Cardiovascular calcification in hemodialysis patients: A Qatar-based prevalence and risk factors study.

BACKGROUND: Patients with end-stage kidney disease on hemodialysis (HD) have an increased risk of death due to the high prevalence of cardiovascular disease. Vascular calcification (VC) is predictive of cardiovascular disease and mortality. We conducted a study to evaluate the prevalence and risk factors for VC in dialysis patients in Qatar. METHODS: This is a retrospective nationwide study including all chronic ambulatory dialysis patients in Qatar from 2020 to 2022. We used our national electronic medical record to track demographics, clinical characteristics, comorbidities, laboratory values, and diagnostic data for each patient. Calcifications were assessed by echocardiography (routinely done for all our dialysis population per national protocol), computed tomography, X-ray, and ultrasound. The study protocol was approved by the local medical research ethics committee (MRC-01-20-377). RESULTS: 842 HD patients were included in this study. Vascular calcifications (VC) were prevalent in 52.6% of patients. The main site of VC was Mitral valve calcifications in 55.5% of patients. Patients with VC were significantly older and had more prevalence of diabetes mellitus (p = 0.001 and p = 0.006, respectively). There was no statistically significant difference between patients with calcifications and patients without calcifications regarding serum calcium, phosphorus, and PTH level. In multivariate analysis, age and diabetes significantly increased the risk factor for calcification (95% CI 1.033-1.065, p < 0.0001, and 95% CI 1.128-2.272, p < 0001, respectively). Moreover, higher vitamin D levels and higher doses of IV Alfacalcidol were significant risk factors for calcifications (95% CI 1.005-1.030, p < 0.007, and 95% CI 1.092-1.270, p < 0.0001, respectively). CONCLUSION: Our study found that vascular calcification was widespread among our dialysis population in Qatar. Implementing the practice of echocardiography in dialysis patients was extremely helpful and the most productive in detecting vascular calcification. Diabetes mellitus almost doubles the risk for vascular calcifications in dialysis patients. These results are beneficial in identifying risk factors for vascular calcification, which can help stratify dialysis patients' risk of cardiovascular disease and optimize prevention efforts.

Current Status and Future of End-Stage Kidney Disease in Gulf Cooperation Council Countries: Challenges and Opportunities.

There is a paucity of data on epidemiology along with an incomplete registry of end-stage kidney disease (ESKD), nephrologist workforce, and variability among the countries of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). The study is an observation, descriptive study which aimed to describe current ESKD burden, nephrologist density, and kidney care infrastructure in GCC. Responses to a questionnaire-based survey obtained from representatives of the Nephrology Societies of GCC countries were analyzed. The categorical variables were compared using Chi-square test. A P = 5% was considered as significant. The mean prevalence of ESKD per million populations (pmp) was 551, highest in Oman (1000/pmp), least in Qatar (347/pmp). Predominant etiology in GCC was diabetes mellitus (DM) and hypertension (HTN) (100%, each), followed by chronic glomerulonephritis (66.7%). A transplant registry was maintained by all GCC countries. Hemodialysis (HD) (67.2%) was the most opted modality of kidney replacement therapy (KRT), followed by kidney transplantation (22%) and peritoneal dialysis (9.6%); 1.0% of patients opted for conservative management. Unplanned initiation of HD was three times more common. The access distribution among incident and prevalent HD patients respectively was (i) nontunneled central catheter (nTCC) (58.7 ± 36.6 vs. 1.5 ± 1.5), (ii) tunneled central catheter (23.5 ± 29.9 vs. 33.6 ± 10.0), and (iii) arteriovenous fistula (17.3± 14.4 vs. 57.8 ± 11.86). Death and transplantation were the reasons for dropout from HD. GCC has adequate kidney care infrastructure. There are 1686 nephrologists [range: Bahrain 9, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) 1279]. Qatar, KSA, and Kuwait provide training in kidney biopsy; all countries except Bahrain have formal training programs for nTCC placement. ESKD prevalence is high, DM, HTN; glome-rulonephritis (GN) is the most common causes. The need for KRT is expected to rise in GCC. HD is the predominant KRT modality with a high prevalence of dialysis catheters as vascular access.

Prevalence and Management of Hypokalemia in Peritoneal Dialysis Patients in Qatar.

INTRODUCTION: Hypokalemia is common in patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis (PD). It is associated with increased cardiovascular and all-cause mortality. Treatment usually includes oral potassium supplements, which are poorly tolerated. Our aim was to evaluate the prevalence of hypokalemia in PD patients in Qatar and to improve treatment measures. METHODS: All PD patients in Qatar with persistent hypokalemia and on potassium supplement were included. We performed a root cause analysis, and a management pathway was created. We collected data before (Period 1) and after (Period 2) implementation of the new pathway. RESULTS: A total of 143 patients with a mean age of 54 years (range 21-82 years) were included in the study. Initial results of Period 1 showed hypokalemia in 48 patients (34%); of these, 14 (29%) had hypomagnesemia. Hypokalemia resolved in 10 of the patients after correction of their hypomagnesemia. The remaining 4 patients continued to require potassium supplementation despite correction of their hypomagnesemia. We started spironolactone (25 mg daily) in 13 of the hypokalemia patients. After 3 months, their mean serum potassium level improved from 3.2 ± 0.3 mmol/L to 3.9 ± 0.4 mmol/L (p < 0.001), and the prevalence of patients with persistent hypokalemia decreased from 36% to 21% (statistically significant with p= 0.006). No episodes of hypotension or hyperkalemia were observed. Only 1 patient developed mild gynecomastia without discontinuation of the medications. CONCLUSION: Our study showed that hypokalemia is a prevalent problem in PD patients in Qatar. Hypomagnesemia is a significant contributing factor to hypokalemia in PD and correcting it leads to improvement of hypokalemia. Addition of spironolactone is safe and effective in treating hypokalemia. Implementing a holistic pathway led to a significant improvement in hypokalemia prevalence in PD patients.

The epidemiology of acute peritonitis in end-stage renal disease patients on peritoneal dialysis in Qatar: An 8-year follow-up study.

Acute peritonitis (AP) is a common and devastating complication in end-stage renal disease patients on peritoneal dialysis (PD). We are reporting an epidemiologic study of AP in Qatar over 8-year follow-up. We retrospectively reviewed medical records of all PD patients in Qatar from 2007 to 2014. The analysis was conducted to report epidemiology, outcome, and associated risk factors of AP. We had 318 AP episodes in 180 patients between 2007 and 2014. Six (3.3%) patients died as a result AP. Six cases of fungal peritonitis were reported. AP rate has decreased from 1 episode/29.7 PD-months in 2007 to 1/43.7 PD-months in 2014. Ninety-nine (55%) patients had single AP while 81 (45%) patients had 2 episodes or more (multiple AP). Patients on automated PD carried a higher risk of developing multiple AP [odds ratio (OR) = 1.46, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.01-1.71]. The first episode of AP caused by Gram-positive cocci carried a significant risk of multiple AP (OR = 4.3, 95 % CI: 2.2-8.2). Negative-culture AP carried a significant protective role from multiple AP (OR = 0.35, 95% CI: 0.19-0.66). Most deaths occurred with the first episode of AP (4 out of 6). In this 8-year follow-up, epidemiologic study from Qatar, fungal peritonitis and mortality rate were very low, AP rate improved overall, multiple AP was prevalent (45%), and its risk increases with Gram-positive cocci infections. Our results signify the importance of implementing more efficient care bundles to prevent multiple AP.

Mineral bone disorder and its management among hemodialysis patients in the Gulf Cooperation Council: Initial findings from the dialysis outcomes and practice patterns study (2012-2015).

The prospective cohort Dialysis Outcomes and Practice Patterns Study (DOPPS) initiated data collection in national samples of hemodialysis (HD) units (total of 41 study sites) in all six Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries (Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates) in late 2012. Here, we report initial results regarding mineral bone disorders (MBDs) and its management in the GCC countries. Forty-one randomly selected HD facilities, treating >23 HD patients each, were sampled and represent care for >95% of GCC HD patients. Descriptive results for the GCC countries based on a random sample of 20-30 HD patients in each study facility. Initial results for the GCC are from 931 HD patients treated at 41 dialysis units (ranging from 1 unit in Bahrain to 21 in Saudi Arabia). Results are presented as weighted estimates, accounting for the sampling fraction in each unit. Baseline descriptive statistics (e.g., mean, median, or percentage), weighted by facility sampling fraction were calculated for the study sample. For analyses examining the percent of facility patients having (a) serum phosphorus >6.0 mg/dL or (b) parathyroid hormone (PTH) >600 pg/mL, analyses were restricted to facilities having at least 10 HD patients with a reported serum phosphorus or PTH measurement, respectively. Logistic regression analyses of the indicated binary outcomes were based on the use of generalized estimating equations and were adjusted for GCC country, patient age category (<45 years, 45-65 years, and >65 years old), sex, and whether the patient was diagnosed with diabetes mellitus. Logistic models accounted for clustering of patients within facilities, assuming an exchangeable working correlation matrix. Mean age of HD patients in the GCC countries was 53 years vs. 61-64 years in the three other DOPPS regions. MBD markers showed slightly lower mean serum Calcium in the GCC countries, similar mean serum phosphorus, and intermediate median PTH levels compared with the three other DOPPS regions. Among GCC countries, the country mean value of MBD markers ranged from 8.6-9.0 mg/dL for serum calcium, 4.4-5.4 mg/dL for serum phosphorus, whereas median PTH ranged from 163-389 pg/mL. Similar to other DOPPS regions, PTH was higher among patients who were younger or without diabetes, and serum phosphorus was lower with older age (P <0.001 for each). History of parathyroidectomy was lower in the GCC countries versus other regions but did not differ when adjusted for age and dialysis vintage. Among treatments used for managing MBD, the GCC countries showed one of the highest uses of cinacalcet (24%) and phosphorus binder use (81%), whereas intravenous Vitamin D use (24%) was slightly higher than that in EURANZ. A much larger fraction of HD patients in the GCC countries had a dialysate calcium bath ≥3.5 mEq/L (43%) versus 0-4% in the three other DOPPS regions. Although many aspects of MBD management and MBD marker achievement are similar in the GCC countries to that seen in other DOPPS study regions, large variability was seen across countries and facilities in the GCC. Mean serum calcium was lower in the GCC despite the much greater use of dialysate Ca of ~3.5 mEq/L which may be due to the relatively low use of vitamin D and higher cinacalcet use, meriting further study. Future work will focus on GCC facility HD practices and patient characteristics most strongly related to the achievement of MBD target levels and associated outcomes.