Self-Management Programs and the Pursuit of Behavior Change.

A self-management intervention is a personalized approach to individuals aiming to engage individuals in a behavior change to develop skills to live better with their condition. Self-management involves an iterative process between participants and providers in which goals are formulated and feedback is given. All respiratory societies advocate self-management as part of chronic care because it may improve quality of life and health-care utilization. Self-management is an integral part of pulmonary rehabilitation. Self-management interventions usually involve education and exercise prescription, and that is an asset of current programs; however, recent reports indicate that effective strategies for motivation and a behavior change focus are often missed. A recent systematic review on self-management urges the need for a specific aspect and characteristic of self-management interventions: iterative interactions between participants and health-care professionals competent in using behavior change practices to elicit participants' motivation, confidence, and competence to develop skills to better manage their disease. A recent review of self-care intervention in chronic disease states that the major deficits found in self-care interventions included a lack of attention and/or innovation to the psychological consequences of chronic illness, technology, and behavior change techniques to help patients manage symptoms. There is a need for exploration of mechanisms to explain the relationships between both anxiety and depression, and adherence to treatment in COPD. The latter is particularly appropriate for pulmonary rehabilitation, for which greater adherence is needed. This report aims to introduce basic aspects of behavior change and a proposed roadmap to introduce behavior change into pulmonary rehabilitation and chronic care programs.

Management of Patients With Kidney Disease Undergoing Bariatric Surgery: A Multidisciplinary Approach.

Bariatric surgery is increasingly recognized as a safe and effective treatment for obesity in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), including stages 4, 5, and 5D (on dialysis). Among the available surgical methods, sleeve gastrectomy (SG) is the most commonly performed weight loss procedure and is mainly done to facilitate kidney transplantation (KT). However, many KT candidates treated with SG remain on the transplant waiting list for months to years, with some never receiving a transplant. Therefore, appropriate candidates for SG must be selected, and post-SG management should address the unique needs of this population, with a focus on sustaining the metabolic benefits of surgery while minimizing potential side effects related to rapid weight loss which may inadvertently lead to muscle and bone catabolism. Multidisciplinary post-SG care in this population may lead to overall better health on the transplant waiting list, resulting in a higher percentage of post-SG patients ultimately receiving KT. To tailor the effective treatment for these patients, clinicians should acknowledge that patients with CKD stage 4-5D have different nutritional needs and are metabolically and psychosocially distinct from the general bariatric surgery population. Sarcopenia is highly prevalent and may be exacerbated by muscle catabolism following SG if not adequately addressed. Blood pressure, glucose, and bone metabolism are all affected by the CKD stage 4-5D, and therefore require distinct diagnostic and management approaches. Long-standing chronic disease, associated comorbidities, and low adherence to medical therapies require ongoing comprehensive psychosocial assessment and support. This paper aims to review and consolidate the existing literature concerning the intersection of CKD stage 4-5D and the consequences of SG. We also suggest future clinical outcome studies examining novel treatment approaches for this medically complex population.

Weight Loss Surgery Increases Kidney Transplant Rates in Patients With Renal Failure and Obesity.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the outcomes of kidney transplant (KT) candidates with obesity undergoing sleeve gastrectomy (SG) to meet the criteria for KT. METHODS: Retrospective analysis was conducted of electronic medical records of KT candidates with obesity (body mass index >35 kg/m2) who underwent SG in our institution. Weight loss, adverse health events, and the listing and transplant rates were abstracted and compared with the nonsurgical cohort. RESULTS: The SG was performed in 54 patients; 50 patients did not have surgery. Baseline demographic characteristics were comparable at the time of evaluation. Mean body mass index ± SD of the SG group was 41.7±3.6 kg/m2 at baseline (vs 41.5±4.3 kg/m2 for nonsurgical controls); at 2 and 12 months after SG, it was 36.4±4.1 kg/m2 and 32.6±4.0 kg/m2 (P<.01 for both). In the median follow-up time of 15.5 months (interquartile range, 6.4 to 23.9 months), SG was followed by active listing (37/54 people), and 20 of 54 received KT during a median follow-up time of 20.9 months (interquartile range, 14.7 to 28.3 months) after SG. In contrast, 14 of 50 patients in the nonsurgical cohort were listed, and 5 received a KT (P<.01). Three patients (5.6%) experienced surgical complications. There was no difference in overall hospitalization rates and adverse health outcomes, but the SG cohort experienced a higher risk of clinically significant functional decline. CONCLUSION: In KT candidates with obesity, SG appears to be effective, with 37% of patients undergoing KT during the next 18 months (P<.01). Further research is needed to confirm and to improve the safety and efficacy of SG for patients with obesity seeking a KT.