Risk of Venous Thromboembolism in Patients by Albuminuria and Estimated GFR.

BACKGROUND: The risk for venous thromboembolism (VTE) is elevated with albuminuria or a low estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). However, the VTE risk due to the combined effects of eGFR and albuminuria are unknown. STUDY DESIGN: Population-based cohort study. SETTINGS & PARTICIPANTS: 694,956 adults in Ontario, Canada, from 2002 to 2012. FACTORS: eGFR and albumin-creatinine ratio (ACR). OUTCOME: VTE. RESULTS: 15,180 (2.2%) VTE events occurred during the study period. Both albuminuria and eGFR were independently associated with VTE. The association of albuminuria and VTE differed by level of eGFR (P for ACR × eGFR interaction < 0.001). After considering the competing risk for death, there was a 61% higher rate of VTE in patients with normal eGFRs (eGFRs>90mL/min/1.73m2) and heavy albuminuria (ACR>300mg/g) compared with those with normal eGFRs and no albuminuria (subdistribution HR, 1.61; 95% CI, 1.38-1.89). Among those with reduced kidney function (eGFR, 15-29mL/min/1.73m2), the risk for VTE was only minimally increased, irrespective of albuminuria (subdistribution HRs of 1.23 [95% CI, 1-1.5] and 1.09 [95% CI, 0.82-1.45] for ACR<30 and >300mg/g, respectively). LIMITATIONS: Only single determinations of ACR and eGFR were used. Diagnostic/International Classification of Diseases codes were used to define VTE. CONCLUSIONS: Albuminuria increases the risk for VTE markedly in patients with normal eGFRs compared with those with lower eGFRs.

Hemodialysis Arteriovenous Vascular Access Creation After Kidney Transplant Failure.

BACKGROUND: Little is known about vascular access in patients starting hemodialysis therapy after kidney transplant failure. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. SETTING & PARTICIPANTS: Adult patients (aged ≥18 years) who started hemodialysis therapy in Ontario, Canada, from January 1, 2001, through December 31, 2010, after kidney transplant failure. PREDICTOR: Patient clinical and demographic characteristics. OUTCOMES: Proportion and timing of arteriovenous (AV) vascular access creation (fistula or graft) 12 months prior and up to 24 months after starting hemodialysis therapy. MEASUREMENTS: Event rates and outcome predictors. RESULTS: Our cohort included 683 patients with a mean age of 48 years and >50% with comorbidity index score < 3. In the 12 months predialysis and 24 months postdialysis, 16% and 47% of patients had an AV access created, respectively. In the postdialysis period, 13%, 26%, and 38% of patients had an AV access creation at 3, 6, and 12 months, respectively. History of coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus, and peritoneal dialysis use prior to transplantation were associated with a lower likelihood of AV access creation. LIMITATIONS: Residual selection bias from unmeasured variables beyond the data elements. CONCLUSIONS: In Ontario, AV access creation, both before and after starting hemodialysis therapy, is low in patients with kidney transplant failure despite their being younger and healthier compared to the overall hemodialysis population. This highlights the need for a predialysis care pathway in the transplantation clinic and an active strategy to identify this patient cohort receiving hemodialysis to align modality and access choices.

Timing of peritoneal dialysis initiation and mortality: analysis of the Canadian Organ Replacement Registry.

BACKGROUND: Several observational studies of hemodialysis patients show an association between early dialysis therapy initiation and increased mortality. Few studies have examined this association among peritoneal dialysis patients. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective cohort study. SETTING & PARTICIPANTS: A cohort of 8,047 incident peritoneal dialysis patients who started dialysis therapy in 2001-2009 and were treated in Canada. PREDICTOR: Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) at dialysis therapy initiation. Defined early, mid, and late starts as eGFR>10.5, 7.5-10.5, and <7.5mL/min/1.73m(2), respectively. OUTCOMES: Time to death. MEASUREMENTS: Proportional piecewise exponential survival models to compare mortality (overall and early) for the 3 predictor groups. RESULTS: Between 2001 and 2009, the proportion of patients starting peritoneal dialysis therapy as early starts increased from 29% (95% CI, 26%-32%) to 44% (95% CI, 41%-47%). Compared with the late-start group, the overall mortality rate was not higher for the early- (adjusted HR, 1.08; 95% CI, 0.96-1.23) or mid-start (adjusted HR, 0.96; 95% CI, 0.86-1.09) groups. However, when examined yearly, patients in the early-start group were significantly more likely to die within the first year of dialysis therapy compared with those in the late-start group (adjusted HR, 1.38; 95% CI, 1.10-1.73), but not in subsequent years. LIMITATIONS: Bias and residual confounding may have influenced the observed relationship between predictor and outcome. CONCLUSIONS: Patients are initiating peritoneal dialysis therapy at increasingly higher eGFRs. Contrary to most observational studies assessing hemodialysis, the early initiation of peritoneal dialysis therapy, at eGFR>10.5mL/min/1.73m(2), is not associated with increased mortality.

Choosing peritoneal dialysis reduces the risk of invasive access interventions.

BACKGROUND: Patients choosing between hemodialysis (HD) and peritoneal dialysis (PD) should be well informed of the risks and benefits of each modality. Invasive access interventions are important outcomes because frequent interventions lower patient's quality of life and consume limited resources. The objective of this study was to compare the risk of access interventions between the two modalities. METHODS: Three hundred and sixty-nine incident chronic dialysis patients were prospectively enrolled at four Canadian centers that were eligible for both modalities, received at least 4 months of pre-dialysis care and started dialysis electively as an outpatient. Two hundred and twenty-four (61%) chose PD and 145 (39%) chose HD. Patients were followed for an average of 1.3 years (range 0.07-3.6 years). RESULTS: In the PD group, there were fewer access interventions (2.5 versus 3.1 interventions per patient, adjusted odds ratio of 0.79 for PD versus HD, P = 0.005) and a lower intervention rate (2.3 versus 1.9 per patient-year, adjusted rate ratio of 0.81 for PD versus HD, P = 0.04). PD catheters were less likely to experience primary failure (4.6 versus 32%, P < 0.0001), showed a trend toward lower intervention rates during use (0.8 versus 1.2 per patient-year, P = 0.06), and had equal patency compared to fistulae (1-year patency of 84 versus 88%, P = 0.48). Patients managed exclusively with HD catheters (28% of the HD group) required 1.7 interventions per patient and an intervention rate of 1.9 per patient-year. CONCLUSION: Patients who choose PD require fewer access interventions to maintain dialysis access than patients choosing HD.

Facility Variation and Predictors of Do Not Resuscitate Orders of Hemodialysis Patients in Canada: DOPPS.

BACKGROUND: Life expectancy in patients with end-stage kidney disease treated with hemodialysis (HD) is limited, and as such, the presence of an advanced care directive (ACD) may improve the quality of death as experienced for patients and families. Strategies to discuss and implement ACDs are limited with little being known about the status of Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) orders in the Canadian HD population. OBJECTIVES: Using data from the Dialysis Outcomes and Practice Patterns Study (DOPPS), we set out to (1) examine the variability in DNR orders across Canada and its largest province, Ontario and (2) identify clinical and functional status measures associated with a DNR order. DESIGN: We conducted a retrospective cohort study using data from the DOPPS Canada Phase 4 to 6 from 2009 to 2017. SETTING: DOPPS facilities in Canada. PATIENTS: All adults (>18 years) who initiated chronic HD with a documented ACD were included. MEASUREMENTS: ACD and DNR orders. METHODS: Descriptive statistics were compared for baseline characteristics (demographics, comorbidities, medications, facility characteristics, and patient functional status) and DNR status. The crude proportion of patients per facility with a DNR order was calculated across Canada and Ontario. Functional status was determined by activities of daily living and components of the Kidney Disease Quality of Life (KDQOL)-validated questionnaire. We used generalized estimating equations (GEEs) to create sequential multivariable models (demographics, comorbidities, and functional status) of variables associated with DNR status. RESULTS: A total of 1556 (96% of total) patients treated with HD had a documented ACD and were included. A total of 10% of patients had a DNR order. The crude variation of DNR status differed considerably across facilities within Canada, between Ontario and non-Ontario, and within Ontario (interprovince variation = 6.3%-17.1%, Ontario vs non-Ontario = 8.2% vs 11.7%, intraprovincial variation [Ontario] = 1%-26%). Patients with a DNR order were more commonly older, white, with cardiac comorbidities, with less or shorter predialysis care compared with those without a DNR order. Patients with a DNR order reported lower energy, more difficulty with transfers, meal preparation, household tasks, and financial management. In a multivariate model, age, cardiac disease, stroke, dialysis duration, and intradialytic weight gain were associated with DNR status. LIMITATIONS: Relatively small number of events or measures in certain categories. CONCLUSIONS: A large inter- and intraprovincial (Ontario) variation was observed regarding DNR orders across Canada highlighting areas for potential quality improvement. While functional status did not appear to have a bearing on the presence of a DNR order, the presence of various comorbidities was associated with the presence of a DNR order.

CONTEXTE: L'espérance de vie des patients atteints d'insuffisance rénale terminale (IRT) traités par hémodialyse (HD) est limitée et, de ce fait, la présence de directives médicales anticipées (DMA) peut améliorer la qualité du décès tel qu'il sera vécu par les patients et leurs proches. Les stratégies de discussion et de mise en œuvre de DMA sont limitées et on en sait peu sur le statut des ordonnances de non-réanimation (statut des ONR) dans la population des patients canadiens hémodialysés. OBJECTIFS: À partir des données de l'étude DOPPS (Dialysis Outcomes and Practice Patterns Study), nous avons analysé la variabilité du statut des ONR à travers le Canada et au sein de sa plus grande province, l'Ontario, puis nous avons défini des mesures des états cliniques et fonctionnels associés à une ONR. TYPE D'ÉTUDE: Étude de cohorte rétrospective. SOURCE: Les données canadiennes des phases 4 à 6 de l'étude DOPPS. PARTICIPANTS: Ont été inclus tous les adultes ayant amorcé un traitement d'HD chronique entre 2009 et 2017 et qui avaient rédigé des DMA. MESURES: La non-réanimation (statut de l'ONR) et le statut fonctionnel selon les activités de la vie quotidienne et les composantes du questionnaire validé KDQOL (Kidney Disease Quality of Life) sur la qualité de vie des personnes dialysées. MÉTHODOLOGIE: Les statistiques descriptives ont été comparées sur la base des caractéristiques à l'inclusion (données démographiques, comorbidités, médicaments, caractéristiques de l'établissement de santé et statut fonctionnel du patient) et du statut de l'ONR. La proportion brute de patients par établissement avec une ONR a été calculée pour l'ensemble du Canada et pour l'Ontario seulement. Nous avons utilisé des équations d'estimation généralisées (EEG) pour créer des modèles multivariés séquentiels (données démographiques, comorbidités et statut fonctionnel) des variables associées au statut de l'ONR. RÉSULTATS: Au total, nous avons inclus 1 556 patients hémodialysés (96 % des patients répertoriés) qui avaient des DMA documentées, et 10 % d'entre elles contenaient une ONR. La variation brute du statut de l'ONR différait considérablement d'un établissement à l'autre au Canada, entre l'Ontario et les autres provinces et entre les établissements ontariens (variation entre provinces: 6,3 à 17,1 %; Ontario par rapport aux autres provinces: 8,2 contre 11,7 %; variation intraprovinciale [Ontario]: 1 à 26 %). Les patients avec une ONR étaient généralement de race blanche et plus âgés, présentaient des comorbidités cardiaques et avaient reçu moins de soins de prédialyse et sur une plus courte durée comparativement aux patients sans ONR. Les patients ayant une ONR ont signalé des pertes d'énergie et une plus grande difficulté avec les transferts, la préparation des repas, les tâches ménagères et la gestion financière. Dans un modèle multivarié, l'âge, la maladie cardiaque, les accidents vasculaires cérébraux, la durée de la dialyse et une perte de poids intradialyse ont été associés à l'existence d'une ONR. LIMITES: Un nombre limité d'événements dans certaines catégories; les mesures de l'état fonctionnel étaient transversales. CONCLUSIONS: Une importante variation inter et intraprovinciale (Ontario) a été observée quant au statut des ONR à travers le Canada, ce qui met en évidence les domaines d'amélioration potentielle de la qualité. Bien que l'état fonctionnel du patient n'ait pas semblé avoir d'incidence sur l'existence ou non d'une ONR, on a noté une association entre la présence de comorbidités et l'existence d'une ONR.