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Introduction: Peritoneal dialysis (PD)-related peritonitis is one of the leading causes of discontinuation of PD and is considered a critically important outcome for patients on PD. However, there is no universally accepted method of measuring this outcome in clinical trials. Method(s): We convened an online consensus workshop to establish a core outcome measure for PD-related peritonitis in clinical trials. Result(s): A total of 53 participants, including 18 patients and caregivers, from 12 countries engaged in breakout discussions in this workshop. Transcripts were analyzed thematically. We identified the following 3 themes: (i) feasibility and applicability across diverse settings, which reflected the difficulty with implementing laboratory-based measures in resource-limited environments; (ii) ensuring validity, which included minimizing false positives and considering the specificity of symptoms; and (iii) being meaningful and tangible to patients, which meant that the measure should be easy to interpret, reflect the impact that symptoms have on patients, and promote transparency by standardizing the reporting of peritonitis among dialysis units. Conclusion(s): A core outcome measure for PD-related peritonitis should include both symptom-based and laboratory-based criteria. Thus, the International Society for Peritoneal Dialysis (ISPD) definition of peritonitis is acceptable. However, there should be consideration of reporting suspected peritonitis in cases where laboratory confirmation is not possible. The measure should include all infections from the time of catheter insertion and capture both the rate of infection and the number of patients who remain peritonitis free. A core outcome measure with these features would increase the impact of clinical trials on the care and decision-making of patients receiving PD.Copyright © 2022 International Society of Nephrology

Aim: To determine if a Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment (CGA) will allow frail older patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) to better attain their treatment goals and improve their frailty and quality of life, while being cost-effective. Background(s): There is an increasing number of frail older patients with CKD. Many of them face deteriorating health and functional status, which adversely affects their quality of life. CGA is an effective intervention to improve survival and independence of older people but its effect in people with CKD remains unknown. Method(s): GOAL is a NHMRC-funded cluster randomized controlled trial developed by consumers, clinicians and researchers. It will recruit patients from January 2021 aged >=65 with CKD stage 3-5/5D and a Frailty Index >0.25. The intervention clusters will receive a CGA by a geriatrician to identify medical, social and functional needs, optimize medication prescribing and arrange multidisciplinary referral if required. The primary outcome is attainment of patient determined goals assessed by standardized Goal Attainment Scaling (GAS) at 3 months. Secondary outcomes include GAS scores at 6 and 12 months, quality of life (EQ-5D-5L), frailty (Frailty Index - Short Form), transfer to residential aged care facilities, cost effectiveness and safety (causespecific hospitalizations, mortality) at 12 months. Result(s): A two-arm design of 16 clusters with 1:1 allocation (~500 participants) has 90% power to detect a clinically meaningful mean difference in GAS score of 10 units. Conclusion(s): The GOAL trial addresses patient-prioritized outcomes and will be conducted, disseminated and implemented in partnership with patients and their caregivers. This is the first study, internationally, to evaluate the clinical and cost effectiveness of CGA in improving patient-important health outcomes in frail older people with CKD.

Aim: We report the dietary habits of people with advanced CKD and their adherence to country specific Dietary Guidelines. Background(s): Dietary management plays an important role in patients with kidney failure. Current dietary habits of Australians and New Zealanders (ANZ) and Malaysians with advanced chronic kidney disease (CKD stage 4-5) is not well described. Method(s): Participants with CKD 4-5, receiving or planning dialysis commencement within 12-months, enrolled in the FAVOURED trial completed a lifestyle questionnaire at baseline on their dietary habits of key food groups including fruit, vegetables, chicken, meat, fish, and alcohol consumption. Result(s): Of 567 participants (mean age 54.8 +/- 14.3 years, 63% male), 538 (ANZ n = 386, Malaysian n = 152) completed the dietary and lifestyle questionnaire. Dietary fruit and vegetable intakes were higher in ANZ participants; 49% consumed >=2 serves/day of fruit and 61% ate >=2 serves/day of vegetables compared to 24% and 34% of Malaysians respectively (P < 0.0001). Only 4% of ANZ participants met Australian Dietary recommendations of 2 fruit and 5 vegetable serves/day. Fish consumption was higher in Malaysians with 83% consuming >=2 serves/week compared to 21% of ANZ participants (P < 0.0001). Red meat intake was significantly higher in ANZ participants however chicken consumption was similar; 48% consumed >2 chicken serves/week and 65% ate >2 serves/week of red meat compared to 43% and 15% of Malaysians, respectively. Nearly two thirds (62%) of participants in Malaysia and ANZ did not use added salt. Alcohol was consumed by 5% of Malaysians compared with 41% of ANZ participants. Conclusion(s): Significant regional variation in dietary intake for fruit, vegetables and animal protein are described which likely reflect cultural and economic differences. Barriers to meeting recommended dietary intakes requires further study.

Outcomes relevant to treatment decision-making are inconsistently reported in trials involving glomerular disease. Here, we sought to establish a consensus-derived set of critically important outcomes designed to be reported in all future trials by using an online, international two-round Delphi survey in English. To develop this, patients with glomerular disease, caregivers and health professionals aged 18 years and older rated the importance of outcomes using a Likert scale and a Best-Worst scale. The absolute and relative importance was assessed and comments were analyzed thematically. Of 1198 participants who completed Round 1, 734 were patients/caregivers while 464 were health care professionals from 59 countries. Of 700 participants that completed Round 2, 412 were patients/caregivers and 288 were health care professionals. Need for dialysis or transplant, kidney function, death, cardiovascular disease, remission-relapse and life participation were the most important outcomes to patients/caregivers and health professionals. Patients/caregivers rated patient-reported outcomes higher while health care professionals rated hospitalization, death and remission/relapse higher. Four themes explained the reasons for their priorities: confronting death and compounded suffering, focusing on specific targets in glomerular disease, preserving meaning in life, and fostering self-management. Thus, consistent reporting of these critically important outcomes in all trials involving glomerular disease is hoped to improve patient-centered decision-making.Copyright © 2021 International Society of Nephrology

The COVID-19 pandemic has challenged the delivery of health services. Telehealth allows delivery of care without in-person contacts and minimizes the risk of vial transmission. We aimed to describe the perspectives of kidney transplant recipients on the benefits, challenges, and risks of telehealth. We conducted five online focus groups with 34 kidney transplant recipients who had experienced a telehealth appointment. Transcripts were thematically analyzed. We identified five themes: minimizing burden (convenient and easy, efficiency of appointments, reducing exposure to risk, limiting work disruptions, and alleviating financial burden); attuning to individual context (depending on stability of health, respect patient choice of care, and ensuring a conducive environment); protecting personal connection and trust (requires established rapport with clinicians, hampering honest conversations, diminished attentiveness without incidental interactions, reassurance of follow-up, and missed opportunity to share lived experience); empowerment and readiness (increased responsibility for self-management, confidence in physical assessment, mental preparedness, and forced independence); navigating technical challenges (interrupted communication, new and daunting technologies, and cognizant of patient digital literacy). Telehealth is convenient and minimizes time, financial, and overall treatment burden. Telehealth should ideally be available after the pandemic, be provided by a trusted nephrologist and supported with resources to help patients prepare for appointments.Copyright © 2021 The Authors. Transplant International published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Steunstichting ESOT

Social disparity is a major impediment to optimal health outcomes after kidney transplantation. In this study, we aimed to define the association between socio-economic status (SES) disparities and patient-relevant outcomes after kidney allograft failure. Using data from the Australia and New Zealand Dialysis and Transplant registry, we included patients with failed first-kidney allografts in Australia between 2005 and 2017. The association between residential postcode-derived SES in quintiles (quintile 1-most disadvantaged areas, quintile 5-most advantaged areas) with uptake of home dialysis (peritoneal or home haemodialysis) within the first 12-months post-allograft failure, repeat transplantation and death on dialysis were examined using competing-risk analysis. Of 2175 patients who had experienced first allograft failure, 417(19%) and 505(23%) patients were of SES quintiles 1 and 5, respectively. Compared to patients of quintile 5, quintile 1 patients were less likely to receive repeat transplants (adjusted subdistributional hazard ratio [SHR] 0.70,95%CI 0.55-0.89) and were more likely to die on dialysis (1.37 [1.04-1.81]), but there was no association with the uptake of home dialysis (1.02 [0.77-1.35]). Low SES may have a negative effect on outcomes post-allograft failure and further research is required into how best to mitigate this. However, small-scale variation within SES cannot be accounted for in this study.Copyright © 2021 Steunstichting ESOT. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd

Introduction: Patients with glomerular disease experience symptoms that impair their physical and mental health while managing their treatments, diet, appointments and monitoring general and specific indicators of health and their illness. We sought to describe the perspectives of patients and their care partners on self-management in glomerular disease. Method(s): We conducted 16 focus groups involving adult patients with glomerular disease (n = 101) and their care partners (n = 34) in Australia, Hong Kong, the United Kingdom, and United States. Transcripts were analyzed thematically. Result(s): We identified the following 4 themes: empowered in autonomy (gaining confidence through understanding, taking ownership of disease and treatment, learning a positive health approach); overwhelmed by compounding treatment burdens (financially undermined and depleted, demoralized by side effects and harms, frustrated by fragmented and inflexible care, fear of possible drug harms); striving for stability and normalcy (making personal sacrifices, maximizing life participation, attentiveness to bodily signs, avoiding precarious health states, integrating medicines into routines); and necessity of health-sustaining relationships (buoyed by social support, fulfilling meaningful responsibilities, sharing and normalizing experiences, seeking a trusting and respectful alliance). Conclusion(s): Patients with glomerular disease and their care partners value their capacity for autonomy and disease ownership, stability of their health, and relationships that support self-management. Strategies directed at strengthening these factors may increase self-efficacy and improve the care and outcomes for patients with glomerular disease.Copyright © 2021 International Society of Nephrology

Aim: Haemodialysis treatment prescription varies widely internationally. This study explored patient- and centre-level characteristics associated with weekly haemodialysis hours. Method(s): Australia and New Zealand Dialysis and Transplant (ANZDATA) Registry data were analysed. Characteristics associated with weekly duration were evaluated using mixed-effects linear regression models with patient- and centre-level covariates as fixed effects, and dialysis centre and state as random effects using the 2017 prevalent in-centre haemodialysis (ICHD) and home haemodialysis (HHD) cohorts. Evaluation of patterns of weekly duration over time analysed the 2000 to 2017 incident ICHD and HHD cohorts. Result(s): Overall, 12 494 ICHD and 1493 HHD prevalent patients in 2017 were included. Median weekly treatment duration was 13.5 (interquartile range [IQR] 12-15) hours for ICHD and 16 (IQR 15-20) hours for HHD. Male sex, younger age, higher body mass index, arteriovenous fistula/graft use, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander ethnicity and longer dialysis vintage were associated with longer weekly duration for both ICHD and HHD. No centre characteristics were associated with duration. Variability in duration across centres was very limited in ICHD compared with HHD, with variation in HHD being associated with state. Duration did not vary significantly over time for ICHD, whereas longer weekly HHD treatments were reported between 2006 and 2012 compared with before and after this period. Conclusion(s): This study in the Australian and New Zealand haemodialysis population showed that weekly duration was primarily associated with patient characteristics. No centre effect was demonstrated. Practice patterns seemed to differ across states/countries, with more variability in HHD than ICHD.Copyright © 2020 Asian Pacific Society of Nephrology

Background: Predictive genetic screening and testing is available for accurate and early diagnosis of hereditary autosomal polycystic kidney disease. However, the complex ethical and psychosocial implications can make decision-making challenging and data on patients' perspectives are limited. We aimed to describe patient and caregiver perspectives on the value and risks of genetic screening and testing for autosomal polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD). Method(s): 154 participants (120 patients and 34 caregivers) from 8 centres in Australia, France and Korea participated in 17 focus groups. Transcripts were analysed thematically. Result(s): We identified five themes: financial constraints (insecurity in the inability to obtain life insurance, self-doubt in limited work opportunities, financial barrier of test); futility in unpredictability (accepting erratic and diverse manifestation of disease, inevitable disease progression, daunted by perplexity of results); lacking autonomy and support in decisions (overwhelmed by ambiguous information, medicalising family planning, appeasing the family, financial barrier); seizing control of wellbeing (gaining confidence through disease management, reassurance in family resilience, hope for health innovations to benefit the next generation, minimalising regret with preparation); and anticipating impact on quality of life (comforted by lack of symptoms, decisional uncertainty in risk of inheriting PKD, judging the value of life with PKD in family planning, guilt in foetal testing or abortion). Conclusion(s): For patients with ADPKD, genetic screening or testing provides an opportunity for them to take ownership of their health through family planning and preventive measures. However, they are also concerned and uncertain about the accessibility of these services, psychological sequelae of testing, and potential financial consequences. Patient-centred genetic counselling and education that addresses patients' concerns may support in

Background and objectives Shared decision making in patients with glomerular disease remains challenging because outcomes important to patients remain largely unknown. We aimed to identify and prioritize outcomes important to patients and caregivers and to describe reasons for their choices. Design, setting, participants, & measurements We purposively sampled adult patients with glomerular disease and their caregivers from Australia, Hong Kong, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Participants identified, discussed, and ranked outcomes in focus groups using the nominal group technique; a relative importance score (between zero and one) was calculated. Qualitative data were analyzed thematically. Results Across 16 focus groups, 134 participants (range, 19-85 years old; 51%women), including 101 patients and 33 caregivers, identified 58 outcomes. The ten highest-ranked out comes were kidney function(importance score of 0.42), mortality (0.29), need for dialysis or transplant (0.22), life participation (0.18), fatigue (0.17), anxiety (0.13), family impact (0.12), infection and immunity (0.12), ability to work (0.11), and BP (0.11). Three themes explained the reasons for these rankings: Constraining day-to-day experience, impaired agency and control over health, and threats to future health and family. Conclusions Patients with glomerular disease and their caregivers highly prioritize kidney health and survival, but they also prioritize life participation, fatigue, anxiety, and family impact.Copyright © 2020 by the American Society of Nephrology.

Background: Outcomes that are important to patients with glomerular disease remain uncertain and therefore shared-decision making can be challenging. We aimed to identify and prioritize outcomes important to patients and their caregivers, and the reasons for their choices. Method(s): We purposively sampled patients aged >=18 years with glomerular disease and their caregivers from Australia, Hong Kong, United Kingdom and United States. Participants identified, ranked and discussed outcomes. Each outcome was ranked using a relative importance score between 0 and 1. Qualitative data were analyzed thematically. Result(s): Across 16 focus groups, 132 participants (100 patients, 32 caregivers) identified 58 outcomes. Patients were aged 19 to 85 years (mean 51 years), 47 (47%) were female and 29 (29%) were on dialysis or had received a kidney transplant. Thirty eight (38%) had kidney-limited glomerular disease, 31 (31%) had glomerular disease with systemic features, and 31 (31%) had other or unknown subtypes. The ten highest ranked outcomes were: kidney function (importance score 0.42), mortality (0.29), need for dialysis or transplant (0.22), life participation (0.18), fatigue (0.17), anxiety (0.13), impact on family (0.12), infection and immunity (0.12), ability to work (0.11) and blood pressure (0.11; Figure 1). The top five outcomes were identical for patients and caregivers. The top three outcomes were the same across disease subtypes. Three themes explained the reasons for these rankings: constraining day-to-day experience, impaired agency and control over health, and threats to future health and family. Conclusion(s): Patients with glomerular disease and their caregivers highly prioritize kidney health and survival, as well as life participation, fatigue, anxiety and the impact on family. Consistent reporting of these outcomes in trials may improve shared decisionmaking.

Background: Hemodialysis treatment prescription varies widely around the world. This study explored patient- and center-level characteristics associated with weekly haemodialysis hours. Method(s): Australia and New Zealand Dialysis and Transplant (ANZDATA) Registry data was analyzed. Characteristics associated with weekly duration were evaluated using mixed-effects linear regression models with patient- and center-level covariates as fixed effects, and dialysis center and state as random effects using the 2017 prevalent in-centre hemodialysis (ICHD) and home hemodialysis (HHD) cohorts. Evaluation of patterns of weekly duration over time analyzed the 2000 to 2017 incident ICHD and HHD cohorts. Result(s): Overall, 12,494 ICHD and 1,493 HHD prevalent patients in 2017 were included. Median weekly treatment duration was 13.5 (interquartile range (IQR) 12-15) hours for ICHD and 16 (IQR 15-20) hours for HHD. Male sex, younger age, higher body mass index, arteriovenous fistula/graft use, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander ethnicity and longer dialysis vintage were associated with longer weekly duration for both ICHD and HHD. No center characteristics were associated with weekly duration. Variability in duration across centers was very limited in ICHD compared to HHD, with variation in HHD being associated with state. Duration did not vary significantly over time for ICHD, whereas longer weekly HHD treatments were reported between 2006 and 2012 compared to before and after this period. Conclusion(s): This study in the Australian and New Zealand hemodialysis population showed that weekly treatment duration was primarily associated with patient characteristics. No center effect was demonstrated. Practice patterns seemed to differ across states/countries, with more variability in HHD than in ICHD. (Figure Presented).

Background: Vascular access outcomes reported across haemodialysis (HD) trials are numerous, heterogeneous and not always relevant to patients and clinicians. This study aimed to identify critically important vascular access outcomes. Method(s): Outcomes derived from a systematic review, multi-disciplinary expert panel and patient input were included in a multilanguage online survey. Participants rated the absolute importance of outcomes using a 9-point Likert scale (7-9 being critically important). The relative importance was determined by a best-worst scale using multinomial logistic regression. Open text responses were analysed thematically. Result(s): The survey was completed by 873 participants [224 (26%) patients/caregivers and 649 (74%) health professionals] from 58 countries. Vascular access function was considered the most important outcome (mean score 7.8 for patients and caregivers/8.5 for health professionals, with 85%/95% rating it critically important, and top ranked on best-worst scale), followed by infection (mean 7.4/8.2, 79%/92% rating it critically important, second rank on best-worst scale). Health professionals rated all outcomes of equal or higher importance than patients/caregivers, except for aneurysms. We identified six themes: necessity for HD, applicability across vascular access types, frequency and severity of debilitation, minimizing the risk of hospitalization and death, optimizing technical competence and adherence to best practice and direct impact on appearance and lifestyle. Conclusion(s): Vascular access function was the most critically important outcome among patients/caregivers and health professionals. Consistent reporting of this outcome across trials in HD will strengthen their value in supporting vascular access practice and shared decision making in patients requiring HD.Copyright © 2019 The Author(s) 2019. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of ERA-EDTA. All rights reserved.

Background Arteriovenous fistulas (AVF) for haemodialysis often experience early thrombosis and maturation failure requiring intervention and/or central venous catheter (CVC) placement. This secondary and exploratory analysis of the FAVOURED study determined whether omega-3 fatty acids (fish oils) or aspirin affected AVF usability, intervention rates and CVC requirements. Methods In 567 adult participants planned for AVF creation, all were randomised to fish oil (4g/d) or placebo, and 406 to aspirin (100mg/d) or placebo, starting one day pre-surgery and continued for three months. Outcomes evaluated within 12 months included AVF intervention rates, CVC exposure, late dialysis suitability failure, and times to primary patency loss, abandonment and successful cannulation. Results Final analyses included 536 participants randomised to fish oil or placebo (mean age 55 years, 64% male, 45% diabetic) and 388 randomised to aspirin or placebo. Compared with placebo, fish oil reduced intervention rates (0.82 vs 1.14/1000 patient-days, incidence rate ratio [IRR] 0.72, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.54-0.97), particularly interventions for acute thrombosis (0.09 vs 0.17/1000 patient-days, IRR 0.53, 95% CI 0.34-0.84). Aspirin significantly reduced rescue intervention rates (IRR 0.45, 95% CI 0.27-0.78). Neither agent significantly affected CVC exposure, late dialysis suitability failure or time to primary patency loss, AVF abandonment or successful cannulation. Conclusion Although fish oil and low-dose aspirin given for 3 months reduced intervention rates in newly created AVF, they had no significant effects on CVC exposure, AVF usability and time to primary patency loss or access abandonment. Reduction in access interventions benefits patients, reduces costs and warrants further study.Copyright © 2019 Viecelli et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduct

In patients receiving hemodialysis, the provision of safe and effective vascular access using an arteriovenous fistula or graft is regarded as a critical priority by patients and health professionals. Vascular access failure is associated with morbidity and mortality, such that strategies to prevent these outcomes are essential. Inadequate vascular remodeling and neointimal hyperplasia resulting in stenosis and frequently thrombosis are critical to the pathogenesis of access failure. Systemic medical therapies with pleiotropic effects including antiplatelet agents, omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (fish oils), statins, and inhibitors of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) may reduce vascular access failure by promoting vascular access maturation and reducing stenosis and thrombosis through antiproliferative, antiaggregatory, anti-inflammatory and vasodilatory effects. Despite such promise, the results of retrospective analyses and randomized controlled trials of these agents on arteriovenous fistula and graft outcomes have been mixed. This review describes the current understanding of the pathogenesis of arteriovenous fistula and graft failure, the biological effects of antiplatelet agents, fish oil supplementation, RAAS blockers and statins that may be beneficial in improving vascular access survival, results from clinical trials that have investigated the effect of these agents on arteriovenous fistula and graft outcomes, and it explores future therapeutic approaches combining these agents with novel treatment strategies.Copyright © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Aim: Patients with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) are at increased risk of premature mortality, morbidities and complications, which severely impair quality of life. However, patient-centered outcomes are not consistently reported in trials in ADPKD, which can limit shared decision-making. We aimed to identify outcomes important to patients and caregivers and the reasons for their priorities. Method(s): Nominal group technique was adopted involving patients with ADPKD and caregivers who were purposively selected from eight centres across Australia, France and the Republic of Korea. Participants identified, ranked and discussed outcomes for trials in ADPKD. We calculated an importance score (0-1) for each outcome and conducted thematic analyses. Result(s): Across 17 groups, 154 participants (121 patients, 33 caregivers) aged 19 to 78 (mean 54.5 years) identified 55 outcomes. The 10 highest ranked outcomes were: kidney function (importance score 0.36), end-stage kidney disease (0.32), survival (0.21), cyst size/growth (0.20), cyst pain/bleeding (0.18), blood pressure (0.17), ability to work (0.16), cerebral aneurysm/stroke (0.14), mobility/physical function (0.12), and fatigue (0.12). Three themes were identified: threatening semblance of normality, inability to control and making sense of diverse risks. Conclusion(s): For patients with ADPKD and their caregivers, kidney function, delayed progression to end-stage kidney disease and survival were the highest priorities, and were focused on achieving normality, and maintaining control over health and lifestyle. Implementing these patient-important outcomes may improve the meaning and relevance of trials to inform clinical care in ADPKD.Copyright © 2019 Asian Pacific Society of Nephrology

Background: Many randomized controlled trials have been performed with the goal of improving outcomes related to hemodialysis vascular access. If the reported outcomes are relevant and measured consistently to allow comparison of interventions across trials, such trials can inform decision making. This study aimed to assess the scope and consistency of vascular access outcomes reported in contemporary hemodialysis trials. Study Design: Systematic review. Setting & Population: Adults requiring maintenance hemodialysis. Selection Criteria: All randomized controlled trials and trial protocols reporting vascular access outcomes identified from ClinicalTrials.gov, Embase, MEDLINE, and the Cochrane Kidney and Transplant Specialized Register from January 2011 to June 2016. Intervention(s): Any hemodialysis-related intervention. Outcome(s): The frequency and characteristics of vascular access outcome measures were analyzed and classified. Result(s): From 168 relevant trials, 1,426 access-related outcome measures were extracted and classified into 23 different outcomes. The 3 most common outcomes were function (136 [81%] trials), infection (63 [38%]), and maturation (31 [18%]). Function was measured in 489 different ways, but most frequently reported as "mean access blood flow (mL/min)" (37 [27%] trials) and "number of thromboses" (30 [22%]). Infection was assessed in 136 different ways, with "number of access-related infections" being the most common measure. Maturation was assessed in 44 different ways at 15 different time points and most commonly characterized by vein diameter and blood flow. Patient-reported outcomes, including pain (19 [11%]) and quality of life (5 [3%]), were reported infrequently. Only a minority of trials used previously standardized outcome definitions. Limitation(s): Restricted sampling frame for feasibility and focus on contemporary trials. Conclusion(s): The reporting of access outcomes in hemodialysis trials is very heterogeneous, with limited p

Background: Arteriovenous access failure frequently occurs in people on hemodialysis and is associated with morbidity, mortality and large healthcare expenditures. Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (omega-3 PUFA) may improve access outcomes via pleiotropic effects on access maturation and function, but may cause bleeding complications. Study Design: Systematic review with meta-analysis. Setting & Population: Adults requiring hemodialysis via arteriovenous fistula or graft. Selection Criteria: Trials evaluating omega-3 PUFA for arteriovenous access outcomes identified by searches in CENTRAL, MEDLINE, and Embase to 24 January 2017. Intervention(s): Omega-3 PUFA. Outcome(s): Primary patency loss, dialysis suitability failure, access abandonment, interventions to maintain patency or assist maturation, bleeding, gastrointestinal side-effects, all-cause and cardiovascular mortality, hospitalization, and treatment adherence. Treatment effects were summarized as relative risks (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). Evidence was assessed using GRADE. Result(s): Five eligible trials (833 participants) with a median follow-up of 12 months compared peri-operative omega-3 PUFA supplementation with placebo. One trial (n=567) evaluated treatment for fistulae and four (n=266) for grafts. Omega-3 PUFA supplementation prevented primary patency loss with moderate certainty (761 participants, RR 0.81, CI 0.68-0.98). Low quality evidence suggested, that omega-3 PUFA may have had little or no effect on dialysis suitability failure (536 participants, RR 0.95, CI 0.73-1.23), access abandonment (732 participants, RR 0.78, CI 0.59-1.03), need for interventions (732 participants, RR 0.82, CI 0.64-1.04), or all-cause mortality (799 participants, RR 0.99, CI 0.51-1.92). Bleeding risk (793 participants, RR 1.40, CI 0.78-2.49) or gastrointestinal side-effects (816 participants, RR 1.22, CI 0.64-2.34) from treatment were uncertain. There was no evidence of different treatment effects for grafts

Vascular access outcomes in hemodialysis are critically important for patients and clinicians, but frequently are neither patient relevant nor measured consistently in randomized trials. A Standardized Outcomes in Nephrology-Hemodialysis (SONG-HD) consensus workshop was convened to discuss the development of a core outcome measure for vascular access. 13 patients/caregivers and 46 professionals (clinicians, policy makers, industry representatives, and researchers) attended. Participants advocated for vascular access function to be a core outcome based on the broad applicability of function regardless of access type, involvement of a multidisciplinary team in achieving a functioning access, and the impact of access function on quality of life, survival, and other access-related outcomes. A core outcome measure for vascular access required demonstrable feasibility for implementation across different clinical and trial settings. Participants advocated for a practical and flexible outcome measure with a simple actionable definition. Integrating patients' values and preferences was warranted to enhance the relevance of the measure. Proposed outcome measures for function included "uninterrupted use of the access without the need for interventions" and "ability to receive prescribed dialysis," but not "access blood flow," which was deemed too expensive and unreliable. These recommendations will inform the definition and implementation of a core outcome measure for vascular access function in hemodialysis trials.Copyright © 2018 National Kidney Foundation, Inc.

IMPORTANCE Vascular access dysfunction is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in patients requiring hemodialysis. Arteriovenous fistulae are preferred over synthetic grafts and central venous catheters due to superior long-term outcomes and lower health care costs, but increasing their use is limited by early thrombosis and maturation failure. ?-3 Polyunsaturated fatty acids (fish oils) have pleiotropic effects on vascular biology and inflammation and aspirin impairs platelet aggregation, which may reduce access failure. OBJECTIVE To determine whether fish oil supplementation (primary objective) or aspirin use (secondary objective) is effective in reducing arteriovenous fistula failure. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS The Omega-3 Fatty Acids (Fish Oils) and Aspirin in Vascular Access Outcomes in Renal Disease (FAVOURED) study was a randomized, double-blind, controlled clinical trial that recruited participants with stage 4 or 5 chronic kidney disease from 2008 to 2014 at 35 dialysis centers in Australia, Malaysia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom. Participants were observed for 12 months after arteriovenous fistula creation. INTERVENTIONS Participants were randomly allocated to receive fish oil (4 g/d) or matching placebo. A subset (n = 406) was also randomized to receive aspirin (100mg/d) or matching placebo. Treatment started 1 day prior to surgery and continued for 12 weeks. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES The primary outcomewas fistula failure, a composite of fistula thrombosis and/or abandonment and/or cannulation failure, at 12 months. Secondary outcomes included the individual components of the primary outcome. RESULTS Of 1415 eligible participants, 567 were randomized (359 [63%] male, 298 [53%] white, 264 [47%] with diabetes; mean [SD] age, 54.8 [14.3] y). The same proportion of fistula failures occurred in the fish oil and placebo arms (128 of 270 [47%] vs 125 of 266 [47%]; relative risk [RR] adjusted for aspirin use, 1.03; 95%CI, 0.86-1.23; P = .78)

Aim The Fish oils and Aspirin in Vascular access OUtcomes in REnal Disease (FAVOURED) trial investigated whether 3 months of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, either alone or in combination with aspirin, will effectively reduce primary access failure of de novo arteriovenous fistulae. This report presents the baseline characteristics of all study participants, examines whether study protocol amendments successfully increased recruitment of a broader and more representative haemodialysis cohort, including patients already receiving aspirin, and contrasts Malaysian participants with those from Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom (UK). Method This international, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial included patients older than 19 years with stage 4 or 5 chronic kidney disease currently receiving, or planned within 12 months to receive haemodialysis. Results Participants (n = 568) were overweight (28.6 +/- 7.3 kg/m2), relatively young (54.8 +/- 14.3 years), and predominantly male (63%) with a high prevalence of diabetes mellitus (46%) but low rate of ischaemic heart disease (8%). Sixty one percent were planned for lower arm arteriovenous fistula creation. Malaysian participants (n = 156) were younger (51.8 +/- 13.6 years vs 57.1 +/- 14.2 years, P < 0.001) with a higher prevalence of diabetes mellitus (65% vs 43%, P < 0.001), but less ischaemic heart disease (5% vs 14%, P < 0.01) compared with the combined Australian, New Zealand and UK cohort (n = 228). Protocol modifications allowing for inclusion of patients receiving aspirin increased the prevalence of co-morbidities compared with the original cohort. Conclusions The FAVOURED study participants, while mostly similar to patients in contemporary national registry reports and comparable recent clinical trials, were on average younger and had less ischaemic heart disease. These differences were reduced as a consequence of including patients already receiving aspirin.Copyright © 2015 Asian Pacif

Background: The FAVOURED study is an international multicentre, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial which commenced recruitment in 2008 and examines whether omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (omega-3 PUFAs) either alone or in combination with aspirin will effectively reduce primary access failure of de novo arteriovenous fistulae (AVF) in patients with stage 4 and 5 chronic kidney disease. Publication of new evidence derived from additional studies of clopidogrel and a high screen failure rate due to prevalent aspirin usage prompted an updated trial design. Methods/design: The original trial protocol published in 2009 has undergone two major amendments, which were implemented in 2011. Firstly, the primary outcome 'early thrombosis' at 3 months following AVF creation was broadened to a more clinically relevant outcome of 'AVF access failure'; a composite of thrombosis, AVF abandonment and cannulation failure at 12 months. Secondly, participants unable to cease using aspirin were allowed to be enrolled and randomised to omega-3 PUFAs or placebo. The revised primary aim of the FAVOURED study is to test the hypothesis that omega-3 PUFAs will reduce rates of AVF access failure within 12 months following AVF surgery. The secondary aims are to examine the effect of omega-3 PUFAs and aspirin on the individual components of the primary end-point, to examine the safety of study interventions and assess central venous catheter requirement as a result of access failure. Discussion(s): This multicentre international clinical trial was amended to address the clinically relevant question of whether the usability of de novo AVF at 12 months can be improved by the early use of omega-3 PUFAs and to a lesser extent aspirin. This study protocol amendment was made in response to a large trial demonstrating that clopidogrel is effective in safely preventing primary AVF thrombosis, but ineffective at increasing functional patency. Secondly, including patients taking aspirin will enro