Urgent-Start Peritoneal Dialysis: Brazilian Experience.

INTRODUCTION: Unplanned peritoneal dialysis (PD) is an important option for chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients requiring kidney replacement therapy urgently as it offers the convenience of home-based therapy. The objective of this study was to assess the Brazilian urgent-start PD program in three different dialysis centers where there is shortage of hemodialysis (HD) beds. METHODS: This prospective, multicentric cohort study included incident patients with stage 5 CKD and no permanent vascular access established who started urgent PD between July 2014 and July 2020 in three different hospitals. Urgent-start PD was defined as initiation of treatment up to 72 h after catheter placement. Patients were followed up from catheter insertion and assessed according to mechanical and infectious complications related to PD, patients, and technique survival. RESULTS: Over 6 years, 370 patients were included in all three study centers. Mean patient age was 57.8 ± 16.32 years. Diabetic kidney disease was the main underlying condition (35.1%) and uremia was the main cause for dialysis indication (81.1%). Concerning complications related to PD, 24.3% had mechanical complications, 27.3% had peritonitis, 28.01% had technique failure, and 17.8% died. On logistic regression, hospitalization (p = 0.003) and exit site infection (p = 0.002) were identified as predictors of peritonitis, while mechanical complications (p = 0.004) and peritonitis (p < 0.001) were identified as predictors of technique failure and switching to HD. Age (p < 0.001), hospitalization (p = 0.012), and bacteremia (p = 0.021) were observed to predict death. The number of patients on PD increased at least 140% in all three participating centers. CONCLUSION: PD is a feasible option for patients starting dialysis in an unplanned manner and may be a useful tool for reducing shortage of HD beds.

Advances in Peritoneal Dialysis in Acute Kidney Injury.

UNASSIGNED: In the 1970s, acute peritoneal dialysis (PD) was widely accepted for the treatment of acute kidney injury (AKI), but this practice has declined in favor of extracorporeal therapies, mainly in developed world. The lack of familiarity with the use of PD in critically ill patients has also led to a lack of use even among those receiving maintenance PD. Renewed interest in the use of PD for AKI therapy has emerged due to its increasing use in low- and middle-income countries due to its lower cost and minimal infrastructural requirements. In high-income countries, the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic saw PD for AKI used early on, where many critical care units were in crisis and relied on PD use when resources for other AKI therapy modalities were limited. In this review, we highlight the advantages and disadvantages of PD in AKI patients and indications and contraindications for its use. We also provide an overview of advances to support PD treatment during AKI, discussing PD access, PD prescription, complications related to PD, and its use in particular clinical conditions. (Rev Invest Clin. 2023;75(6):327-36).

Association between urinary sodium excretion and hard outcomes in non-dialysis chronic kidney disease patients.

BACKGROUND: Restriction of sodium intake is routinely recommended for patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Whether or not sodium intake is associated with the progression of CKD and mortality remains uncertain. We evaluated the association between urinary sodium excretion (as a surrogate for sodium intake) with the occurrence of renal failure and mortality in patients with non-dialytic CKD. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study of patients followed at a CKD clinic care hospital from October 2006 to March 2017. Adult patients with non-dialytic CKD were included. Using a time-to-event analysis, we examined the association of urinary sodium excretion as a categorical variable (categorized as quintiles: 1st quintile: 0.54-2.51 g; 2nd quintile: 2.52-3.11 g, 3rd quintile: 3.12-3.97 g, 4th quintile: 3.98-5.24 g and 5th quintile: 5.26-13.80 g) and the outcomes of interest. The primary outcome was defined as progression to end-stage renal disease requiring any type of renal replacement therapy. The secondary outcome was mortality. RESULTS: Two hundred five patients were included in the study (mean follow up of 2.6 years) with a mean eGFR of 26 (19-41) ml/min/1.73m2. 37 patients (18%) required renal replacement therapy and 52 (25,3%) died. There was association between urinary sodium excretion and need for renal replacement therapy (adjusted HR 0.245; 95%CI 0.660-0.912). There was no association between urinary sodium excretion and mortality in adjusted models. CONCLUSION: Moderate sodium intake was associated with a lower risk of renal failure.

Influence of the intra-peritoneal segment of the swan neck peritoneal catheter on infectious and mechanical complications and technique survival.

BACKGROUND: There is no consensus about the preferable type of catheter for successful peritoneal dialysis. Intra- and extra-peritoneal catheter configuration may be associated with mechanical and infectious complications affecting technique survival. The objective of this study was to compare the mechanical and infectious complications of coiled versus straight swan neck (SN) peritoneal dialysis catheters. METHODS: A prospective randomized trial was performed to compare mechanical (tip migration with dysfunction) and infectious (peritonitis and exit site infection) complications between catheters randomly divided into two groups: swan neck straight tip and swan neck coiled tip. The follow-up was 1 year. RESULTS: A total of 49 catheters, in 46 patients, were included from April 2015 to February 2016. The catheters groups were constituted as: 25 coiled tip SN and 24 straight tip SN. The baseline demographics were similar among the groups. Kaplan-Meier survival estimates were not different for time to first exit site infection, peritonitis and time to first catheter tip migration (log-rank test, p = 0.07, p = 0.54 and p = 0.83, respectively). Catheter survival and method survival were also similar (log-rank p = 0.88 and p = 0.91, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The two types of intra-peritoneal segments of SN catheters studied presented similar infectious and mechanical rates with no differences in catheter and technique survival curve. These results were consistent with the recommendations of the International Society for Peritoneal Dialysis.

Urgent-Start Peritoneal Dialysis: The First Year of Brazilian Experience.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to evaluate mechanical and infectious complications associated with urgent-start peritoneal dialysis (PD) and patients and technique survival in the first 180 days. METHODS: It was a prospective study that evaluated chronic patients who started unplanned PD using high-volume PD (HVPD) right after (<72 h) PD catheter placement. After hospital discharge, patients were treated with intermittent PD on alternate days in a dialysis unit until family training was provided. RESULTS: Fifty-one patients fulfilling the following criteria were included: age was 62.1 ± 15 years, with diabetes as the main etiology of end-stage renal disease (39%), and uremia as the main dialysis indication (76%). Metabolic and fluid controls were achieved after 3 sessions of HVPD, and patients remained in intermittent PD for 23.2 ± 7.2 days. Mechanical complications occurred in 25.7% and peritonitis rate was 0.5 episode/patient-year. In the first 6 months, technique and patients survival rates were 86 and 82.4% respectively. CONCLUSION: The PD modality was a feasible and safe alternative to hemodialysis in the urgent-start dialysis.

Association between chronic kidney disease stages and changes in ambulatory blood pressure monitoring parameters.

INTRODUCTION: Blood pressure (BP) assessment affects the management of arterial hypertension (AH) in chronic kidney disease (CKD). CKD patients have specific patterns of BP behavior during ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM). OBJECTIVES: The aim of the current study was to evaluate the associations between progressive stages of CKD and changes in ABPM. METHODOLOGY: This is a cross-sectional study with 851 patients treated in outpatient clinics of a university hospital who underwent ABPM examination from January 2004 to February 2012 in order to assess the presence and control of AH. The outcomes considered were the ABPM parameters. The variable of interest was CKD staging. Confounding factors included age, sex, body mass index, smoking, cause of CKD, and use of antihypertensive drugs. RESULTS: Systolic BP (SBP) was associated with CKD stages 3b and 5, irrespective of confounding variables. Pulse pressure was only associated with stage 5. The SBP coefficient of variation was progressively associated with stages 3a, 4 and 5, while the diastolic blood pressure (DBP) coefficient of variation showed no association. SBP reduction was associated with stages 2, 4 and 5, and the decline in DBP with stages 4 and 5. Other ABPM parameters showed no association with CKD stages after adjustments. CONCLUSION: Advanced stages of CKD were associated with lower nocturnal dipping and greater variability in blood pressure.

Reduction of proteinuria in patients with diabetes kidney disease and dysautonomia through measures aimed at controlling supine hypertension.

In diabetes kidney disease (DKD), orthostatic hypotension and supine hypertension often coexist, which, when uncontrolled, contributes to the progression of proteinuria and renal dysfunction. Chronotherapy and elevation of the head of the bed during sleep are feasible clinical measures and could contribute to the control of supine hypertension and proteinuria in this group of patients. This study consists of a series of cases, in which nine consecutive patients with DKD, dysautonomia and supine hypertension (intervention group) were instructed to use chronotherapy and inclination of the head of the bed in six degrees during sleep. These patients were compared with a historical control group. The primary outcome was proteinuria behavior. The intervention group had a significant drop in proteinuria levels, while there was an increase in proteinuria in the control group (variation in the proteinuria/creatininuria index in an isolated sample from the intervention group: -6.60 ± 3.90 g/g; variation in the group control: +1.70 ± 7.10 g/g, p = 0.008). Chronotherapy and six-degree inclination of the head of the bed during sleep were associated with a significant decrease in proteinuria in patients in the intervention group, with conversion of nephrotic into non-nephrotic proteinuria in most of these patients.

Association between Sodium Intake and Urinary Fractional Albumin and Immunoglobulin G Excretion in Chronic Nondialytic Renal Disease: A Prospective Longitudinal Study.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Previous studies reported that fractional clearance of urinary proteins is better than total proteinuria in predicting chronic kidney disease (CKD) progression. However, the role of sodium in the fractional excretion of proteins has not been established. We aimed to evaluate the association between sodium intake and fractional albumin and immunoglobulin G (IgG) excretion in nondialytic CKD. METHODS: We did a longitudinal, observational, and prospective study that included CKD patients aged 18-80. Included patients performed basal routine laboratory evaluations, urinary sodium excretion, and fractional albumin and IgG excretion that were repeated after 6-month of follow-up. RESULTS: We evaluated 84 patients, mean age 55 ± 15.6 years, 40 women, and 74 whites. The change of estimated sodium intake had an association with the change of fractional albumin (R = 0.54; p < 0.001) and IgG (R = 0.56; p < 0.001) excretion in univariate analysis (increases in sodium intake were paralleled by increases in albumin and IgG excretion fractions). This association was maintained in a multiple generalized linear model even after adjusting for age and for changes in blood pressure, urinary potassium, protein intake, and blood glucose. CONCLUSION: In CKD patients, changes in estimated sodium intake were associated with changes in the fractional albumin and IgG excretion regardless of confounding factors. Findings of this study support the idea that reducing salt intake, and consequently, albumin and IgG fractional excretions could help to slow CKD progression. This hypothesis must be tested in long-term interventional studies.

Association between chronic kidney disease stages and changes in ambulatory blood pressure monitoring parameters / Associação entre estágios da doença renal crônica e alterações dos parâmetros da monitorização ambulatorial da pressão arterial

Abstract Introduction: Blood pressure (BP) assessment affects the management of arterial hypertension (AH) in chronic kidney disease (CKD). CKD patients have specific patterns of BP behavior during ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM). Objectives: The aim of the current study was to evaluate the associations between progressive stages of CKD and changes in ABPM. Methodology: This is a cross-sectional study with 851 patients treated in outpatient clinics of a university hospital who underwent ABPM examination from January 2004 to February 2012 in order to assess the presence and control of AH. The outcomes considered were the ABPM parameters. The variable of interest was CKD staging. Confounding factors included age, sex, body mass index, smoking, cause of CKD, and use of antihypertensive drugs. Results: Systolic BP (SBP) was associated with CKD stages 3b and 5, irrespective of confounding variables. Pulse pressure was only associated with stage 5. The SBP coefficient of variation was progressively associated with stages 3a, 4 and 5, while the diastolic blood pressure (DBP) coefficient of variation showed no association. SBP reduction was associated with stages 2, 4 and 5, and the decline in DBP with stages 4 and 5. Other ABPM parameters showed no association with CKD stages after adjustments. Conclusion: Advanced stages of CKD were associated with lower nocturnal dipping and greater variability in blood pressure.

Resumo Introdução: A avaliação da pressão arterial (PA) tem impacto no manejo da hipertensão arterial (HA) na doença renal crônica (DRC). O portador de DRC apresenta padrão específico de comportamento da PA ao longo da monitorização ambulatorial da pressão arterial (MAPA). Objetivos: O objetivo do corrente estudo é avaliar as associações entre os estágios progressivos da DRC e alterações da MAPA. Metodologia: Trata-se de um estudo transversal com 851 pacientes atendidos nos ambulatórios de um hospital universitário que foram submetidos ao exame de MAPA no período de janeiro de 2004 a fevereiro de 2012 para avaliar a presença e o controle da HA. Os desfechos considerados foram os parâmetros de MAPA. A variável de interesse foi o estadiamento da DRC. Foram considerados como fatores de confusão idade, sexo, índice de massa corporal, tabagismo, causa da DRC e uso de anti-hipertensivos. Resultados: A PA sistólica (PAS) se associou aos estágios 3b e 5 da DRC, independentemente das variáveis de confusão. Pressão de pulso se associou apenas ao estágio 5. O coeficiente de variação da PAS se associou progressivamente aos estágios 3a, 4 e 5, enquanto o coeficiente de variação da pressão arterial diastólica (PAD) não demonstrou associação. O descenso da PAS obteve associação com estágios 2, 4 e 5, e o descenso da PAD, com os 4 e 5. Demais parâmetros da MAPA não obtiveram associação com os estágios da DRC após os ajustes. Conclusão: Estágios mais avançados da DRC associaram-se a menor descenso noturno e a maior variabilidade da pressão arterial.

Medicina e espiritualidade: o perfil de estudantes e médicos de uma escola médica brasileira / Medicine and spirituality: the profile of students and physicians at a Brazilian medical school

Resumo Introdução: Pesquisas científicas indicam que a espiritualidade desempenha um papel importante na vida da maioria dos pacientes. Além disso, atividades e crenças religiosas podem, de acordo com algumas pesquisa, estar relacionadas à melhor saúde e qualidade de vida1. Objetivo: Este estudo teve como objetivos avaliar o nível de espiritualidade de estudantes de Medicina e de médicos já formados, e analisar o ensino da interface "medicina e espiritualidade" na escola médica. Método: Realizamos um estudo transversal descritivo por meio da aplicação de questionários a estudantes de Medicina e médicos de uma escola médica pública brasileira. Resultado: Avaliaram-se 234 participantes. A maioria acredita em uma força superior. A espiritualidade foi maior entre médicos já formados e entre pessoas do sexo feminino. A maioria acredita que a formação universitária não prepara o médico para abordar o tema com os pacientes. Apesar dessa limitação, a maioria já abordou a espiritualidade com seus pacientes. Conclusão: Médicos e estudantes de Medicina consideram importante contemplar, de maneira ecumênica e respeitosa, aspectos espirituais dos pacientes. Apesar disso, consideram que não receberam preparo suficiente na escola médica para essa abordagem.

Abstract Introduction: Scientific research indicates that spirituality plays an important role in the daily life of most patients. Moreover, there are studies indicating that religious activities and beliefs may be related to better health and quality of life1. Objective: to evaluate the level of spirituality of medical students and graduated physicians, in addition to analyzing the teaching of the "Medicine and Spirituality" interface in medical school. Methodology: A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out by applying questionnaires to medical students and doctors at a Brazilian public medical school. Results: a total of 234 participants were evaluated. Most believe in a higher power. Spirituality was higher among doctors who had already graduated and among females. Most believe that university education does not prepare doctors to address the topic with the patients. Despite this limitation, most have already discussed spirituality with their patients. Conclusion: Doctors and medical students consider it important to contemplate spiritual aspects of patients using an ecumenical and respectful approach. Nevertheless, they consider they were not sufficiently prepared in medical school for this approach.

Advances in Peritoneal Dialysis in Acute Kidney Injury

ABSTRACT In the 1970s, acute peritoneal dialysis (PD) was widely accepted for the treatment of acute kidney injury (AKI), but this practice has declined in favor of extracorporeal therapies, mainly in developed world. The lack of familiarity with the use of PD in critically ill patients has also led to a lack of use even among those receiving maintenance PD. Renewed interest in the use of PD for AKI therapy has emerged due to its increasing use in low- and middle-income countries due to its lower cost and minimal infrastructural requirements. In high-income countries, the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic saw PD for AKI used early on, where many critical care units were in crisis and relied on PD use when resources for other AKI therapy modalities were limited. In this review, we highlight the advantages and disadvantages of PD in AKI patients and indications and contraindications for its use. We also provide an overview of advances to support PD treatment during AKI, discussing PD access, PD prescription, complications related to PD, and its use in particular clinical conditions.

Peritoneal dialysis can be an option for unplanned chronic dialysis: initial results from a developing country.

AIM: Starting dialysis in an unplanned manner is frequent situation in dialysis center even for patients with regular nephrology follow-up. Peritoneal dialysis (PD) appears as an option for unplanned initiation of chronic dialysis, offering the advantage of not using central venous catheters and preserving of residual renal function. Since July 2014, we have offered PD as urgent start for chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients. METHODS: It was a prospective study that aimed to evaluate the mortality rate in hospitalized patients who started unplanned urgent PD in the first 90 days. It was used high-volume PD right after (<48 h) PD catheter placement, and it was kept until metabolic and fluid controls were achieved. After hospital discharge, patients were treated with intermittent PD on alternate days at the dialysis unit until family training. RESULTS: Thirty-five patients were included from July 2014 to January 2015. Age was 57.7 ± 19.2 years, diabetes was the main etiology of CKD (40.6 %), and uremia was the main dialysis indication (54.3 %). Metabolic and fluid controls were achieved after five sessions of high-volume PD, and patients remained in intermittent PD for 23.2 ± 7.2 days receiving 11.5 ± .3.1 intermittent PD sessions. Peritonitis and mechanical complications occurred in 14.2 and 25.7 %, respectively. Mortality rate was 20 %, and technique survival was 85.7 %. The chronic PD program presented a growth of 41.1 %. CONCLUSION: The concept of unplanned start on chronic PD may be feasible, safe, complementary alternative to hemodialysis and a tool to increase the PD penetration rate among incident patients starting dialysis therapy.

Effect of the Spiritist "passe" energy therapy in reducing anxiety in volunteers: A randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: In Brazil, one of the most used energy therapies is the Spiritist "passe", which is practiced by Spiritist healers. Although experimental studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of different energy therapies in reducing anxiety and pain, little is known about the effect of the Spiritist "passe" on health outcomes. Therefore, the present study aimed at evaluating the effectiveness of "passe" energy therapy in reducing anxiety symptoms. METHODS/DESIGN: In this prospective, randomized controlled trial, participants were randomly allocated into two groups: Intervention (8 weekly Spiritist "passe" sessions, n=23), and Control (8 weekly sham Spiritist "passe" sessions, n=27). Anxiety was assessed using the Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-trait). RESULTS: Of 97 individuals screened, 50 were included in the final analysis. Decreasing STAI-trait anxiety scores were observed in both groups throughout the study (p<0.0001). By the end of the study, 17% and 63% of intervention and control participants, respectively, still met the criterion for anxiety (p=0.001). However, anxiety reduction was more accentuated in the Spiritist "passe" group (p=0.02). CONCLUSION: In this small pilot study, anxiety was more markedly reduced in participants receiving the Spiritist "passe" than in controls, warranting larger trials. TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT02376959.

Left ventricular mass behaviour in hemodialysis patients during 17 years.

INTRODUCTION: Ventricular hypertrophy is frequent in dialysis patients and is associated with an ominous prognosis. It is not knowledge if this ventricular change is growing or decreasing in hemodialysis patients. OBJECTIVE: To assess left ventricular hypertrophy behaviour during 17 years in patients of a university dialysis center, as well as to verify the possible causes of this behavior. METHODS: There was performed a retrospective longitudinal study that evaluated the echocardiographic left ventricular mass in hemodialysis patients in our dialysis facility over 17 years. Examinations of 250 patients aged 18 years or more who underwent routine echocardiography were included. RESULTS: There was a progressive reduction of ventricular mass over studied period. This reduction was associated with blood pressure reduction. In multivariate analysis, ventricular mass was associated with blood pressure and hemoglobin. CONCLUSION: Left ventricular hypertrophy underwent significant reduction over 17 years in our hemodialysis patients. The factors associated with this reduction that could be identified in the current study were the progressive reduction of blood pressure and hemoglobin increase.

Different outcomes of peritoneal catheter percutaneous placement by nephrologists using a trocar versus the Seldinger technique: the experience of two Brazilian centers.

A good catheter implantation technique is important to allow effective peritoneal access function and long-term technique survival. Studies regarding results obtained by nephrologists in comparison with different techniques have been limited. The aim of this study was to investigate the rate of early catheter-related complications and catheter survival in two Brazilian centers, according to two different percutaneous methods of catheter implantation performed by nephrologist team. Adult incident patients recruited from January 2006 to July 2013 having undergone first peritoneal dialysis (PD) catheter implantation were included in the analysis. Mechanical and infectious early complication rates were defined as time to the first event occurring up to 3 months. Four hundred and forty-five consecutive Tenckhoff catheters were implanted by nephrologist team percutaneously after antibiotic prophylaxis in an operating room: trocar was used in 349 (78.4 %) and Seldinger technique (ST) in 99 (21.6 %). The ST was significantly associated with a lower rate of leak (16.3 vs 3 %, p = 0.03) and outflow failure due to tip catheter migration (22.6 vs 10.1 %, p = 0.04), while early infectious complication rates were similar between the two groups (p = 0.59). Long-term catheter survival was higher in Seldinger group (log-rank, p = 0.031). By Cox multivariate analysis, adjusted for age, sex, and diabetes, the ST remained independently associated with better catheter survival [HR 0.681 (0.462-0.910), p = 0.04]. As conclusion, our experience showed better PD outcomes with the ST than trocar method of catheter implantation by nephrologist.

The 600 kidney transplants performed at the Botucatu Medical School Hospital - UNESP: changes over.

INTRODUCTION: A progressive improvement in kidney transplant outcomes has been achieved over the last decades. OBJECTIVE: To determine the degree to which this has occurred in our center, we conducted an outcome analysis of our kidney transplant program during three different time periods, especially focusing on patient and graft survival. METHODS: The 600 kidney transplants performed at Botucatu Medical School/UNESP up to December 2011 were examined. Three different time periods were chosen to correspond with major shifts in immunosuppressant usage: Era 1 (1987-2000), cyclosporine and azathioprine usage (n = 180); Era 2 (2001-2006), cyclosporine and mycophenolate mofetil usage (n = 120); and Era 3 (2007-2011), tacrolimus and mycophenolate (n = 300). RESULTS: Compared with the first era, mean recipient age, diabetes prevalence, and the number of living donor transplantations (60%) were increased in the third era. Induction therapy was used in 75% of the cases in Era 3, 46.6% in Era 2, and in 3.9% in Era 1 (p < 0.0001). The mean number of transplants/year rose from 14 in Era 1 to 75 in Era 3. Overall survival according to donor type was similar to that reported in the literature. Five-year graft survival following deceased donor transplantation progressively increased from 13.1% (Era 1) to 81.9% (Era 3). CONCLUSION: Significant differences were observed over time. The percentage of living donors decreased as that of deceased donors increased. Survival after deceased donor transplants was greatest in Era 3, probably due to the improved experience of the medical team, and to the use of tacrolimus and mycophenolate mofetil combination with induction.

Spirituality: do teachers and students hold the same opinion?

BACKGROUND: Few studies have investigated potential differences between the opinions of educators and undergraduates regarding spirituality in patient care. Understanding these differences, could lead to better strategies for educational proposes. PURPOSE: To compare the opinions of medical teachers (MTs) and medical students (MSs) regarding spirituality training in a Brazilian medical school. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted. MTs and MSs filled out a questionnaire containing the Duke Religion Index, and questions regarding spirituality in clinical practice and at medical school. A comparison between early-curriculum MSs, late curriculum MSs and MTs was carried out. Chi-square (categorical) and Mann-Whitney (continuous/ordinal) tests were used. RESULTS: A total of 475 MSs and 44 MTs were evaluated. Results showed that MSs did not address spirituality as frequently as MTs (p<0.001), and that most participants did not feel prepared to address this issue, and believe that Brazilian medical schools are not giving all the required information in this field. Nevertheless, they believe MSs should be prepared to discuss these issues. Late-curriculum MSs believed that spirituality plays a more positive role in patient health (p=0.027), and were more prone to address this issue than early-curriculum MSs (p=0.023). CONCLUSION: These findings revealed some of the challenges faced by spirituality medical training in Brazil, and differences between MTs and MSs regarding this issue. Further studies are needed to replicate these findings in other countries.

Influência da espiritualidade sobre a função renal em pacientes transplantados renais / Influence of spirituality on renal function of kidney transplant patients

Resumo Objetivo: Avaliar a influência da espiritualidade na função renal de pacientes transplantados renais. Métodos: Estudo transversal, conduzido em um hospital de clínicas, público e de grande porte, situado no interior do Estado de São Paulo, Brasil, que incluiu 81 pacientes transplantados renais, entre 30 dias e 60 meses de pós-transplante, seguidos por 12 meses. Com base na Escala de Religiosidade de DUREL os pacientes foram divididos em dois grupos considerando-se a mediana da espiritualidade, sendo estes o grupo espiritualizado (n=52) e o menos espiritualizado (n=29). Para a análise estatística foram utilizados testes indutivos e a análise de modelos lineares mistos, com nível de significância de 5% (p<0,05). Resultados: As características clínicas, de imunossupressão, apoio social, adesão ao tratamento medicamentoso, qualidade de vida e depressão não apresentaram diferenças entre os grupos. A função renal ao longo de um ano foi significativamente maior no grupo espiritualizado a partir do nono mês. Ao fim de 12 meses, a percentagem de pacientes com clearance de creatinina superior a 60ml/min. foi de 61,5% no grupo espiritualizado e 34,5% no grupo menos espiritualizado (p=0,02). A análise multivariada mostrou que o grupo menos espiritualizado apresentou um risco de 4,7 vezes [1,4 - 16,8] maior para pior função renal (p=0,01). Conclusão: Pacientes mais espiritualizados apresentaram melhor função renal no decorrer de um ano de transplante. Esse efeito foi independente de características clínicas, do apoio social e da adesão à terapia imunossupressora. Assim, uma abordagem holística no atendimento, com ênfase no cuidado espiritual, é encorajada.

Abstract Objective: To evaluate influence of spirituality on renal function of kidney transplant patients. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 81 kidney transplant patients who had undergone transplantation between 30 and 60 months previously. Patients were followed up for 12 months. The analysis was carried out in a large public hospital in the countryside of São Paulo, Brazil. Based on the Duke University Religion Index-religiosity and spirituality scale, we divided patients into two groups (spiritualized [n=52] and less spiritualized [n=29]), considering the median spirituality. For statistical analysis, we used inductive tests and analysis with linear mixed models, with a level of significance of 5% (p<0.05). Results: Clinical characteristics, immunosuppression, social support, adherence to drug therapy, quality of life, and depression did not differ between groups. Renal function after 12 months was significantly higher in the spiritualized group from 9 months on. After 12 months, the percentage of patients with creatinine clearance higher than 60 ml/min was 61.5% in the spiritualized group and 34.5% in the less spiritualized group (p=0.02). Multivariate analysis showed that the less spiritualized group had a 4.7 times greater risk [1.4 - 16.8] for worsening in renal function (p=0.01). Conclusion: More spiritualized patients had better renal function after 1 year of transplantation. This result was independent of clinical features, social support, and adherence to immunosuppressive therapy. A holistic approach in health with emphasis on spirituality is encouraged.