Serum biomarkers of iron stores are associated with worse physical health-related quality of life in nondialysis-dependent chronic kidney disease patients with or without anemia.

BACKGROUND: Iron deficiency (ID) is a common condition in nondialysis-dependent chronic kidney disease (NDD-CKD) patients that is associated with poorer clinical outcomes. However, the effect of ID on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in this population is unknown. We analyzed data from a multinational cohort of NDD-CKD Stages 3-5 patients to test the association between transferrin saturation (TSAT) index and ferritin with HRQoL. METHODS: Patients from Brazil (n = 205), France (n = 2015) and the USA (n = 293) in the Chronic Kidney Disease Outcomes and Practice Patterns Study (CKDopps, 2013-2019) were included. We evaluated the association of TSAT and ferritin (and functional and absolute ID, defined as TSAT ≤20% and ferritin ≥300 or <50 ng/mL) on pre-specified HRQoL measures, including the 36-item Kidney Disease Quality of Life physical component summary (PCS) and mental component summary (MCS) as the primary outcomes. Models were adjusted for confounders including hemoglobin (Hb). RESULTS: TSAT ≤15% and ferritin <50 ng/mL and ≥300 ng/mL were associated with worse PCS scores, but not with MCS. Patients with composite TSAT ≤20% and ferritin <50 or ≥300 ng/mL had lower functional status and worse PCS scores than those with a TSAT of 20-30% and ferritin 50-299 ng/mL. Patients with a lower TSAT were less likely to perform intense physical activity. Adjustment for Hb only slightly attenuated the observed effects. CONCLUSIONS: Low TSAT levels, as well as both low TSAT with low ferritin and low TSAT with high ferritin, are associated with worse physical HRQoL in NDD-CKD patients, even after accounting for Hb level. Interventional studies of iron therapy on HRQoL among NDD-CKD individuals are needed to confirm these findings.

Associations of Hemoglobin Levels With Health-Related Quality of Life, Physical Activity, and Clinical Outcomes in Persons With Stage 3-5 Nondialysis CKD.

OBJECTIVE: Conflicting findings and knowledge gaps exist regarding links between anemia, physical activity, health-related quality of life (HRQOL), chronic kidney disease (CKD) progression, and mortality in moderate-to-advanced CKD. Using the CKD Outcomes and Practice Patterns Study, we report associations of hemoglobin (Hgb) with HRQOL and physical activity, and associations of Hgb and physical activity with CKD progression and mortality in stage 3-5 nondialysis (ND)-CKD patients. DESIGN AND METHODS: Prospectively collected data were analyzed from 2,121 ND-CKD stage 3-5 patients, aged ≥18 years, at 43 nephrologist-run US and Brazil CKD Outcomes and Practice Patterns Study-participating clinics. Cross-sectional associations were assessed of Hgb levels with HRQOL and physical activity levels (from validated Kidney Disease Quality of Life Instrument and Rapid Assessment of Physical Activity surveys). CKD progression (first of ≥40% estimated glomerular filtration rate [eGFR] decline, eGFR<10 mL/min/1.73 m2, or end-stage kidney disease) and all-cause mortality with Hgb and physical activity levels were also evaluated. Linear, logistic, and Cox regression analyses were adjusted for country, demographics, smoking, eGFR, serum albumin, very high proteinuria, and 13 comorbidities. RESULTS: HRQOL was worse, with severe anemia (Hgb<10 g/dL), but also evident for mild/moderate anemia (Hgb 10-12 g/dL), relative to Hgb>12 g/dL. Odds of being highly physically active were substantially greater at Hgb>10.5 g/dL. Lower Hgb was strongly associated with greater CKD progression and mortality, even after extensive adjustment. Physical inactivity was strongly associated with greater mortality and weakly associated with CKD progression. Possible residual confounding is a limitation. CONCLUSION: This multicenter international study provides real-world observational evidence for greater HRQOL, physical activity, lower CKD progression, and greater survival in ND-CKD patients with Hgb levels >12 g/dL, exceeding current treatment guideline recommendations. These findings help inform future studies aimed at understanding the impact of new anemia therapies and physical activity regimens on improving particular dimensions of ND-CKD patient well-being and clinical outcomes.

Risk profile, quality of life and care of patients with moderate and advanced CKD: The French CKD-REIN Cohort Study.

Background: The French Chronic Kidney Disease-Renal Epidemiology and Information Network (CKD-REIN) cohort study was designed to investigate the determinants of prognosis and care of patients referred to nephrologists with moderate and advanced chronic kidney disease (CKD). We examined their baseline risk profile and experience. Methods: We collected bioclinical and patient-reported information from 3033 outpatients with CKD and estimated glomerular filtration rates (eGFRs) of 15-60 mL/min/1.73 m2 treated at 40 nationally representative public and private facilities. Results: The patients' median age was 69 (60-76) years, 65% were men, their mean eGFR was 33 mL/min/1.73 m2, 43% had diabetes, 24% had a history of acute kidney injury (AKI) and 57% had uncontrolled blood pressure (BP; >140/90 mmHg). Men had worse risk profiles than women and were more likely to be past or current smokers (73% versus 34%) and have cardiovascular disease (59% versus 42%), albuminuria >30 mg/mmol (or proteinuria > 50) (40% versus 30%) (all P < 0.001) and a higher median risk of end-stage renal disease within 5 years, predicted by the kidney failure risk equation {12% [interquartile range (IQR) 3-37%] versus 9% [3-31%], P = 0.008}. During the previous year, 60% of patients reported one-to-two nephrologist visits and four or more general practitioner visits; only 25% saw a dietician and 75% were prescribed five or more medications daily. Physical and mental quality of life (QoL) were poor, with scores <50/100. Conclusions: The CKD-REIN study highlights high-risk profiles of cohort members and identifies several priorities, including improving BP control and dietary counselling and increasing doctors' awareness of AKI, polypharmacy and QoL. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT03381950.

Plantar pressure displacement after anesthetic motor block and tibial nerve neurotomy in spastic equinovarus foot.

The aim of this study was to analyze the displacements of center of pressure (COP) using an in-shoe recording system (F-Scan) before and after motor nerve block and neurotomy of the tibial nerve in spastic equinovarus foot. Thirty-nine patients (age 45 ± 15 yr) underwent a motor nerve block; 16 (age 38 ± 15.2 yr) had tibial neurotomy, combined with tendinous surgery (n = 9). The displacement of the COP (anteroposterior [AP], lateral deviation [LD], posterior margin [PM]) was compared between paretic and nonparetic limbs before and after block and surgery. At baseline, the nonparetic limb had a higher AP (17.3 vs 12.3 cm, p < 0.001) and LD (4.0 vs 3.3 cm, p = 0.001) and a smaller PM (2.9 vs 4.7 cm, p = 0.001). For the paretic limb, a significant increase of AP was observed after block (13.5 vs 12.3 cm, p = 0.02) and after surgery (13.7 vs 12.3 cm, p = 0.03). A significant decrease of PM was observed after surgery (4.5 vs 3.3 cm, p < 0.001) with no more difference between two limbs (2.8 vs 3.3 cm; p = 0.44). This study shows that the F-Scan system can be used to quantify impairments and be useful to evaluate the effects of treatment for spastic foot. It suggests that changes in AP displacement following block may predict the effects of neurotomy.

Effect of adapted physical activity sessions in the hospital on health-related quality of life for children with cancer: a cross-over randomized trial.

BACKGROUND: To assess the efficacy of adapted physical activity (APA) on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of hospitalized children and adolescents with cancer between 9 and 18 years of age. PROCEDURE: A two-sequence, four-period cross-over study, Activités Physiques en Oncologie Pédiatrique (APOP), compared hospital stay with APA sessions versus hospital stay without APA sessions on children's HRQoL. Children and parents completed the child and parent forms, respectively, of a HRQoL questionnaire, the Child Health Questionnaire, on the last day of hospitalization. We used mixed linear regression to determine the effect of treatment, of treatment order and whether response to previous treatment influenced HRQoL. RESULTS: Thirty children were included (mean age 13.6 ± 2.9 years; 18 males). Cross-over analysis revealed no effect of period or interaction between APA and period. HRQoL was higher when children practiced than did not practice APA during their hospitalization, as reported by both children and parents, for the dimensions physical functioning (P < 0.0001), role/social-physical (P = 0.001), self-esteem (P < 0.0001), and mental health (P < 0.0001). In addition, APA had a significant effect on the behavior dimension (P = 0.01), as reported by children, and on the bodily pain dimension (P = 0.0004), as reported by parents. The highest significant difference in scores between with and without APA was observed for the self-esteem dimension (P < 0.0001) for both children and parents. CONCLUSION: APA during hospitalization for children with cancer was associated with better HRQoL for most of the HRQoL psychological and physical dimensions. Whether this effect is specific for children with cancer should be explored.