Association between phosphate binder pill burden and mortality risk in patients on maintenance hemodialysis: a single-center cohort study with 7-year follow-up of 513 patients.

BACKGROUND: Dialysis patients often take multiple oral medications, leading to a high pill burden. Phosphate binders (PBs) account for a large proportion of this daily pill burden (DPB). The relationship between DPB and mortality risk remains unclear, and we hypothesized that this relationship might be influenced by the proportion of PBs to all medications. METHODS: We divided DPB into those derived from PBs and non-PB drugs and analyzed the association with mortality risk over a 7-year period in 513 chronic hemodialysis patients using a baseline model. RESULTS: The median (interquartile range) DPB from all drugs was 15.8 (11.2-21.0) pills/day/patient, and the median ratio of PB pills to all drug pills was 29.3 (13.7-45.9)% at baseline. During a median observation period of 5.2 years, 161 patients (31.4%) died. Kaplan-Meier analysis showed no significant difference in all-cause mortality between PB users and non-users. However, a significant survival advantage was observed in the highest tertile of DPB from PBs compared to the lowest tertile. Conversely, the highest tertile of DPB from non-PB drugs was associated with worse survival. Consequently, the highest tertile of the ratio of PBs to all pills was associated with better survival. This association remained significant even after adjusting for patient characteristics in the Cox proportional hazards model. However, when serum nutritional parameters were included as covariates, the significant association disappeared. CONCLUSIONS: Dialysis patients prescribed a higher rate of PB pills to all medications exhibited a lower mortality risk, possibly due to their better nutritional status.

End-Stage Renal Disease Patients Lose a Substantial Amount of Amino Acids during Hemodialysis.

BACKGROUND: Poor nutritional status is frequently observed in end-stage renal disease patients and associated with adverse clinical outcomes and increased mortality. Loss of amino acids (AAs) during hemodialysis (HD) may contribute to protein malnutrition in these patients. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to assess the extent of AA loss during HD in end-stage renal disease patients consuming their habitual diet. METHODS: Ten anuric chronic HD patients (mean ± SD age: 67.9 ± 19.3 y, BMI: 23.2 ± 3.5 kg/m2), undergoing HD 3 times per week, were selected to participate in this study. Spent dialysate was collected continuously and plasma samples were obtained directly before and after a single HD session in each participant. AA profiles in spent dialysate and in pre-HD and post-HD plasma were measured through ultra-performance liquid chromatography to determine AA concentrations and, as such, net loss of AAs. In addition, dietary intake before and throughout HD was assessed using a 24-h food recall questionnaire during HD. Paired-sample t tests were conducted to compare pre-HD and post-HD plasma AA concentrations. RESULTS: During an HD session, 11.95 ± 0.69 g AAs were lost via the dialysate, of which 8.26 ± 0.46 g were nonessential AAs, 3.69 ± 0.31 g were essential AAs, and 1.64 ± 0.17 g were branched-chain AAs. As a consequence, plasma total and essential AA concentrations declined significantly from 2.88 ± 0.15 and 0.80 ± 0.05 mmol/L to 2.27 ± 0.11 and 0.66 ± 0.05 mmol/L, respectively (P < 0.05). AA profiles of pre-HD plasma and spent dialysate were similar. Moreover, AA concentrations in pre-HD plasma and spent dialysate were strongly correlated (Spearman's ρ = 0.92, P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: During a single HD session, ∼12 g AAs are lost into the dialysate, causing a significant decline in plasma AA concentrations. AA loss during HD can contribute substantially to protein malnutrition in end-stage renal disease patients. This study was registered at the Netherlands Trial Registry (NTR7101).

The Plasma Neurofilament Light Chain, Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor, and Risk of Depression in Chronic Hemodialysis Patients.

INTRODUCTION: Depression is highly prevalent among hemodialysis patients. Understanding the relationship between the plasma neurofilament light chain (NfL) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) may help us to better understand the mechanisms of depression. This study determined their impact, alongside that of other factors, on the risk of depression in hemodialysis patients. METHODS: The study enrolled 82 patients undergoing chronic hemodialysis. Serum NfL, BDNF, uric acid, urea, potassium, calcium, phosphorus, intact parathyroid hormone, and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels were measured. The patients completed the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). Blood pressure values, body mass before and after hemodialysis, and weekly duration of hemodialysis in hours were assessed. For 19-month survival analysis, the patients were stratified according to baseline BDI scores. RESULTS: Based on the BDI score, 18.3% of the patients had an increased risk of depression. Lower scores were associated with significantly longer duration of hemodialysis treatment (37.5 (25-57) 24 (14-37) months, p = 0.01). Within the 19-month survival analysis, 31.7% of patients died. The patients with BDI scores above the median had significantly lower survival than those below the median (log-rank test p = 0.02). No significant differences in serum BDNF levels (192.7 [125.2-278.2]; 207.7 [142.8-265.8] pg/mL, p = 0.40), or NfL concentrations (1431.5 [1182.6-1625.7]; 1494.6 [1335.7-1667] kDa, p = 0.52) were found between patients with lower and higher risk of depression. Patients with BDI scores above the median had significantly higher levels of CRP (9.6 [4.4-14]) than those with scores below the median (3.6 [2.2-7.5], p = 0.01). A significant positive correlation was found between the BDI score and serum CRP level (r = 0.38, p = 0.01). A significant negative correlation was observed between the BDI score and URR% value (r = -0.36, p = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with lower BDI scores had a longer dialysis duration, indicating a potential negative association between depression risk and length of dialysis treatment. Neither serum NfL nor BDNF levels can serve as markers of depression risk in the dialysis population.

Proinflammatory role of monocytes in SARS-CoV-2 infection in chronic hemodialysis patients.

Background: Fully mature monocytes that express CD14, but not CD16, undergo phagocytosis within tissues, whereas non-classical monocytes, CD14-low CD16+, represent <11% of peripheral monocytes and have primary pro-inflammatory functions. Inflammation plays a major role in Covid-19 disease and adds to the inflammation caused by chronic hemodialysis. The aim of our study was to monitor monocyte subsets in five patients with end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) over a 1-year period after a mild Covid-19 infection. Five ESKD patients with a mild Covid-19 infection were monitored using CD14, CD16, CD300e, HLA-DR, CD64, and CD45 panels using a BD FACS Canto flow cytometer. Results: CD14-low CD16+ was dramatically (p=0,001) decreased in patients during Covid-19 infection, as previously described for patients without chronic renal failure. In addition, CD14-low CD16+ monocytes remained decreased for 10 months after recovery from Covid. Intermediate monocytes increased during Covid-19 infection and decreased 10 months after infection but this subtype of monocytes retained their inflammatory activity with a significant increase in HLA-DR expression after recovery from Covid infection. Conclusion: Our study shows that ESKD patients had a pro-inflammatory profile induced by Covid 19, but this status was prolonged significantly over a 10-month period. Thus, advanced renal failure treated by hemodialysis did not dramatically change the inflammatory response against to SARS Covid 2. It seems that monocytes retain their inflammatory status for many months in ESKD patients after a Covid-19 infection.

[Peripheral neuropathies and factors associated in chronic hemodialysis patients in Benin]. / Neuropathies périphériques et facteurs associés chez les hémodialysés chroniques du Bénin.

INTRODUCTION: Peripheral neuropathies, in hemodialysis patients, are frequent. OBJECTIVE: To study peripheral neuropathies in the population of chronic hemodialysis patients in Benin. METHODS: This was a descriptive and analytical cross-sectional study conducted from April 1st to July 31st, 2017 in the hemodialysis units of the two public dialysis centers in Benin. Recruitment was exhaustive with inclusion of all patients with hemodialysis for more than 3months, aged at least 18years and consenting. The diagnosis of peripheral neuropathy was based on the presence of sensory-motor and/or vegetative disorders associated with amyotrophy, abolition or reduction of osteotendinous reflexes and absence of central signs. RESULTS: A total of 189 hemodialysis patients were included in the two public hemodialysis centers of Benin, 180 at the CNHU-HKM and 9 at the CHUD/BA. The mean age was 50.23±13.31years with extremes from 20 to 85 years and a sex ratio of 1.59. The overall frequency of peripheral neuropathy was 59.26%, including polyneuropathies (72.32%), unifocal mononeuropathies (10.71%), polyradiculoneuropathies (9.82%), and multiple mononeuropathies (7.14%). The associated factor in multivariate analysis was socioeconomic level (P=0.001; OR 39.41; 95% CI 4.81-322.64). CONCLUSION: Peripheral neuropathy is frequent in chronic hemodialysis patients in Benin, requiring early detection and management.

[Use of the TestObs mobile application for the evaluation of therapeutic adherence in chronic hemodialysis patients: Technological monitoring model of treatment adherence and determining factors]. / Utilisation de l'application mobile TestObs pour l'évaluation de l'observance thérapeutique dans une population d'hémodialysés chroniques : modèle de monitoring technologique de l'adhérence au traitement et ses facteurs déterminants.

INTRODUCTION: Non-adherence behaviors are very common in chronic hemodialysis patients, it is estimated that only one patient out of two complies with medical prescriptions, these behaviors are associated with a higher risk of morbidity and adverse events as well as increased expenses for health systems. The aim of our study was to assess adherence to long-term prescribed medications in chronic hemodialysis patients, using a mobile application named TestObs, as well as to determine the main factors influencing medication adherence. METHODS: We conducted a prospective descriptive study, between January and June 2019. We developed a mobile application named TestObs, downloadable on playstore for android devices, which assesses with the Girerd questionnaire, the adherence to the main medications taken by chronic hemodialysis patients. We included adult patients, with a duration of dialysis of more than 6 months, all patients who downloaded TestObs, tested their adherence to their medication by answering the questionnaire. We created a web-based platform, where data was collected from the application and then analyzed and tabulated. Regarding the statistical analysis, the normal distribution of the variables was studied by the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, the analysis of the qualitative variables used the Pearson's Chi2 and Fisher's statistical test, the Hosmer Lemeshow test was used to examine the quality of the final logistic regression model. RESULTS: We collected 90 adult chronic hemodialysis patients, 51 of them (56%) were selected to enter the study. We found good compliance in 46.15% of patients, minor noncompliance in 32.87%, and noncompliance in 20.98%. In multivariate analysis, the factors influencing adherence were the presence of other comorbidities (diabetes and vision problems) and the number of pills per day. DISCUSSION: In this study, we report treatment adherence problems in 53.85% of patients, our results are close to the data reported in hemodialysis patients in the literature, different factors influence the quality of treatment adherence, in our study poly-medication and the presence of other comorbidities were the statistically significant determinants. The new technology assessment instruments were used in hemodialysis patients and were able to provide real-time monitoring of adherence behaviors. CONCLUSION: We believe that mobile health technologies hold promise for assessing and improving medication adherence in hemodialysis patients, so we suggest that TestObs represents an accessible and free of charge tool, based on a validated questionnaire, that can allow patients to benefit from new technologies for medical monitoring, and may eventually constitute an interventional program to improve medication adherence; however, this technological tool should not replace traditional therapeutic education; prior targeting of non-adherent patients and an optimal combination of several tools can help improve adherence in these patients.

B-flow imaging estimation of carotid and femoral atherosclerotic plaques: vessel walls rheological damage or strong predictor of cardiovascular mortality in chronic dialysis patients.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to investigate the cardiovascular mortality in chronic hemodialysis patients (CHPs) and to discover the importance of carotid and femoral artery plaques as cardiovascular (CV) mortality predictor. METHODS: In this study with 4 years of follow-up period, we studied a cohort of 101 CHPs. Mean age at entry was 58.1 ± 11.9 years, and mean duration of dialysis was 5.8 ± 5.3 years. We performed B-flow imaging of both carotid and femoral arteries to estimate and score the plaque thickness. RESULTS: The mean carotid and femoral plaque scores (PSs) at entry were 5.02 ± 4.20 and 4.04 ± 3.30 (p = 0.0002). The carotid cutoff point and femoral cutoff point (by ROC curves) were 5.4 and 5.9. The regression coefficients (b) and Exp (b) hazard ratio coefficients of carotid and femoral PS in Cox regression survival analysis in CV outcomes were: b = 0.142, Exp (b) = 1.153, p = 0.0035 versus b = 0.457, Exp (b) = 1.578, p < 0.0001. Relative hazard ratio (HR) risk of exposed group according to CV events was HR 2.812 (CI 1.301-6.081) for carotid PS and HR 2926 (CI 1.424-6.013) for femoral PS. CONCLUSION: Carotid and femoral plaques are strong independent predictors of CV mortality in CHPs. The HR risk of femoral artery plaques is more predictable than HR risk of carotid artery plaques.