Search

Several studies showed the association between non-traditional risk factors [proteinuria and estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate (eGFR)] and cardiovascular (CV) and renal outcomes. Nevertheless, the etiologic role of traditional CV risk factors in referred CKD patients is less defined. Herein, we examined the association between smoking habit and CV events, mortality and CKD progression. We undertook an observational analysis of 1306 stage III-V CKD patients. Smoking habit was modeled as a categorical (never, current or former smokers) and continuous (number of cigarettes/day) variable. Mean eGFR was 35.8 ± 12.5 mL/min/1.73 m 2 . Never, current and former smokers were 61.1%, 10.8% and 28.1%. During a median follow-up of 2.87 years, current and former smokers were at significant risk for CV events (HRs of 1.93 [95% CI, 1.18-3.16] and 1.44 [95% CI, 1.01-2.05]) versus never smokers. Current smokers were at increased mortality risk (HR 2.13 [95% CI, 1.10-4.11]). Interactions were found between former smokers and proteinuria (p = 0.007) and diabetes (p = 0.041) for renal risk, and between current smokers and male gender (p = 0.044) and CKD stage V (p = 0.039) for renal and mortality risk. In referred CKD patients, smoking habit is independently associated with CV events and mortality. It acts as a risk "amplifier" for the association between other risk factors and renal outcomes., (© 2021. The Author(s).)

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is an increasing public health problem. Aging is one of the leading causes, particularly in Western countries, but several comorbidities, such as hypertension and diabetes are involved in its pathogenesis. Thus, the treatment of CKD patient is very complex and requires an integrated strategy. In this context, the holistic approach to the CKD patient and not to the disease itself should be the answer. General practitioners, specialists, voluntary associations, and nonprofit organizations, in addition to the family of the patient, all contribute to the patient care. Moreover, due to the low sensitivity of creatinine values in the early stages of renal failure, its diagnosis often occurs in the advanced phases of the disease. Therefore, the health costs for CKD patients are hardly sustainable by health systems. The reorganization of economic and epidemiological data through new models is necessary to allow the sustainability of the system and to ensure medical care for all patients. In this review, we aim to deal with all the issues about patient care, standards of care, and the impact of chronicity from a global perspective in light of the current state of the Italian healthcare system., (© 2020 International Society for Apheresis, Japanese Society for Apheresis, and Japanese Society for Dialysis Therapy.)

Background and Aims: Cognitive and renal impairment are pervasive among elderly frails, a high-risk, geriatric sub-population with peculiar clinical characteristics. In a series of frail individuals with non-advanced chronic kidney disease (CKD), we aimed at assessing the entity of functional, general health and cognitive impairment and the possible relationship between these types of dysfunction and the severity of renal impairment., Methods: 2229 geriatric subjects were screened for frailty and CKD. Severity of CKD was assessed by eGFR (CKD-EPI formula). Frailty was established by the Fried Index. Functional, general health and cognitive status were assessed by validated score measures., Results: Final analysis included 271 frail CKD subjects (162 women, 109 men). Mean eGFR was 64.25 ± 25.04 mL/min/1.73 m 2 . Prevalence of mild-to-moderate CKD (stage 3-4) was 44%. Twenty-six percent of patients had severe cognitive impairment, while mild and moderate impairment was found in 7 and 67% of individuals, respectively. All subjects had poor functional and general health status. Cognitive capacities significantly decreased across CKD stages (p for trend < 0.0001). In fully adjusted multivariate analyses, cognitive status remained an independent predictor of eGFR (β = 0.465; p < 0.0001)., Conclusions: Mild-to-moderate CKD is highly pervasive among frail elderly individuals and the severity of renal dysfunction is independently correlated with that of cognitive impairment. Future studies are advocated to clarify whether the combination of kidney and mental dysfunction may portend a higher risk of worsen outcomes in this high-risk population.