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Background In contrast to guidelines related to lipid therapy in other areas, 2012 Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) guidelines recommend conducting a lipid profile upon diagnosis of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and treating all patients older than 50 years without defining a target for lipid levels. We evaluated multinational practice patterns for lipid management in patients with advanced CKD under nephrology care. Methods We analyzed lipid-lowering therapy (LLT), LDL- cholesterol (LDL-C) levels, and nephrologist-specified LDL-C goal upper limits in adult patients with eGFR

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Background Approximately 30%-45% of patients with nondialysis CKD have iron deficiency. Iron therapy in CKD has focused primarily on supporting erythropoiesis. In patients with or without anemia, there has not been a comprehensive approach to estimating the association between serum biomarkers of iron stores, and mortality and cardiovascular event risks. Methods The study included 5145 patients from Brazil, France, the United States, and Germany enrolled in the Chronic Kidney Disease Outcomes and Practice Patterns Study, with first available transferrin saturation (TSAT) and ferritin levels as exposure variables. We used Cox models to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) for all-cause mortality and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), with progressive adjustment for potentially confounding variables. We also used linear spline models to further evaluate functional forms of the exposure-outcome associations. Results Compared with patients with a TSAT of 26%-35%, those with a TSAT ≤15% had the highest adjusted risks for all-cause mortality and MACE. Spline analysis found the lowest risk at TSAT 40% for all-cause mortality and MACE. Risk of all-cause mortality, but not MACE, was also elevated at TSAT ≥46%. Effect estimates were similar after adjustment for hemoglobin. For ferritin, no directional associations were apparent, except for elevated all-cause mortality at ferritin ≥300 ng/ml. Conclusions Iron deficiency, as captured by TSAT, is associated with higher risk of all-cause mortality and MACE in patients with nondialysis CKD, with or without anemia. Interventional studies evaluating the effect on clinical outcomes of iron supplementation and therapies for alternative targets are needed to better inform strategies for administering exogenous iron.

Renin‐angiotensin‐aldosterone system inhibitors (RAASi) are recommended for chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients. In this study, we describe RAASi prescription patterns in the Chronic Kidney Disease Outcomes and Practice Patterns Study (CKDopps) in Brazil, Germany, France, and the United States (US). 5870 patients (mean age 66‐72 years; congestive heart failure [CHF] in 11%‐19%; diabetes in 43%‐54%; serum potassium ≥5 in 20%‐35%) were included. RAASi prescription was more common in Germany (80%) and France (77%) than Brazil (66%) and the United States (52%), where the prevalence of prescription decreases particularly in patients with CKD stage 5. In the multivariable regression model, RAASi prescription was least common in the United States and more common in patients who were younger, had diabetes, hypertension, or less advanced CKD. In conclusion, RAASi prescription patterns vary by country, and by demographic and clinical characteristics. RAASi appear to be underused, even among patients with strong class‐specific recommendations. Although the reasons for this variation could not be fully identified in this cross‐sectional observation, our data indicate that the risk of hyperkalemia may contribute to the underuse of this class of agents in moderate to advanced CKD.

Previously lacking in the literature, we describe longitudinal patterns of anemia prescriptions for non-dialysis-dependent chronic kidney disease (NDD-CKD) patients under nephrologist care. We analyzed data from 2818 Stage 3-5 NDD-CKD patients from Brazil, Germany, and the US, naïve to anemia medications (oral iron, intravenous [IV] iron, or erythropoiesis stimulating agent [ESA]) at enrollment in the CKDopps. We report the cumulative incidence function (CIF) of medication initiation stratified by baseline characteristics. Even in patients with hemoglobin (Hb)

Background International variation in anemia assessment and management practices in chronic kidney disease (CKD) is poorly understood. Methods We performed a cross-sectional analysis of anemia laboratory monitoring, prevalence and management in the prospective Chronic Kidney Disease Outcomes and Practice Patterns Study (CKDopps). A total of 6766 participants with CKD Stages 3a–5ND from nephrology clinics in Brazil, France, Germany and the USA were included. Results Among patients with anemia (hemoglobin Conclusions Hemoglobin and iron stores are measured less frequently than per guidelines. Among all regions, there was a substantial proportion of anemic patients with iron deficiency who were not treated with iron, highlighting an area for practice improvement in CKD care.

The purpose of this review was to systematically identify, summarize, and critically appraise studies on dietary salt relating to health outcomes that were published from August to November 2015. The search strategy was adapted from a previous systematic review on dietary salt and health. Overall, 15 studies were included in the review: one study assessed cardiovascular events, five studies assessed blood pressure or hypertension incidence, six studies assessed surrogate outcomes for cardiovascular or kidney diseases, and three studies assessed other outcomes (age‐related cataracts, rheumatoid arthritis, and bone mineral density, respectively). Four studies were selected for detailed appraisal and commentary.

Studies identified from an updated systematic review (from June 2014 to May 2015) on the impact of dietary salt intake on clinical and population health are reviewed. Randomized controlled trials, cohort studies, and meta‐analyses of these study types on the effect of sodium intake on blood pressure, or any substantive adverse health outcomes were identified from MEDLINE searches and quality indicators were used to select studies that were relevant to clinical and public health. From 6920 studies identified in the literature search, 144 studies were selected for review, of which only three (n=233,680) met inclusion criteria. Between them, the three studies demonstrated a harmful association between excess dietary salt and all‐cause mortality, noncardiovascular and cardiovascular disease mortality, and headache. None of the included studies found harm from lowering dietary salt. The findings of this systematic review are consistent with the large body of research supportive of efforts to reduce population salt intake and congruent with our last annual review from June 2013 to May 2014.

Objective(s) Malnutrition and protein–energy wasting are associated with morbidity and mortality in hemodialysis patients. Existing nutritional scores rely primarily on cross-sectional data. Using readily available nutritional indicators, we developed models to predict the risk of mortality and hospitalization in prevalent hemodialysis patients. Design and Methods In this retrospective study, we constructed prediction models of 1-year mortality and hospitalization using generalized linear models, generalized additive models (GAM), classification tree, and random forest models. The models were compared using area under the receiver-operating characteristics curve (AUC) and calibration curves. Model predictors included nutritional and inflammation indicators, demographics, comorbidities, and slopes of all continuous variables over 6 months. Patients were randomly split in the ratio 2:1:1 into training, testing, and validation cohorts, respectively. We included patients with hemodialysis vintage ≥1 year from Fresenius Medical Care North America clinics from July 2011 to December 2012 (N = 21,802 in mortality analysis; N = 13,892 in hospitalization analysis).The outcome variables were 1-year mortality and hospitalization. Results For mortality prediction, GAM was the best model (AUC = 0.85, 95% confidence interval=0.83-0.86), comprised of neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio slope, serum bicarbonate slope, and vintage as nonlinear predictors, and age, serum albumin, and creatinine as linear predictors. For hospitalization prediction, GAM was also the best model (AUC = 0.70, 95% confidence interval = 0.62-0.79) and included neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio slope, bicarbonate slope, volume of urea distribution, vintage, and phosphate slope as nonlinear predictors, in addition to albumin, congestive heart failure, age, phosphate, equilibrated normalized protein catabolic rate, and creatinine as linear predictors. Both models demonstrated good calibration, with mild overestimation of hospitalization risk at the highest risk interval. Conclusions The GAM model can accurately predict the risk of mortality and hospitalization. Application of these prediction models could inform allocation of nutritional interventions to patients at highest nutritional risk.

Background and objectives Dialysis patients have a high risk for inadequate nutrition. Their nutritional status is particularly susceptible to deterioration when faced with intercurrent events such as hospitalization. This study was conducted to improve the understanding of the temporal evolution of nutritional parameters as a foundation for rational and proactive nutritional intervention. Design, setting, participants, & measurements A retrospective cohort study was performed to investigate the temporal evolution of nutritional parameters (serum albumin, serum phosphate, serum creatinine, equilibrated normalized protein catabolic rate, and interdialytic weight gain) and a composite nutritional score derived from these parameters, in two populations: ( 1 ) incident hemodialysis (HD) patients who started HD between January 2006 and December 2011 and were followed for up to 54 months (median 16.3), and ( 2 ) prevalent patients with HD vintage ≥2.5 years who were hospitalized between January 2006 and December 2011 and followed from 6 months before to 6 months after hospitalization. Results In incident patients ( n =126,964), each of the nutritional parameters improved after HD initiation, with a mean composite nutritional score at the 24th percentile at the start of HD and reaching a plateau at the 57th percentile toward the end of the second year on dialysis. Nutritional parameters increased more rapidly and reached higher values among patients who survived longer. In hospitalized patients ( n =14,193), the nutritional parameters and the composite score began to decline 1–2 months before hospitalization, reached their lowest level in the month after hospitalization, and then partially recovered in the subsequent 5 months. The degree of recovery of the nutritional score was inversely related to the number of rehospitalizations. Conclusions This study increases the understanding of nutritional resilience and its determinants in HD patients. Application of the nutritional score, pending further validation, may facilitate targeted and timely interventions to avert the negative consequences of inadequate nutrition in chronic HD patients.

The purpose of this review is to identify, summarize, and critically appraise studies on dietary salt and health outcomes that were published from April to July 2016. The search strategy was adapted from a previous systematic review on dietary salt and health. We have revised our criteria for methodological quality and health outcomes, which are applied to select studies for detailed critical appraisals and written commentary. Overall, 28 studies were identified and are summarized in this review. Four of the 28 studies met criteria for methodological quality and health outcomes and five studies underwent detailed critical appraisals and commentary. Three of these studies found adverse effects of salt on health outcomes (chronic kidney disease and blood pressure) and two were neutral (fracture risk/bone mineral density and cognitive impairment).

Background and Objectives: The pathogenesis of anemia in hemodialysis (HD) patients is dependent on multiple factors, with decreased red blood cell life span (RBCLS) being a significant contributor. Although the impact of reduced RBCLS on anemia is recognized, it is still a subject that is not well researched. The objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between RBCLS and inflammatory biomarkers in chronic HD patients. Design, Setting, Participants, and Measurements: RBCLS was calculated from alveolar carbon monoxide concentrations measured by gas chromatography. Interleukins (IL) IL-6, IL-18, IL-10, and high sensitivity C-reactive protein were measured using bead-based multiplex assay. Measurements were carried out at baseline and during follow-up. The associations between RBCLS and inflammatory biomarkers were evaluated using linear mixed effects models. Results: RBCLS measurements were available for 54 HD patients. Their average age was 58.5 ± 14.4 years, 68.5% were males, 48.1% were diabetics, and the HD vintage was 51 ± 48 months. In 4 patients, RBCLS was measured once, while in 50 patients, up to 5 repeated RBCLS measurements were available. RBCLS was 73.2 ± 17.8 days (range 37.7-115.8 days). No association was found between RBCLS and any of the inflammatory biomarkers. Of note, RBCLS was positively correlated with levels of uric acid (p = 0.02) and blood urea nitrogen (BUN; p = 0.01), respectively. Conclusion: Our study suggests that inflammation pathways reported by these biomarkers only have a limited role in causing premature RBC death. The positive correlation with uric acid and BUN warrants further studies.

Background: Frequent hemodialysis (HD) may be associated with an increased risk of vascular access complications. Studies addressing vascular access outcomes in frequent HD show conflicting results. Methods: We searched Medline for trials looking at vascular access outcomes in frequent HD. Results: Nineteen studies met the inclusion criteria; only studies with a control group were included for analysis (n = 15). The vascular access event rate was higher in intensive HD as compared to conventional HD (difference of 6.7 events per 100 patient-years, p = 0.009). Overall event rates were not significantly different between conventional and intensive HD when stratified for access type, but were notably higher in the arteriovenous grafts and catheter group as compared to the arteriovenous fistula (AVF) group. Conclusion: Intensive HD is associated with an increased risk of vascular access complications. Overall reported event rates were lower in the AVF group. Further controlled studies should investigate whether a ‘fistula first' strategy may be recommended also for intensive HD.

The purpose of this review was to identify, summarize, and critically appraise studies on dietary salt relating to health outcomes that were published from December 2015 to March 2016. The search strategy was adapted from a previous systematic review on dietary salt and health. Overall, 13 studies were included in the review: one study assessed cardiovascular events, nine studies assessed prevalence or incidence of blood pressure or hypertension, one study assessed kidney disease, and two studies assessed other health outcomes (obesity and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease). Four studies were selected for detailed appraisal and commentary. One study met the minimum methodologic criteria and found an increased risk associated with lower sodium intake in patients with heart failure. All other studies identified in this review demonstrated positive associations between dietary salt and adverse health outcomes.

BackgroundHigh interdialytic weight gain (IDWG) is associated with adverse outcomes in hemodialysis (HD) patients. We identified temporal and regional trends in IDWG, predictors of IDWG, and associations of IDWG with clinical outcomes.Study DesignAnalysis 1: sequential cross-sections to identify facility- and patient-level predictors of IDWG and their temporal trends. Analysis 2: prospective cohort study to assess associations between IDWG and mortality and hospitalization risk.Setting & Participants21,919 participants on HD therapy for 1 year or longer in the Dialysis Outcomes and Practice Patterns Study (DOPPS) phases 2 to 5 (2002-2014).PredictorsAnalysis 1: study phase, patient demographics and comorbid conditions, HD facility practices. Analysis 2: relative IDWG, expressed as percentage of post-HD weight (

Background Minimizing clinical complications in patients with advanced chronic kidney disease (CKD) and improving the transition to dialysis therapy and transplantation represents a challenge, requiring reliable evidence regarding the effects of CKD care on outcomes. Study design The CKD Outcomes and Practice Patterns Study (CKDopps) is a new international prospective cohort study designed to describe and evaluate variation in nephrologist-led CKD practices. Setting & participants CKDopps is underway in Brazil, France, Germany, Japan, and the United States. Diverse national samples of nephrology clinics are being recruited based on random selection stratified by geographic region and clinic characteristics. CKDopps aims to enroll 12,200 non-dialysis-dependent patients with CKD (75% and 25% with estimated glomerular filtration rates Predictors Demographic, comorbid condition, laboratory, and treatment-related variables are collected at 6-month intervals; patient-reported data are collected annually and more frequently near the transition to end-stage kidney disease; nephrologist practice surveys are collected annually. Outcomes Outcomes include mortality, end-stage kidney disease, other clinical events (eg, acute kidney injury, hospitalizations, infections, cardiovascular events, and transplant wait-listing), and patient-reported outcomes. Results For the targeted sample size of 12,200 patients and 160 clinics, CKDopps has 80% power to detect HRs of 1.31 for mortality and 1.19 for mortality or transition to end-stage kidney disease. Limitations CKDopps does not capture care provided in settings outside nephrology clinics (eg, primary care) or patients with CKD not receiving medical care. Conclusions CKDopps is designed to characterize nephrology clinic practice variation and identify practices associated with better outcomes, with particular focus on advanced CKD, transition to end-stage kidney disease, and the patient experience. Because data will be collected during routine clinical care in real-world practice, analyses may yield practical readily implementable findings. CKDopps aims to establish a multinational infrastructure for research, collaboration, and ancillary investigation. Additional countries are encouraged to join.