De-Prescribing Proton Pump Inhibitors in Patients With End Stage Kidney Disease: A Quality Improvement Project.

Background: Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are widely prescribed and may be associated with harm; hypomagnesemia and reduced effectiveness of calcium carbonate phosphate binders may be important in end-stage kidney disease (ESKD). Objectives: Our objectives included (1) discontinuing PPIs and H2 blockers and (2) assessing the impact on serum magnesium and markers of mineral metabolism. Design: Prospective cohort. Setting: Satellite hemodialysis unit of a tertiary care hospital. Patients: Incident and prevalent patients with ESKD treated with hemodialysis. Measurements: We assessed the impact of stopping PPI/H2 blockers in patients who did not have an absolute indication as per guidelines in the general population; serum magnesium, calcium, and phosphate were measured before and approximately 8 weeks later. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) test and Kruskal-Wallis was used to describe the population. Wilcoxon signed rank test for the paired change scores (from pre to post). Methods: The electronic medical record (EMR) was extensively searched for absolute indications for a PPI. Results were reviewed with the primary nephrology team before approaching patients about stopping the PPI. Basic demographic information and select medications were also collected. Results: Electronic medical records were reviewed for 179 patients, 74 had a PPI or H2 antagonist or both on their medication list (43%); 23 (31%) were assessed as appropriate. After primary team and patient review, 29 patients agreed to a trial of PPI withdrawal. Fourteen patients restarted their PPI, most for gastroesophageal reflux disease. Three patients had a GI bleed, 1 fatally. Serum calcium (P = .17) and the dose of phosphate binders (P = .075) did not change but serum phosphate increased (1.55 [0.29] to 1.85 [0.34] mmol/L; P = .0005). Serum magnesium also increased (1.01 [0.16] to 1.06 [0.14] mmol/L; P = .01). Limitations: Small patient numbers and observational nature of the study does not establish causation in this population at high risk to experience a gastrointestinal bleed. Conclusions: Our results suggest that PPI deprescribing as recommended in the general population may be associated with harm in patients with ESKD and requires further study. Trial Registration: Not registered.

Contexte: Les inhibiteurs de la pompe à protons (IPP) sont largement prescrits et peuvent être associés à une atteinte rénale; l'hypomagnésémie et la réduction de l'efficacité des chélateurs de phosphate à base de carbonate de calcium peuvent devenir significatifs chez les patients avec insuffisance rénale terminale (IRT). Objectifs: Nos objectifs comprenaient 1) l'arrêt des IPP et des antagonistes H2 et 2) l'évaluation des conséquences sur le taux de magnésium sérique et les marqueurs du métabolisme minéral. Conception: Étude de cohorte prospective. Cadre: L'unité d'hémodialyse satellite d'un hôpital de soins tertiaires. Sujets: Patients incidents et prévalents atteints d'IRT et traités par hémodialyse. Mesures: Nous avons évalué les conséquences de l'arrêt des IPP et antagonistes H2 chez les patients qui n'avaient pas d'indication absolue pour ces médicaments, conformément aux directives pour la population générale. Les taux sériques de magnésium, de calcium et de phosphate ont été mesurés avant l'arrêt et environ huit semaines plus tard. Les tests ANOVA et Kruskal-Wallis ont été utilisés pour décrire la population, et le test de rang de Wilcoxon pour les scores de changement appariés (de pré à post-intervention). Méthodologie: Les dossiers médicaux électroniques (DMÉ) ont été consultés rigoureusement à la recherche d'une indication absolue pour un IPP. Les résultats ont été revus avec l'équipe de néphrologie primaire avant d'approcher les patients quant à un arrêt des IPP. Les données démographiques initiales et les prescriptions pour certains médicaments ont également été recueillies. Résultats: Les DMÉ de 179 patients ont été consultés, révélant que 74 (43 %) d'entre eux prenaient soit un IPP, soit un antagoniste H2, soit les deux; chez 23 patients (31 %) la prescription était appropriée. Après évaluation par l'équipe médicale et discussion avec les patients, 29 patients ont accepté de cesser l'IPP. Quatorze patients ont recommencé les IPP, la plupart pour un reflux gastro-œsophagien. Trois patients ont souffert d'une hémorragie gastro-intestinale, dont une s'est avérée fatale. Le taux de calcium sérique (p=0,17) et la dose de chélateurs du phosphate (p=0,075) n'ont pas changé, mais le taux de phosphate sérique a augmenté (1,55 [0,29] à 1,85 [0,34] mmol/L; p=0,0005), tout comme le taux de magnésium sérique (1,01 [0,16] à 1,06 [0,14] mmol/L; p=0,01). Limites: Le faible échantillon de patients et la nature observationnelle de l'étude ne permettent pas d'établir un lien de causalité dans cette population présentant un risque élevé d'hémorragie gastro-intestinale. Conclusion: Nos résultats suggèrent que la déprescription des IPP recommandée dans la population générale pourrait être associée à un préjudice chez les patients atteints d'IRT. Des études plus approfondies sont nécessaires. Enregistrement de l'essai: Non enregistré.

Guidelines, policies, and barriers to kidney care: findings from a global survey.

An international survey led by the International Society of Nephrology in 2016 assessed the current capacity of kidney care worldwide. To better understand how governance and leadership guide kidney care, items pertinent to government priority, advocacy, and guidelines, among others, were examined. Of the 116 responding countries, 36% (n = 42) reported CKD as a government health care priority, which was associated with having an advocacy group (χ2 = 11.57; P = 0.001). Nearly one-half (42%; 49 of 116) of countries reported an advocacy group for CKD, compared with only 19% (21 of 112) for AKI. Over one-half (59%; 68 of 116) of countries had a noncommunicable disease strategy. Similarly, 44% (48 of 109), 55% (57 of 104), and 47% (47 of 101) of countries had a strategy for nondialysis CKD, chronic dialysis, and kidney transplantation, respectively. Nearly one-half (49%; 57 of 116) reported a strategy for AKI. Most countries (79%; 92 of 116) had access to CKD guidelines and just over one-half (53%; 61 of 116) reported guidelines for AKI. Awareness and adoption of guidelines were low among nonnephrologist physicians. Identified barriers to kidney care were factors related to patients, such as knowledge and attitude (91%; 100 of 110), physicians (84%; 92 of 110), and geography (74%; 81 of 110). Specific to renal replacement therapy, patients and geography were similarly identified as a barrier in 78% (90 of 116) and 71% (82 of 116) of countries, respectively, with the addition of nephrologists (72%; 83 of 116) and the health care system (73%; 85 of 116). These findings inform how kidney care is currently governed globally. Ensuring that guidelines are feasible and distributed appropriately is important to enhancing their adoption, particularly in primary care. Furthermore, increasing advocacy and government priority, especially for AKI, may increase awareness and strategies to better guide kidney care.

Global access of patients with kidney disease to health technologies and medications: findings from the Global Kidney Health Atlas project.

Access to essential medications and health products is critical to effective management of kidney disease. Using data from the ISN Global Kidney Health Atlas multinational cross-sectional survey, global access of patients with kidney disease to essential medications and health products was examined. Overall, 125 countries participated, with 118 countries, composing 91.5% of the world's population, providing data on this domain. Most countries were unable to access eGFR and albuminuria in their primary care settings. Only one-third of low-income countries (LICs) were able to measure serum creatinine and none were able to access eGFR or quantify proteinuria. The ability to monitor diabetes mellitus through serum glucose and glycated hemoglobin measurements was suboptimal. Pathology services were rarely available in tertiary care in LICs (12%) and lower middle-income countries (45%). While acute and chronic hemodialysis services were available in almost all countries, acute and chronic peritoneal dialysis services were rarely available in LICs (18% and 29%, respectively). Kidney transplantation was available in 79% of countries overall and in 12% of LICs. While over one-half of all countries publicly funded RRT and kidney medications with or without copayment, this was less common in LICs and lower middle-income countries. In conclusion, this study demonstrated significant gaps in services for kidney care and funding that were most apparent in LICs and lower middle-income countries.