Awareness of Hypertension in Reproductive-Aged Women Living With Chronic Kidney Disease.

Background: Hypertension is the most important modifiable cardiovascular risk factor among women. Chronic kidney disease (CKD), which affects 1 in 10 reproductive-aged women, increases the risk of hypertension; however, awareness of hypertension in this population is unknown. This study aimed to determine hypertension awareness among reproductive-aged women living with chronic kidney disease. Methods: Women aged 18 to 50 years with CKD were recruited from nephrology clinics in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Participants completed a semistructured interview and focused chart review, serum and urine laboratory assessment, and a physical examination that included anthropomorphic measurements and 2 automated office blood pressure readings. Hypertension was defined according to the use of ≥ 1 antihypertensive medications and/or an automated office blood pressure reading of ≥ 135/85 mm Hg. Data were stratified by hypertension status, as well as by awareness, and descriptively presented as mean ± standard deviation, numerical values, and percentages. Results: Sixty-three participants with CKD were included. Thirty-eight (60%) participants had hypertension according to study definitions. Of those with hypertension, 30 participants (79%) were aware of their hypertension status. Conclusions: Hypertension awareness is relatively high in reproductive-aged women living with CKD. However, hypertension awareness is the critical component for hypertension management, and further work is necessary to optimize reduction of cardiovascular risk in this important population.

Contexte: L'hypertension est le principal facteur de risque cardiovasculaire modifiable chez les femmes. La néphropathie chronique, qui touche une femme en âge de procréer sur 10, augmente le risque d'hypertension, mais le niveau de sensibilisation de cette population à ce sujet est inconnu. La présente étude visait à déterminer le niveau de sensibilisation à l'hypertension chez les femmes en âge de procréer atteintes de néphropathie chronique. Méthodologie: Des femmes âgées de 18 à 50 ans atteintes de néphropathie chronique ont été recrutées dans les cliniques de néphrologie de Calgary, en Alberta (Canada). Les participantes ont été soumises à des entrevues semi-structurées, un examen ciblé du dossier médical, des analyses de laboratoire du sérum et de l'urine et un examen physique incluant des mesures anthropométriques et deux lectures automatisées de la pression artérielle réalisées en cabinet. L'hypertension a été définie de la façon suivante : (1) l'utilisation de ≥ 1 agent antihypertenseur, et/ou (2) une lecture automatisée de la pression artérielle en cabinet ≥ 135/85 mmHg. Les données ont été stratifiées selon le statut d'hypertension et le niveau de sensibilisation, et elles sont présentées de façon descriptive par la moyenne ± l'écart-type, les valeurs numériques et les pourcentages. Résultats: Soixante-trois participantes atteintes de néphropathie chronique ont été incluses dans l'étude. Trente-huit (60 %) participantes étaient atteintes d'hypertension selon la définition utilisée dans l'étude. Parmi les participantes hypertendues, 30 (79 %) étaient conscientes de leur statut d'hypertension. Conclusions: Le niveau de sensibilisation à l'hypertension est relativement élevé parmi les femmes en âge de procréer atteintes de néphropathie chronique. Toutefois, la sensibilisation à l'hypertension est un élément clé pour sa prise en charge, et d'autres travaux sont nécessaires pour optimiser la réduction du risque cardiovasculaire dans cette population importante.

A Randomized Trial Examining the Impact of Timing of Intradialytic Cycling on Intradialytic Hypotension.

Introduction: Intradialytic cycling is often performed during the first half of hemodialysis because of concerns regarding increased frequency of intradialytic hypotension (IDH) late in hemodialysis. This increases exercise program resource needs and limits utility of intradialytic cycling to treat dialysis-related symptoms. Methods: This multicenter, randomized, crossover trial compared IDH rate when cycling during the first half versus the second half of hemodialysis in 98 adults on maintenance hemodialysis. Group A cycled during the first half of hemodialysis for 2 weeks and subsequently during the second half for 2 weeks. In group B, the cycling schedule was reversed. Blood pressure (BP) was measured every 15 minutes throughout hemodialysis. Primary outcome was IDH rate (systolic BP [SBP] decrease of >20 mm Hg or SBP <90 mm Hg). Secondary outcomes included symptomatic IDH rate and time to recover post hemodialysis. Data were analyzed using negative binomial and gamma distribution mixed regression. Results: Mean age 64.7 (SD 12.0) and 64.7 (SD 14.2) years in group A (n = 52) and group B (n = 46), respectively. Proportions of females were 33% in group A and 43% in group B. Median time on hemodialysis was 4.1 (interquartile range [IQR] 2.5, 6.1]) years in group A and 3.9 years (IQR 2.5, 6.7) in group B. IDH rate per 100 hemodialysis hours (95% confidence interval [CI]) was 34.2 (26.4, 42.0) and 36.0 (28.9, 43.1) during early and late intradialytic cycling, respectively (P = 0.53). Timing of intradialytic cycling was not associated with symptomatic IDH (relative risk [RR]: 1.07 [0.75-1.53]) or time to recover post hemodialysis (odds ratio: 0.99 [0.79-1.23]). Conclusion: We found no association between the rate of overall or symptomatic IDH and the timing of intradialytic cycling in patients enrolled in an intradialytic cycling program. Increased use of cycling late in hemodialysis may optimize intradialytic cycling program resource use and should be studied as a possible treatment for symptoms common in late hemodialysis.

Sex differences in COVID-19 symptoms and outcomes in people with kidney failure treated with dialysis: a prospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: People with kidney failure treated with dialysis are at increased risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection, and severe COVID-19 outcomes such as hospitalization and death. Though there are well-defined sex differences in outcomes for the general population with COVID-19, we do not know whether this translates into kidney failure populations. We aimed to estimate the differences in COVID-19 symptoms and clinical outcomes between males and females treated with maintenance dialysis. METHODS: In this prospective observational cohort study, we included adults treated with maintenance dialysis in Southern Alberta, Canada that tested positive for COVID-19 between March 2020 and February 2022. We examined the association between sex (dichotomized as male and female) with COVID-19 symptoms including fever, cough, malaise, shortness of breath, muscle joints/aches, nausea and/or vomiting, loss of appetite, diarrhea, headache, sore throat, and loss of smell/taste using chi-square or Fisher's exact tests. Secondary outcomes included 30-day hospitalization, ICU admission, and death. RESULTS: Of 1,329 cohort participants, 246 (18.5%) tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 and were included in our study, including 95 females (39%). Of 207 participants with symptoms assessed, females had less frequent fever (p = 0.003), and more nausea or vomiting (p = 0.003) compared to males, after correction for multiple testing. Males exhibited no symptoms 25% of the time, compared with 10% of females (p = 0.01, not significant when corrected for multiple testing). We did not identify statistically significant differences in clinical outcomes between the sexes, though vaccinated patients had lower odds of hospitalization. CONCLUSIONS: Sex differences in COVID-19 symptoms were identified in a cohort of patients treated with maintenance dialysis, which may inform sex-specific screening strategies in dialysis units. Further work is necessary to examine mechanisms for identified sex differences.

Female sex-specific and -predominant cardiovascular risk factors and heart failure practice guidelines.

Heart failure (HF) etiology, presentation and prognosis differ by sex, with female sex-specific and -predominant risk factors playing important roles. We systematically reviewed the studies cited by the 2017 American College of Cardiology/ American Heart Association/ Heart Failure Society of America Focused Update of the 2013 ACCF/AHA Guideline for the Management of Heart Failure. Female cardiovascular risk factors were broadly categorized as female sex-specific (reproductive, pregnancy, menopausal) and female sex-predominant (depression, anthracycline exposure, autoimmune disease) risk factors. Of the 205 cited articles, only 3 studies (1.6%) reported any female sex-specific cardiovascular risk factor in the data analysis or results sections. Oral contraceptive use (n = 1), menopausal status (n = 2) and hormone replacement therapy (n = 2) were the only female sex-specific cardiovascular risk factors reported. No other female sex-specific or -predominant cardiovascular risk factor was reported by any of the eligible studies. Our work highlights that in addition to the need for proportional representation of women in heart failure clinical studies, inclusion of female sex-specific and -predominant risk factors in data collection and analysis is of paramount importance to guide heart failure care in the female population.

Understanding Home Hemodialysis Patient Attrition: A Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: Home hemodialysis (HHD) offers a flexible, patient-centered modality for patients with kidney failure. Growth in HHD is achieved by increasing the number of patients starting HHD and reducing attrition with strategies to prevent the modifiable reasons for loss. OBJECTIVE: Our primary objective was to describe a Canadian HHD population in terms of technique failure and time to exit from HHD in order to understand reasons for exit. Our secondary objectives include the following: (1) determining reasons for training failure, (2) reasons for early exit from HHD, and (3) timing of program exit. DESIGN: A retrospective cohort study of incident adult HHD patients between January 1, 2013-June 30, 2020. SETTING: Alberta Kidney Care South, AKC-S HHD program. PARTICIPANTS: Patients who started training for HHD in AKC-S. METHODS: A retrospective, cohort study of incident adult HHD patients with primary outcome time on home hemodialysis, secondary outcomes include reason for train failure, time to and reasons for technique failure. Cox-proportional hazard model to determine associations between patient characteristics and technique failure. The cumulative probability of technique failure over time was reported using a competing risks model. RESULTS: A total of 167 patients entered HHD. Training failure occurred in 20 (12%), at 3.1 [2.0, 5.5] weeks; these patients were older (P < .001) and had 2 or more comorbidities (P < .001). Reasons for HHD exit after training included transplant (35; 21%), death (8; 4.8%), and technique failure (24; 14.4%). Overall, the median time to HHD exit, was 23 months [11, 41] and the median time of technique failure was 17 months [8.9, 36]. Reasons for technique failure included: psychosocial reasons (37%) at a median time 8.9 months [7.7, 13], safety (12.5%) at 19 months [19, 36], and medical (37.5%) at 26 months [11, 50]. LIMITATIONS: Small patient population with quality of data limited by the electronic-based medical record and non-standardized definitions of reasons for exit. CONCLUSIONS: Training failure is a particularly important source of patient loss. Reasons for exit differ according to duration on HHD. Early interventions aimed at reducing train failure and increasing psychosocial supports may help program growth.

CONTEXTE: Pour les patients atteints d'insuffisance rénale, l'hémodialyse à domicile (HDD) offre une modalité flexible et centrée sur le patient. Une meilleure adhésion à l'HHD s'obtient en augmentant le nombre de patients initiés à cette modalité et en réduisant l'attrition grâce à des stratégies visant la prévention des causes modifiables d'abandon. OBJECTIFS: Notre principal objectif était de décrire une population canadienne de patients suivant des traitements d'HDD en ce qui concerne l'échec de la modalité et de délai avant l'abandon de l'HDD, afin de comprendre les raisons qui mènent à cet abandon. En deuxième lieu, nous souhaitions: (1) déterminer les raisons de l'échec de la formation sur la modalité, (2) les raisons de l'abandon précoce de l'HDD et (3) le moment du retrait du programme. MÉTHODOLOGIE: Il s'agit d'une étude de cohorte rétrospective portant sur les patients adultes ayant adopté l'HDD comme modalité entre le 1er janvier 2013 et le 30 juin 2020. CADRE: Le programme d'HDD AKC-S (Alberta Kidney Care South). SUJETS: Les patients ayant commencé une formation sur l'HDD avec le programme AKC-S. MÉTHODOLOGIE: Une étude de cohorte rétrospective portant sur les patients adultes traités par HDD ayant pour principal critère d'évaluation la période pendant laquelle la modalité a été adoptée par les patients. La raison de l'échec de la formation, le délai avant l'abandon de la modalité et les raisons de l'abandon ont constitué les critères d'évaluations secondaires. Un modèle de risques proportionnels de Cox a été employé pour déterminer les associations entre les caractéristiques des patients et l'abandon de la modalité. La probabilité cumulative d'abandon de la modalité au fil du temps a été rapportée à l'aide d'un modèle des risques concurrents. RÉSULTATS: Les résultats portent sur les 167 patients qui étaient passés à l'HDD. L'échec de la formation a été observé chez 20 patients (12 %) après 3,1 [2,0, 5,5] semaines; ces patients étaient plus âgés (P < .001) et présentaient au moins deux maladies concomitantes (P < .001). La transplantation (n = 35; 21 %), le décès (n = 8; 4,8 %) et l'échec de la technique (n = 24; 14,4 %) ont constitué les principales raisons d'abandon de l'HDD après la formation. Dans l'ensemble, le délai médian avant l'abandon de l'HDD était de 23 mois [11, 41] et le délai médian avant l'échec de la technique était de 17 mois [8,9, 36]. Des raisons psychosociales (37 %) après un délai médian de 8,9 mois [7,7, 13], l'innocuité (12,5 %) après 19 mois [19, 36] et des raisons médicales (37,5 %) après 26 mois [11, 50] ont expliqué l'échec de la technique. LIMITES: L'étude porte sur un faible échantillon de patients dont la qualité des données était limitée par le dossier médical électronique. Des définitions non normalisées des raisons de l'abandon limitent également les résultats. CONCLUSION: L'échec de la formation est un facteur qui joue un rôle particulièrement important dans l'abandon de l'HDD par les patients. Les raisons de cet abandon varient en fonction de la durée d'utilisation de la modalité. Des interventions précoces visant à réduire l'échec de la formation et à augmenter le soutien psychosocial pourraient aider à accroître l'adhésion au programme.