The European Green Deal and nephrology: a call for action by the European Kidney Health Alliance.

The world faces a dramatic man-made ecologic disaster and healthcare is a crucial part of this problem. Compared with other therapeutic areas, nephrology care, and especially dialysis, creates an excessive burden via water consumption, greenhouse gas emission and waste production. In this advocacy article from the European Kidney Health Alliance we describe the mutual impact of climate change on kidney health and kidney care on ecology. We propose an array of measures as potential solutions related to the prevention of kidney disease, kidney transplantation and green dialysis. For dialysis, several proactive suggestions are made, especially by lowering water consumption, implementing energy-neutral policies, waste triage and recycling of materials. These include original proposals such as dialysate regeneration, dialysate flow reduction, water distillation systems for dialysate production, heat pumps for unit climatization, heat exchangers for dialysate warming, biodegradable and bio-based polymers, alternative power sources, repurposing of plastic waste (e.g. incorporation in concrete), registration systems of ecologic burden and platforms to exchange ecologic best practices. We also discuss how the European Green Deal offers real potential for supporting and galvanizing these urgent environmental changes. Finally, we formulate recommendations to professionals, manufacturers, providers and policymakers on how this correction can be achieved.

Dietary trends and management of hyperphosphatemia among patients with chronic kidney disease: an international survey of renal care professionals.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to review the opinions and experiences of renal care professionals to examine dietary trends among patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and problems associated with the clinical management of hyperphosphatemia. DESIGN: This was an online survey comprising open and closed questions requesting information on patient dietary trends and the clinical management of hyperphosphatemia. The study was conducted in 4 European countries (the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom). SUBJECTS: Participants were 84 renal care professionals. INTERVENTION: This was an online survey. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Responder-reported experiences and perceptions of patient dietary trends and hyperphosphatemia management were assessed. RESULTS: Most survey responders (56%) observed an increase in the consumption of processed convenience food, 48% noticed an increase in the consumption of foods rich in phosphorus-containing additives, and 60% believed that there has been a trend of increasing patient awareness of the phosphorus content of food. Patients undergoing hemodialysis (HD) were most likely to experience difficulties in following advice on dietary phosphorus restriction (38% of responders estimated that 25-50% of their patients experienced difficulties, and 29% estimated that 51-75% experienced difficulties). Maintaining protein intake and restricting dietary phosphorus were perceived as being equally important by at least half of responders for predialysis patients (56%) and for those undergoing peritoneal dialysis and HD (54% and 50%, respectively). There were international variations in dietary trends and hyperphosphatemia management. CONCLUSION: Although most responders have observed a trend of increasing awareness of the phosphorus content of food among patients with CKD, the survey results indicate that many patients continue to experience difficulties when attempting to restrict dietary phosphorus. The survey responses reflect the global trend of increasing consumption of processed convenience foods and phosphorus-containing additives, which has implications for the management of hyperphosphatemia in patients with CKD.

AN OVERVIEW OF NURSES' MANAGEMENT OF SECONDARY HYPERPARATHYROIDISM: HOW IS EUROPE DOING?

BACKGROUND: Nurses have an important role to play in the management of secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT). An online survey conducted by the European Dialysis and Transplant Nurses Association/European Renal Care Association (EDTNA/ERCA) in conjunction with Amgen (Europe) GmbH surveyed nephrology nurses' knowledge of secondary hyperparathyroidism, treatment targets, current treatments, patient adherence and nephrology nurse training education needs. The survey's aim was to establish common practices being used by nurses in the management of secondary hyperparathyroidism and to identify nephrology nurses' training and educational needs in order to improve patient care. DESIGN: Descriptive study. MEASUREMENTS: An online survey of multiple choice and closed questions. PARTICIPANTS: A sample of nephrology nurses from Spain, Italy, France and the Netherlands. RESULTS: A total of 111 nurses completed the questionnaire (98% response rate, 82% of which were fully completed). Collected data revealed that there were specific aspects of SHPT patient management where nurses lacked confidence, despite the majority of respondents having 15 years nephrology nursing experience. These aspects included explaining the disorder and therapies to patients, managing side effects of drugs and appreciating the significance of controlling biochemical targets. Over 40% of the respondents felt they did not have sufficient training to support patients who were non-compliant. CONCLUSION: Nursing skills are integral to SHPT patient management as part of the multidisciplinary approach. The nurse's role is particularly important in patient assessment and monitoring, and in the provision of patient education and support, particularly with treatment adherence. Nephrology nurses who are better informed about SHPT and who receive training on practical patient care may improve the care of patients.

European Practice Database: comparative results of the year 1 pilot project.

The European Practice Database (EPD) project, developed by the Research Board (RB) of EDTNA/ERCA, intended to collect data on renal practice at centre level in different European countries. During the pilot phase of the project (2002-2003), Czech Republic, Italy (North East) and England (North) participated with two thirds of all their eligible dialysis centres. Comparative results presented in this paper focus on centre size and patient characteristics, peritoneal and haemodialysis techniques, transplantation, infection control and the employment of technicians, dietitians and social workers in dialysis centres. At centre level, EPD results will enable in-depth evaluation of personal practice. International comparison of the results will stimulate further research and the development of new guidelines.

European Practice Database in the Czech Republic.

The EDTNA/ERCA European Practice Database (EPD) Project has been launched with the aim to collect data on professional practice and outcome of dialysis treatment throughout Europe. The Czech Republic had the privilege of taking part in the pilot phase together with Northern England and part of Italy. We first became involved in the EPD project during the annual EDTNA/ERCA conference in Nice, France. At this time the Research Board started to prepare an EPD questionnaire for the pilot phase. The project was officially launched in the Czech Republic during the Multidisciplinary Conference in Brno organised jointly by the Czech Association of Nurses and the EDTNA/ERCA in 2003. A presentation by Jean Yves De Vos, the EPD Co-ordinator, who introduced the final EPD questionnaire in detail, was the best promotion of the project.

Management of renal anaemia: comparison of practice in the Czech Republic and Northern England.

The EDTNA/ERCA European Practice Database (EPD) questionnaire was piloted in the Czech Republic (CZ), Northern Italy and Northern England (N-ENG) in early 2003. The questionnaire used in the CZ and N-ENG featured additional questions on the use of erythropoetin (EPO) and intravenous (IV) iron. There were significant differences in the policies for anaemia management in the CZ and N-ENG, reflecting the higher level of funding available to centres in the UK. There was also a wide variation in practice between the CZ centres, but not those in N-ENG, possibly due to the adoption of guidelines that are currently unrealistic. Some centres, particularly those in the CZ, could improve outcomes or reduce overall costs by adopting a more aggressive policy for the use of intravenous iron.

Management of hyperphosphataemia: practices and perspectives amongst the renal care community.

BACKGROUND: Protein-rich foods are a major source of dietary phosphorus; therefore, helping patients to increase their dietary protein intake, while simultaneously managing their hyperphosphataemia, poses a significant challenge for renal care professionals. OBJECTIVES: To examine the clinical recommendations and practice perceptions of renal care professionals providing nutrition and phosphate control advice to patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). METHODS: Renal care professionals from four European countries completed an online survey on the clinical management of hyperphosphataemia. RESULTS: The majority of responders recommended a protein intake of less than 1.0 g/kg/day for pre-dialysis patients, 1.2 g/kg/day for patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis (PD) and 1.1-1.2 g/kg/day for patients undergoing haemodialysis (HD). The most common perception was that maintaining dietary protein intake and reducing dietary phosphorus intake are equally important for hyperphosphataemia management. For patients in the pre-dialysis stage, the majority of responders (59%) reported that their first-line management recommendation would be reduction of dietary phosphorus. For patients undergoing PD and HD, the majority of responders (53% and 59%, respectively) reported a first-line management recommendation of both reduction of dietary phosphorus and phosphate binder therapy. More renal nurses than dietitians perceived reducing dietary phosphorus to be more important than maintaining protein intake (for patients undergoing PD, 23% vs. 0%, respectively; for patients undergoing HD, 34% vs. 0%, respectively). CONCLUSION: This renal care community followed professionally accepted guidelines for patient nutrition and management of hyperphosphataemia. There was disparity in the perceptions and recommendations between nurses and dietitians, highlighting the need to standardise management practices amongst renal care professionals.

Venous needle dislodgement: how to minimise the risks.

Although haemodialysis (HD) has become a routine treatment, adverse side effects, and occasionally life threatening clinical complications, still happen. Venous needle dislodgment (VND) is one of the most serious accidents that can occur during HD. If the blood pump is not stopped, either by activation of the protective system of the dialysis machine or manually, the patient can bleed to death within minutes. Fatal and near-fatal blood loss due to VND have been described in the literature (ECRI 1998; Sandroni 2005; Mactier & Worth 2007), but published reports represent only the tip of the ice berg, as such incidents are normally handled at a local or national level. The European Dialysis and Transplant Nurses Association/European Renal Care Association (EDTNA/ERCA) has produced 12 practice recommendations to help reduce the risk of VND and detect blood leakage as early as possible. A poster summarising these recommendations has been created (Van Waeleghem et al. 2008).