Cut-off values of haemoglobin and clinical outcomes in incident peritoneal dialysis: the PDTAP study.

BACKGROUND: To explore the cut-off values of haemoglobin (Hb) on adverse clinical outcomes in incident peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients based on a national-level database. METHODS: The observational cohort study was from the Peritoneal Dialysis Telemedicine-assisted Platform (PDTAP) dataset. The primary outcomes were all-cause mortality, major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) and modified MACE (MACE+). The secondary outcomes were the occurrences of hospitalization, first-episode peritonitis and permanent transfer to haemodialysis (HD). RESULTS: A total of 2591 PD patients were enrolled between June 2016 and April 2019 and followed up until December 2020. Baseline and time-averaged Hb <100 g/l were associated with all-cause mortality, MACE, MACE+ and hospitalizations. After multivariable adjustments, only time-averaged Hb <100 g/l significantly predicted a higher risk for all-cause mortality {hazard ratio [HR] 1.83 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.19-281], P = .006}, MACE [HR 1.99 (95% CI 1.16-3.40), P = .012] and MACE+ [HR 1.77 (95% CI 1.15-2.73), P = .010] in the total cohort. No associations between Hb and hospitalizations, transfer to HD and first-episode peritonitis were observed. Among patients with Hb ≥100 g/l at baseline, younger age, female, use of iron supplementation, lower values of serum albumin and renal Kt/V independently predicted the incidence of Hb <100 g/l during the follow-up. CONCLUSION: This study provided real-world evidence on the cut-off value of Hb for predicting poorer outcomes through a nation-level prospective PD cohort.

Circulating Alpha-Tocopherol and Insulin Sensitivity Among Older Men With Chronic Kidney Disease.

OBJECTIVE: Insulin resistance is common in individuals with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and may be partly explained by modifiable risk factors. In the general population, vitamin E supplementation has been suggested to improve both insulin sensitivity and secretion. We here explore the potential role of vitamin E as a modifiable risk factor for insulin resistance among individuals with CKD. DESIGN: Observational study. SETTING: A total of 273 nondiabetic men aged 70 to 71 years with CKD defined as either cystatin C estimated glomerular filtration rate < 60 mL/minute/1.73 m(2) or urinary albumin excretion rate ≥ 20 mg/minute from the third examination cycle of Uppsala Longitudinal Study of Adult Men. SUBJECTS: A total of 273 nondiabetic men aged 70 to 71 years with CKD defined as either cystatin C estimated glomerular filtration rate < 60 mL/minute/1.73 m(2) or urinary albumin excretion rate ≥ 20 µg/minute. METHODS: Serum α-, ß-, and γ-tocopherol concentrations were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography and expressed as µmol/total serum cholesterol and triglycerides (in mmol). Dietary vitamin E intake was estimated from 7-day food records. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Insulin sensitivity index (M/I ratio) was measured by hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic glucose clamps. Univariate and multivariate regression models were fitted to assess the association between M/I and circulating concentrations of tocopherols. RESULTS: The mean serum concentration of α-, ß-, and γ- was 37.4 ± 6.58, 0.89 ± 0.23, and 4.32 ± 1.69 µmol/mmol, respectively. Median dietary vitamin E intake was 6.14 (interquartile range, 5.48-6.82) mg/day. In crude and fully-adjusted multivariate regression analyses, serum α-tocopherol levels were directly and strongly associated with M/I (standard ß = 0.17, P = .003). No such association was observed for dietary vitamin E, serum ß-, and γ-tocopherol concentrations. CONCLUSIONS: Serum α-tocopherol concentration associates with insulin sensitivity in nondiabetic older men with CKD.