Cognitive impairment, endothelial biomarkers and mortality in maintenance haemodialysis patients: a prospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Haemodialysis (HD) patients have a high prevalence of cardiovascular disease risk factors as well as cognitive impairment. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the interrelationship between cognitive impairment, endothelium-related biomarkers and cardiovascular/non-cardiovascular mortality. METHODS: A total of 216 outpatients were recruited from three centres in a dialysis network in Brazil between June 2016 and June 2019. Sociodemographic and clinical data were obtained by applying a patient questionnaire, reviewing medical records data and conducting patient interviews. Cognitive function was assessed using the Cambridge Cognitive Examination. Plasma endothelium-related biomarkers [syndecan-1, intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), vascular cell adhesion protein-1 (VCAM-1) and angiopoietin-2 (AGPT2)] were measured. Patients were followed for 30 months. Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to assess the associations of the cognitive function scores and each endothelium-related biomarker with cardiovascular/non-cardiovascular mortality. RESULTS: Cognitive function was associated with cardiovascular mortality {each standard deviation [SD] better cognitive score was associated with a 69% lower risk for cardiovascular mortality [hazard ratio (HR) 0.31 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.17-0.58]} but not with non-cardiovascular mortality. Moreover, cognitive function was also correlated with all endothelial-related biomarkers, except VCAM-1. ICAM-1, AGPT2 and syndecan-1 were also associated with cardiovascular mortality. The association between cognitive function and cardiovascular mortality remained significant with no HR value attenuation [fully adjusted HR 0.32 (95% CI 0.16-0.59)] after individually including each endothelial-related biomarker in the Cox model. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, cognitive impairment was associated with several endothelium-related biomarkers. Moreover, cognitive impairment was associated with cardiovascular mortality but not with non-cardiovascular mortality, and the association between cognitive impairment and cardiovascular mortality in HD patients was not explained by any of the endothelial-related biomarkers.

Kinetic estimated glomerular filtration rate in critically ill patients: beyond the acute kidney injury severity classification system.

BACKGROUND: Although significant advances have been achieved in acute kidney injury (AKI) research following its classification, potential pitfalls can be identified in clinical practice. The nonsteady-state (kinetic) estimated glomerular filtration rate (KeGFR) could add clinical and prognostic information in critically ill patients beyond the current AKI classification system. METHODS: This was a retrospective analysis using data from the Multiparameter Intelligent Monitoring in Intensive Care II project. The KeGFR was calculated during the first 7 days of intensive care unit (ICU) stay in 13,284 patients and was correlated with outcomes. RESULTS: In general, there was not a good agreement between AKI severity and the worst achieved KeGFR. The stepwise reduction in the worst achieved KeGFR conferred an incremental risk of death, rising from 7.0% (KeGFR > 70 ml/min/1.73 m2) to 27.8% (KeGFR < 30 ml/min/1.73 m2). This stepwise increment in mortality remained in each AKI severity stage. For example, patients with AKI stage 3 who maintained KeGFR had a mortality rate of 16.5%, close to those patients with KeGFR < 30 ml/min/1.73 m2 but no AKI; otherwise, mortality increased to 40% when both AKI stage 3 and KeGFR < 30 ml/min/1.73 m2 were present. In relation to another outcome-renal replacement therapy (RRT)-patients with the worst achieved KeGFR < 30 ml/min/1.73 m2 and KDIGO stage 1/2 had a rate of RRT of less than 10%. However, this rate was 44% when both AKI stage 3 and a worst KeGFR < 30 ml/min/1.73 m2 were observed. This interaction between AKI and KeGFR was also present when looking at long-term survival. CONCLUSION: Both the AKI classification system and KeGFR are complementary to each other. Assessing both AKI stage and KeGFR can help to identify patients at different risk levels in clinical practice.