Nephrologists' perspectives on the impact of COVID-19 on caring for patients undergoing dialysis in Latin America: a qualitative study.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the experiences of nephrologists on caring for patients undergoing in-centre haemodialysis during the COVID-19 pandemic in Latin America. DESIGN: Twenty-five semistructured interviews were conducted by Zoom videoconference in English and Spanish languages during 2020 until data saturation. Using thematic analysis, we conducted line-by-line coding to inductively identify themes. SETTING: 25 centres across nine countries in Latin America. PARTICIPANTS: Nephrologists (17 male and 8 female) were purposively sampled to include diverse demographic characteristics and clinical experience. RESULTS: We identified five themes: shock and immediate mobilisation for preparedness (overwhelmed and distressed, expanding responsibilities to manage COVID-19 infection and united for workforce resilience); personal vulnerability (being infected with COVID-19 and fear of transmitting COVID-19 to family); infrastructural susceptibility of dialysis units (lacking resources and facilities for quarantine, struggling to prevent cross-contamination, and depletion of personal protective equipment and cleaning supplies); helplessness and moral distress (being forced to ration life-sustaining equipment and care, being concerned about delayed and shortened dialysis sessions, patient hesitancy to attend to dialysis sessions, being grieved by socioeconomic disparities, deterioration of patients with COVID-19, harms of isolation and inability to provide kidney replacement therapy); and fostering innovative delivery of care (expanding use of telehealth, increasing uptake of PD and shifting focus on preventing syndemics). CONCLUSION: Nephrologists felt personally and professionally vulnerable and reported feeling helpless and morally distressed because they doubted their capacity to provide safe care for patients undergoing dialysis. Better availability and mobilisation of resources and capacities to adapt models of care, including telehealth and home-based dialysis, are urgently needed.

Prevalencia de enfermedad renal crónica en centros urbanos de atención primaria / Prevalence of chronic kidney disease in subjects consulting in urban primary care clinics

Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a major worldwide public health problem and is associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease and death. Aim: To assess CKD prevalence in urban Primary Care Services (PCS) of Concepcion, Chile. Material and Methods: The clinical records of 27.894 adults aged 55 ± 18 years (66 percent females), consulting in outpatient clinics and in whom serum creatinine was measured, with or without assessment of urine albumin levels, were reviewed. The glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was estimated using the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD)-4 equation. CKD was defined as an eGFR < 60 ml/min/1.73 m2 and classified according to the National Kidney Foundation Kidney Disease Outcomes Quality Initiative (NFK-KDOQI) guidelines. Results: Mean eGFR was 77.1 ± 16.3 ml/min/1.73 m2. Twelve percent of subjects had CKD (women, 14.5 percent and men 7,4 percent, p < 0,05). The prevalence of stages 3, 4 and 5 of CKD were 11.6, 0.3 and 0.2 percent respectively. eGFR was negatively correlated with age ( r = -0,54, p < 0,05). Among patients with an eGFR < 60 ml/min/1.73 m2, 96.3 percent had eGFR 30-59, 2.3 percent 15-29 and 1.4 percent < of 15. Seventy nine percent were women. 75.1 percent were aged 65 years or more, 26.8 percent had a serum creatinine equal or less than 1.0 mg/dL and 40.5 percent had microalbuminuria. Only 1 percent of outpatients ascribed to Cardiovascular or Diabetes Programs had the diagnosis of CKD registered. Independent risk predictors of CKD were age > 60 years, female sex and microalbuminuria. Conclusions: This study showed a high prevalence of CKD in ambulatory patients, mainly among women and older people. The low level of diagnosis of CKD in cardiovascular and diabetes programs is of concern.

Evaluación de la calidad de vida en pacientes en hemodiálisis crónica mediante el cuestionario "Kidney Disease Quality of Life (KDQOL-36)" / Health related quality of life among patients on chronic hemodialysis

patients on chronic hemodialysis Background: Health-related quality of life (HRQOL) among patients on chronic hemodialysis (CHD), is associated with mortality, complications and compliance to treatment. Aim: To assess HRQOL in a group of patients on CHD. Patients andmethods: A cross-sectional multicenter study was carried out, involving 224 patients from five CHD units (3 private and 2 public) in Bio Bio Region, using the Kidney Disease Quality of Life – 36 items (KDQOL-36) questionnaire and Karnofsky scale. Scores range from 0 to 100, with higher values representing a better HRQOL. Results: Physical and Mental scales and subscales of symptoms, effect and the burden of kidney disease subscales rendered scores below 50 (the referential value), in 80%, 61%, 8%, 43% and 80% of evaluations, respectively. The lower scores were observed in patients with diabetes, coronary artery disease, hypoalbuminemia...