continues to work to expand understanding of barriers to care, awareness of CKD, and measures to improve cardiovascular and renal risk (Figure 1). We anticipate that future findings from our longitudinal program will continue to shape our understanding of CKD and the complex interface between recognition of the disease, navigation of the health care system, and related consequences. Open in a separate window Figure 1 Factors that impact KEEP screening and nephrology care. CKD, chronic kidney disease; KEEP, Kidney Early Evaluation Program. Source of kidney image: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health.

Background Diabetes is a leading cause of chronic kidney disease (CKD). Whether reclassification of CKD stages based on glomerular filtration rate estimated using the CKD Epidemiology Collaboration (CKD-EPI) equation versus the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD) Study equation modifies estimates of prevalent risk factors across stages is unknown. Methods This is a cross-sectional analysis of data from the Kidney Early Evaluation Program (KEEP), a community-based health screening program targeting individuals 18 years and older with diabetes, hypertension, or a family history of diabetes, hypertension, or kidney disease. Of 109,055 participants, 68.2% were women and 31.8% were African American. Mean age was 55.3 ± 0.05 years. Clinical, demographic, and laboratory data were collected from August 2000 through December 2009. Glomerular filtration rate was estimated using the CKD-EPI and MDRD Study equations. Results CKD was present in 25.6% and 23.5% of the study population using the MDRD Study and CKD-EPI equations, respectively. Diabetes was present in 42.4% and 43.8% of participants with CKD, respectively. Prevalent risk factors for diabetes included obesity (body mass index >30 kg/m 2 ), 44.0%; hypertension, 80.5%; cardiovascular disease, 23.2%; family history of diabetes, 55.9%; and dyslipidemia, 43.0%. In a logistic regression model after adjusting for age and other risk factors, odds for diabetes increased significantly compared with no CKD with each CKD stage based on the CKD-EPI equation and similarly with stages based on the MDRD Study equation. Using a CKD-EPI–adjusted model, ORs were: stage 1, 2.08 (95% CI, 1.90-2.27); stage 2, 1.86 (95% CI, 1.72-2.02); stage 3, 1.23 (95% CI, 1.17-1.30); stage 4, 1.69 (95% CI, 1.42-2.03); and stage 5, 2.46 (95% CI, 1.46-4.14). Conclusions Using the CKD-EPI equation led to a lower prevalence of CKD but to similar diabetes prevalence rates associated with CKD across all stages compared with the MDRD Study equation. Diabetes and other CKD risk factor prevalence was increased compared with the non-CKD population.

Background The National Kidney Foundation has recommended that the Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration (CKD-EPI) equation replace the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD) Study equation. Before implementing this change in the Kidney Early Evaluation Program (KEEP), we compared characteristics of reclassified individuals and mortality risk predictions using the new equation. Methods Of 123,704 eligible KEEP participants, 116,321 with data available for this analysis were included. Glomerular filtration rate (GFR) was estimated using the MDRD Study (eGFR MDRD ) and CKD-EPI (eGFR CKD-EPI ) equations with creatinine level calibrated to standardized methods. Participants were characterized by eGFR category: >120, 90-119, 60-89, 45-59, 30-44, and 2 . Clinical characteristics ascertained included age, race, sex, diabetes, hypertension, coronary artery disease, congestive heart failure, cerebrovascular disease, peripheral vascular disease, and anemia. Mortality was determined over a median of 3.7 years of follow-up. Results The prevalence of eGFR CKD-EPI 2 was 14.3% compared with 16.8% using eGFR MDRD . Using eGFR CKD-EPI , 20,355 participants (17.5%) were reclassified to higher eGFR categories, and 3,107 (2.7%), to lower categories. Participants reclassified upward were younger and less likely to have chronic conditions, with a lower risk of mortality. A total of 3,601 deaths (3.1%) were reported. Compared with participants classified to eGFR of 45-59 mL/min/1.73 m 2 using both equations, those with eGFR CKD-EPI of 60-89 mL/min/1.73 m 2 had a lower mortality incidence rate (6.4 [95% CI, 5.1-7.7] vs 18.5 [95% CI, 17.1-19.9]). Results were similar for all eGFR categories. Net reclassification improvement was 0.159 ( P Conclusions The CKD-EPI equation reclassifies people at lower risk of CKD and death into higher eGFR categories, suggesting more accurate categorization. The CKD-EPI equation will be used to report eGFR in KEEP.

The asymptomatic nature of chronic kidney disease (CKD) makes explicit screening strategies for individuals at risk as the only means of early detection. This will allow more time for interventions to alter the natural history of the disease by delaying or preventing kidney disease progression and its complications. Patient awareness of CKD remains low. Utilization of CKD tests for patients at risk and interpretation of those tests to detect CKD by primary care physicians remain suboptimal. There is insufficient evidence to support general population screening. Diabetes, hypertension, and age 60 or greater are the primary CKD screening target conditions, based on assessments representative of the general populations in America and Norway. Although cardiovascular disease, family history of CKD, and ethnic and racial minorities are important predictors of CKD risk, they do not contribute significantly beyond the scope of diabetes, hypertension, and older age. Challenges remain to define the roles in the community of the primary physician and nephrologist to implement intensive blood pressure control, use of renin-angiotensin system blockers for proteinuric patients and nephrology referral as indicated. The electronic medical record holds the most promise in CKD screening through improvements in the flow of information and application of clinical decision support.

To address the highly complex interrelated nature of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease, we examined CKD prevalence by the predictive effect of demographic factors, comorbid conditions, and CKD risk factors by using National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 1999-2004 data. NHANES is a nationally representative cross-sectional series of surveys with a complex stratified multistage sampling design. NHANES 1999-2004 participants (n = 15,332; ageor = 20 years) were interviewed in their homes and asked to participate in standardized medical examinations in mobile centers and provide samples for laboratory tests. Weighted logistic regression modeling was used to assess the importance of individual CKD risk factors. Multiple logistic regressions were performed on patient cohorts, with increasing levels of CKD severity defined by means of estimated glomerular filtration rate. A branching diagram was constructed to address the distribution of CKD grouped by diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease status. CKD prevalence increases with age (39.2% for ageor = 60 years). For ages 20 to 59 years, CKD prevalence was greater for participants with diabetes (33.8%) than for those without diabetes (8.2%) and for participants with both diabetes and hypertension (43%) than for diabetic participants without hypertension (25.5%) or nondiabetic participants with hypertension (15.2%). The prevalence was 6.8% for nondiabetic participants without hypertension. Effects of cardiovascular disease are less dramatic when hypertension and diabetes are considered. A CKD screening approach targeting individuals 60 years and older or those with diabetes or hypertension likely would be useful from a public health standpoint.

The prevalence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) is increasing in the United States, caused in part by older age and increasing prevalences of hypertension and type 2 diabetes. CKD is silent and undetected until advanced stages. The study of populations with earlier stages of kidney disease may improve outcomes of CKD.The Kidney Early Evaluation Program (KEEP), a National Kidney Foundation program, is a targeted community-based health-screening program enrolling individuals 18 years and older with diabetes, hypertension, or family history of kidney disease, diabetes, or hypertension. Participants who had received transplants or were on regular dialysis treatment were excluded from this analysis. The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 1999-2004 was a nationally representative cross-sectional survey; participants were interviewed in their homes and/or received standardized medical examinations in mobile examination centers.Of the 61,675 KEEP participants, 16,689 (27.1%) were found to have CKD. In the NHANES sample of 14,632 participants, 2,734 (15.3%) had CKD. Older age, smoking, obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease were associated significantly with CKD in both KEEP and NHANES (P0.05 for all). Of note, the likelihood for CKD in African Americans differed between KEEP (odds ratio, 0.81; P0.001) and NHANES (odds ratio, 1.10; P = 0.2).A greater prevalence of CKD was detected in the KEEP screening than in the NHANES data. KEEP has the limitations common to population-screening studies and conclusions for population-attributable risk may be limited. The targeted nature of the KEEP screening program and the large sample size with clinical characteristics comparable to NHANES validates KEEP as a valuable cohort to explore health associations for the CKD and at-risk-for-CKD populations in the United States.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is associated with mineral metabolism dysregulation, cardiovascular disease, and premature mortality. No study specifically examined mineral metabolism trends in a generalizable sample of patients at increased CKD risk.This cross-sectional analysis from November 1, 2005, to December 31, 2006, of calcium, phosphorus, and parathyroid hormone (PTH) includes 2,646 individuals with estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) less than 60 mL/min/1.73 m(2) in the National Kidney Foundation Kidney Early Evaluation Program (KEEP), a community-based health-screening program targeting individuals 18 years and older with diabetes, hypertension, or family history of kidney disease, diabetes, or hypertension. A parallel analysis of National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 1999-2004 data was performed.In KEEP, as eGFR decreased from 55 to less than 60 mL/min/1.73 m(2) to less than 30 mL/min/1.73 m(2), calcium level decreased (9.55 +/- 0.47 to 9.34 +/- 0.62 mg/dL; P0.001), phosphorus level increased (3.70 +/- 0.59 to 4.15 +/- 0.80 mg/dL; P0.001), and PTH level increased (66.3 +/- 36.3 to 164 +/- 109 pg/mL; mean, 80.8 +/- 57.0 pg/mL; P0.001). NHANES 1999-2004 showed similar trends, with PTH values not as high. Individuals within opinion-based Kidney Disease Outcomes Quality Initiatives targets from the highest to the lowest eGFR group were as follows: calcium, 93.0% to 92.3% (KEEP) and 97.4% to 89.6% (NHANES); phosphorus, 90.4% to 90.3% (KEEP) and 91.6% to 87.1% (NHANES); and PTH, 46.1% to 31.2% (KEEP) and 56.4% to 36.1% (NHANES).In a community-based CKD screening population, increased PTH level occurs early in patients with stage 3, typically with normal calcium and phosphorus levels. These findings support the importance of including PTH with calcium and phosphorus monitoring for individuals with eGFR less than 60 mL/min/1.73 m(2).

ObjectivePrevious studies on outcome of cardiac surgery and its predictors in patients with preoperative kidney failure requiring dialysis have included small numbers of patients with limited follow-up. In addition, predictors of long-term outcome are not well characterized.MethodsThis is a retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data for 6694 patients, including 245 (3.7%) patients with end-stage kidney failure requiring dialysis who underwent cardiac surgery between January 1998 and September 2006. Potential predictors of hospital mortality, complications, and late survival were retrospectively analyzed by using multivariate regression models.ResultsPatients with end-stage kidney failure requiring dialysis had a 3.9-times higher hospital mortality rate compared with other cardiac surgery patients (12.7% vs 3.6%, P < .001). Patients with end-stage kidney failure requiring dialysis were younger but presented with more comorbidities and more severe cardiac disease than the control group. After adjusting for potential confounding factors, end-stage kidney failure requiring dialysis was identified as a predictor of hospital mortality (odds ratio, 3.1; P < .001). Patients with end-stage kidney failure requiring dialysis also had an increased risk of postoperative sepsis (odds ratio, 2.7; P < .001) and respiratory failure (odds ratio, 2.0; P < .001). Peripheral vascular disease was an independent predictor of hospital mortality in patients with end-stage kidney failure requiring dialysis (odds ratio, 2.5; P = .001). Long-term survival was significantly decreased in patients with end-stage kidney failure requiring dialysis compared with that seen in the control group (1-year and 5-year survival: 72.3% ± 3.3% and 39.0% ± 4.5% vs 94.2% ± 0.3% and 83.2% ± 0.6%, P < .001). Peripheral vascular disease (odds ratio, 2.69; P = .008) and previous stroke (odds ratio, 4.37; P < .001) were independent risk factors of late mortality in the subgroup of patients with end-stage kidney failure requiring dialysis.ConclusionsPreoperative renal failure requiring dialysis is associated with a significant increase in hospital mortality, postoperative sepsis, and respiratory failure in patients undergoing cardiac surgery. In these patients long-term survival is particularly reduced in the presence of advanced atherosclerotic disease.

Background Chronic kidney disease (CKD) detection in a targeted at-risk population was reported in the National Kidney Foundation Kidney Early Evaluation Program (KEEP). This study assessed follow-up within 3 months of detection to determine whether participants reported seeing a physician, kinds of care addressed, and interventions. Methods KEEP is a free community-based health-screening program to raise kidney disease awareness and detect CKD for early disease intervention. Participants receive laboratory results and educational materials about kidney disease risks and treatment options. Physicians receive laboratory results for their participating KEEP patients and clinical practice guidelines for CKD care. Results Between August 2000 and December 2006, a total of 72,395 KEEP participants received follow-up forms. Forms were sent to all participants; the response rate was 28.4%. Responders were more likely to be older, women, white, living in the western United States, with high school education or higher, with decreasing kidney function by means of estimated glomerular filtration rate, and with hypertension, diabetes, or history of cardiovascular disease. Of respondents, 71% reported seeing physicians in follow-up. Those with evidence of CKD were 24% more likely to report seeing a physician than those without CKD. Follow-up with physicians was more likely with decreasing kidney function levels, increasing albuminuria, and more advanced CKD stage. Conclusion The KEEP detection program with disease education appears to motivate the targeted population to seek physician care for findings noted. Longer term follow-up is needed to determine whether detection and physician follow-up lead to changes in care and outcomes that may affect the increased risk of death, end-stage renal disease, or cardiovascular events.

The association of low birth weight and chronic kidney disease was examined in a screened volunteer population by the National Kidney Foundation's Kidney Early Evaluation Program. This is a free, community-based health program enrolling individuals aged 18 years or older with diabetes, hypertension, or a family history of kidney disease, diabetes, or hypertension. Self-reported birth weight was categorized and chronic kidney disease defined as an estimated glomerular filtration rate less than 60 ml per min per 1.73 m(2) or a urine albumin/creatinine ratioor=30 mg/g. Among 12 364 participants, 15% reported a birth weight less than 2500 g. In men, significant corresponding odds ratios were found after adjustment for demographic characteristics and health conditions to this low birth weight and chronic kidney disease, but there was no association among women. There was no significant interaction between birth weight and race for either gender. Efforts to clinically understand the etiology of this association and potential means of prevention are essential to improving public health.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is common in the United States. The estimated prevalence of CKD in US adults was 11.7% +/- 0.8% in 2000, based on the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Global estimates for CKD prevalence are less certain, but recent studies in Europe, Australia, and China suggest a high prevalence. The most common risk factors for CKD include diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, a family history of CKD, and age greater than 60 years. Major outcomes of CKD include progression to kidney failure, development of complications of impaired kidney function, and increased risk for cardiovascular disease. CKD is usually silent until its late stages, thus many patients with CKD are detected only shortly before the onset of symptomatic kidney failure, when there are few opportunities to prevent adverse outcomes. Earlier detection allows for more time for evaluation and treatment but requires explicit testing strategies for asymptomatic individuals at increased risk. In the majority of patients, CKD can be detected with 2 simple tests: a urine test for the detection of proteinuria and a blood test to estimate the glomerular filtration rate (GFR). These 2 tests facilitate detection of CKD by all physicians by allowing for identification of CKD without first requiring determination of its cause. Understanding the strengths and limitations of CKD testing is critical for appropriate implementation of these recommendations. Application of CKD testing in national and international screening and surveillance programs could improve public health related to CKD.

The Dialysis Outcomes Quality Initiative emphasizes increasing arteriovenous fistula prevalence, by promoting referral for fistula creation in patients with stage 4 chronic kidney disease (CKD). The aim is to provide an optimal access for initiation of dialysis, thus avoiding central venous catheter use. The endovascular management of nonmaturing fistulas is more complicated in these patients, where the expected benefit of catheter avoidance must be weighed against the risk of contrast induced nephropathy (CIN). This study reports on the safety of a low-dose radiocontrast regimen, used in performing endovascular fistula salvage procedures in patients with stage 4 CKD. All consecutive endovascular procedures performed over a 2-year period in patients with stage 4 CKD and nonmaturing access were identified. Data collected included the type of procedure, contrast volume per procedure, pre, 2- and 7-day creatinine, need for acute dialysis, and the type of access used to initiate dialysis. Total of 65 procedures were performed in 34 patients. The mean contrast volume was 7.8 ml per procedure. The incidence of CIN (25% increase in serum creatinine) was 4% at 2 days and 4.6% at 1 week. All values returned to baseline within 2 weeks, and no patient required acute dialysis. Among the 33 patients with nonmaturing fistulas, 20 initiated dialysis during the follow-up period, 15 (75%) using their fistula, and five (25%) using a catheter. This study demonstrates that in patients with advanced CKD, fistulas can be successfully salvaged using small contrast volumes with a low incidence of CIN.

Background: Levels of advanced glycation end products (AGEs), well-known proinflammatory compounds, are markedly elevated in patients with renal failure, raising the speculation that they have a role as cardiovascular risk factors in this population. Although elevated AGE levels in patients with renal failure have been attributed to impaired renal clearance and increased endogenous AGE formation, recent data suggest an important role for diet as a source of AGEs. Methods: To determine the relationship between dietary AGE content and serum AGE levels, a cross-sectional study was performed in our long-term dialysis patients. Dietary AGE intake was estimated by means of dietary records and questionnaires, and sera were obtained for measurement of 2 well-characterized AGEs, carboxymethyl-lysine (CML) and methylglyoxal (MG) derivatives. Results: The study population included 189 patients; 139 hemodialysis and 50 peritoneal dialysis patients. Serum CML level correlated significantly with dietary AGE intake, based on either 3-day food records ( r = 0.5; P = 0.003) or dietary questionnaires ( r = 0.22; P = 0.03). Although no correlation was observed with nutrient intake (protein, fat, saturated fat, or carbohydrate), both serum CML and MG levels correlated with blood urea nitrogen ( r = 0.2; P = 0.03 and r = 0.2; P = 0.02, respectively) and serum albumin levels ( r = 0.16; P = 0.04 and r = 0.18; P = 0.02, respectively). Conclusion: Data indicate that dietary AGE content, independently of other diet constituents, is an important contributor to excess serum AGE levels in patients with renal failure. Moreover, the lack of correlation between serum AGE levels and dietary protein, fat, and carbohydrate intake indicates that a reduction in dietary AGE content can be obtained safely without compromising the content of obligatory nutrients.

he 2 seminal accomplishments in the 62-yearhistory of the National Kidney Foundation(NKF) are US Public Law 92603 of 1972, amend-ing the Social Security Act to establish Medicarecoverage for both dialysis and kidney transplantation,and publication of the KDOQI (Kidney Disease Out-comes Quality Initiative) clinical practice guidelinesfor chronic kidney disease (CKD) in February 2002.

c We retrospectively analyzed data on preoperative vascular mapping in 195 consecutive patients to investigate the common belief that patients with diabetes are poor candidates to have an arteriovenous fistula placed as dialysis access because they lack suitable blood vessels. There was no difference in venous diameter, arterial diameter, and arterial peak systolic velocity measurements between patients with and without diabetes. Patients with diabetes had a greater prevalence of vascular calcifications and greater cuff measurements of systolic segmental arterial pressure. In 140 of 195 patients, subsequent vascular access surgery had been performed in our institution, and 127 of these patients were on hemodialysis therapy at the end of the study period. There was no difference in the prevalence of fistula placement (66% versus 60%; chi-square5 2.6; df 5 2; P 5 0.28, not significant [NS]) and percentage of functioning fistulae between patients with and without diabetes (67% versus 62%; chi-square 5 0.27; df 5 1; P 5 0.61, NS). The percentage of patients dialyzed through a temporary catheter was equal in patients with and without diabetes (18%). In summary, patients with diabetes seem to be as good candidates for arteriovenous fistula placement as patients without diabetes. Additional studies are required to determine the long-term outcome of fistulae in patients with diabetes. © 2001 by the National Kidney Foundation, Inc.

A panel of internists and nephrologists developed this practical approach for the Kidney Disease Outcomes Quality Initiative to guide assessment and care of chronic kidney disease (CKD) by primary care clinicians. Chronic kidney disease is defined as a glomerular filtration rate (GFR)

APPARENT DISPARITY IN TESTING OF PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE (CKD), PLUS DIABETES AND/OR HYPERTENSION AND IMPACT OF GENDER Eileen Koski, Xiaohua Huang, Marsha Green, Harvey Kaufman, Herman Hurwitz, Richard Furlanetto, and Joseph Vassalotti . Quest Diagnostics Incorporated: Lyndhurst NJ, West Norriton PA, Madison NJ, Philadelpia PA, Chantilly VA, National Kidney Foundation and Mount Sinai School of Medicine New York NY This study represents a joint effort of Quest Diagnostics and the National Kidney Foundation to examine the relationship between CKD and two major diagnostic risk factors for CKD, diabetes mellitus (DM) and hypertension (HTN), in US adults. This analysis is based on national data from the Quest Informatics Data Warehouse, specifically 3.4 million eGFR results in October 2006, and 2.8 million urinary albumin-creatinine ratio results (ACR) from November 2005 to October 2006. The analysis identified 629,761 patients with eGFR 70, possibly an artifact of older patients having already been diagnosed with CKD thus no longer screened with ACR. The study suggests a need for physician education to improve compliance with evidence-based guidelines in patients with CKD, and DM, HTN, or both, with added emphasis on women, particularly those with HTN.

THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ACHIEVED HEMOGLOBIN (HB) & EXERCISE TOLERANCE. Muirhead N, Keown P, Lei, L Gitlin M, Mayne TJ, Churchill, D. Amgen, Thousand Oaks, CA, USA. We analyzed data from the Canadian Erythropoietin Study Group trial, a multicenter, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial of the effects of IV Epoetin alfa (EPO) on health-related quality of life in anemic hemodialysis patients. The trial included measures of exercise capacity (treadmill stress test and 6-minute walk test) as well as patientreported physical function (Sickness Impact Profile and Kidney Disease Questionnaire). Figure 1. Relationship between change in hemoglobin and change in minutes walked on the treadmill stress test in patients treated with EPO and placebo.