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Introduction: Prior observational studies conducted in the hemodialysis population have suggested a reverse association between dialysis‐unit blood pressure (BP) and mortality. The present study aimed to investigate the prognostic association of home versus dialysis‐unit BP with all‐cause mortality in hemodialysis patients. Methods: At baseline, 146 patients receiving maintenance hemodialysis underwent assessment of their BP with the following methods: (i) 2‐week averaged routine predialysis and postdialysis BP measurements; (ii) home BP monitoring for 1 week that included duplicate morning and evening BP measurements with the use of validated devices. Results: Over a median follow‐up period of 38 months (interquartile range [IQR]: 22–54), 44 patients (31.1%) died. In Kaplan–Meier curves, predialysis and postdialysis systolic BP (SBP) was not associated with all‐cause mortality, while home SBP appeared to be of prognostic significance (log rank p = 0.029). After stratifying patients into quartiles, all‐cause mortality was lowest when home SBP was ranging from 128.1 to 136.8 mmHg (quartile 2). In univariate Cox regression analysis, using quartile 2 as a referent category, the risk of all‐cause mortality was 3.32‐fold higher in quartile 1, 1.53‐fold higher in quartile 3 and 3.25‐fold higher in quartile 4. The risk‐association remained unchanged after adjustment for several confounding factors (adjusted hazard ratio: 4.79, 1.79, 3.63 for quartiles 1, 3, and 4 of home systolic BP, respectively). Conclusion: Our findings suggest that among hemodialysis patients, 1‐week averaged home SBP is independently associated with all‐cause mortality. In sharp contrast, SBP recorded either before or after dialysis over 2 weeks is not prognostically informative. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Premenopausal women generally exhibit lower blood pressure and a lower prevalence of hypertension than men of the same age, but these differences reverse postmenopause due to estrogen withdrawal. Sexual dimorphism has been described in different components of kidney physiology and pathophysiology, including the renin–angiotensin–aldosterone system, endothelin system, and tubular transporters. This review explores the sex-specific differences in kidney function and blood pressure regulation. Understanding these differences provides insights into potential therapeutic targets for managing hypertension and kidney diseases, considering the patient's sex and hormonal status. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the global burden of kidney disease and the gaps in kidney care, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. It highlights the high death rates and economic burden associated with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and the disparities in prevention, early detection, diagnosis, and treatment. The text emphasizes the importance of integrating kidney care into national non-communicable disease strategies and strengthening health systems. It also discusses the challenges in managing CKD, including the need for regulation and monitoring of drug manufacturing, the importance of real-world data, and strategies to improve CKD management. The article addresses the cost and availability of medication for individuals with kidney disease, highlighting the paradoxical situation in high-income countries and the catastrophic health expenditure in low- and middle-income countries. It calls for pharmaceutical companies to ensure diverse participation in research studies and fair pricing of effective drugs. The article also emphasizes the need to focus on children with kidney diseases and suggests strategies to improve kidney disease care, including the use of polypills and digital technologies. It concludes with a call to action to address barriers and disparities in access to diagnosis and treatment and to ensure equitable kidney care worldwide. [Extracted from the article]

Introduction: Hospitalization for decompensated heart failure is a major public health issue. Methods: We performed a meta‐analysis to summarize and analyze if there is a benefit in using ultrafiltration over diuretics in terms of reducing mortality or hospital readmissions, primarily and identified 10 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) including 941 patients. Results: Compared to diuretics, treatment with ultrafiltration was associated with a significant reduction in heart failure hospitalizations (risk ratio [RR]: 0.72; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.55–0.96, p = 0.02) and significant increase in weight and net fluid loss (mean difference [MD]: −1.55, CI: −2.36 to −0.74, p = 0.0002) and (MD: −2.10, CI: −3.32 to −0.89, p = 0.0007), respectively. There was no significant difference among treatments regarding the duration of hospitalization, the increase in serum creatinine levels, and mortality. Conclusion: Among patients with decompensated heart failure, compared to diuretics, ultrafiltration is associated with reduced rehospitalizations and increased weight/net fluid loss. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The assessment of risk and effect size of a specific endpoint associated to the presence/absence of a certain exposure is a hallmark in clinical and epidemiological research. In fact, before recommending any treatment, it is mandatory to investigate the magnitude of the benefits and harms between the exposure under investigation (e.g. a given treatment) and a specific disease or event. To do this, clinicians and statisticians use absolute (risk differences, number needed to treat, likelihood to be helped or harmed) and relative (risk ratio, incidence rate ratio, hazard ratio and odds ratio) measures of effect. Herein, using a series of clinical examples, we aim to present a step by step methodologic approach of measures of effect in the area of nephrology and urology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]