Patient Activation Among Prevalent Hemodialysis Patients: An Observational Cross-Sectional Study.

Patient activation is the product of knowledge, skills, and confidence that enables a person to manage their own healthcare. It is associated with healthy behaviors and improved patient outcomes. We surveyed prevalent hemodialysis (HD) patients at 10 centers using the Patient Activation Measure 13-item instrument (PAM-13). Activation was reported as scores (0-100) and corresponding levels (1-4). Of 1149 eligible patients, surveys were completed by 925 patients (92% response rate). Mean age was 62 ± 14 years, 40% were female, median vintage was 41 (IQR 19-77) months, and 66% had diabetes. Mean PAM score was 56 ± 13, with 14%, 50%, 25%, and 10% in levels 1 to 4, respectively. In adjusted analysis, older age and having diabetes were associated with lower activation, whereas higher educational levels and female gender were associated with higher scores. Significant variation in activation was observed among participants from different centers even after adjustment for other variables. In conclusion, low activation is common among prevalent HD patients.

Use of a gentamicin-citrate lock leads to lower catheter-related bloodstream infection rates and reduced cost of care in hemodialysis patients.

INTRODUCTION: Central venous catheters (CVC) are a major contributor to infections in hemodialysis (HD) patients, leading to high morbidity and mortality. Gentamicin-citrate (GC) lock is used as standard of care at centers belonging to a mid-size dialysis organization. Four outpatient HD centers acquired by the organization continued to use heparin for catheter locks for a period of time before converting to the provider's standard of using GC lock. METHODS: In this retrospective observational study, we included patients receiving HD by CVC at these four centers. We report rates of CVC-related bloodstream infections (CVC-BSI) during the heparin lock and the GC lock periods; crude rate ratios and adjusted rate ratios using Cox survival analyses adjusting for potential confounders; microbiology patterns; safety signals (gentamicin resistance, hospitalizations and deaths); and financial impact on payer. FINDINGS: A total of 220 and 281 patients used tunneled CVCs, accounting for 25,245 and 44,550 catheter days in the heparin and the GC lock periods, respectively. CVC-BSI event rates were 66% lower in the GC lock period (CVC-BSI event rate: 0.20 per 1000 catheter-days) than the heparin lock period (rate: 0.59 per 1000 catheter days); rate ratio 0.34 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.15-0.78, P = 0.01). In the fully adjusted multivariable Cox model, use of GC lock was associated with 70% reduction in CVC-BSI events (HR 0.30, 95% CI 0.12-0.72, P = 0.01). No increased risk of gentamicin resistance, hospitalizations, or death associated with use of GC lock were observed. Use of GC lock was associated with an estimated saving of $1533 (95% CI: $259-$4882) per patient per year. DISCUSSION: Use of GC lock led to significant reductions in CVC-BSIs with no signal for harm, and is associated with significant cost savings in dialysis care.

The effect of blood flow rate on dialysis recovery time in patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis: A prospective, parallel-group, randomized controlled trial.

INTRODUCTION: A majority of patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) on in-center hemodialysis (HD) require several hours to recover from an HD session. Patients and caregivers identify fatigue as a high priority for improvement. However, evidence for practical interventions to improve recovery time from conventional in-center HD is lacking. The effect of blood flow rate reduction on dialysis recovery time (DRT) is unknown. METHODS: Multicenter, single-blinded, randomized, parallel-design controlled trial of blood flow rate reduction vs. usual care. One-hundred two patients with ESRD undergoing maintenance HD in 18 centers with baseline DRT of greater than 6 hours were included as subjects. The intervention was a blood flow rate reduction of 100 mL/min, to a minimum of 300 mL/min. The primary outcome was the between-group difference in change in DRT. Secondary outcomes were changes in London Evaluation of Illness (LEVIL) survey responses from baseline. FINDINGS: Baseline median DRT was 720 (IQR 360-1013) minutes in controls and 720 (IQR 360-1106) minutes in the intervention group. DRT decreased in both groups. Mean change from baseline (95% confidence interval) at Week 4 in the study was -324 (-473, -175) minutes in the control group and -120 (-329, 90) minutes in the intervention group. The change from baseline was more profound in the control group (P = 0.05). Secondary outcomes of measures of quality of life reported on the LEVIL survey showed more improvement in patients' feelings of general well-being in the control group (P = 0.01). Differences between groups in pain, feeling washed out or drained, sleep quality, shortness of breath, and appetite were not statistically significant. DISCUSSION: Blood flow rate reduction did not improve DRT over usual care. Though more work needs to be done to address patient-reported fatigue, a significant positive impact may not be achieved without substantial changes in dialysis prescription.

Higher Ultrafiltration Rate Is Associated with Longer Dialysis Recovery Time in Patients Undergoing Conventional Hemodialysis.

BACKGROUND: Increased mortality and morbidity are reported in association with high ultrafiltration rate (UFR) and with long dialysis recovery time (DRT). We studied the association between UFR and DRT. METHODS: This is a cross-sectional, observational study was conducted. Patients on thrice-weekly hemodialysis (HD) with self-reported DRT between August and December 2014 were included. We examined the association of 30-day average UFR with recovery time. RESULTS: The total number of patients included in this study was 2,689. DRT in categories of immediate recovery, >0-≤2, >2-≤6, >6-≤12, and >12 h, were reported in 27, 28, 17, 9, and 20% of the patients respectively. In multivariable analysis, longer DRT was associated with female gender, non-black race, higher body weight, lower serum albumin, chronic heart failure, cerebrovascular disease, missed dialysis sessions, higher pre-dialysis systolic blood pressure, and larger UF volume. Compared to UFR of <10, UFR ≥13 mL/kg/h was associated with longer DRT, OR of 1.16 (95% CI 0.99-1.36), and 1.28 (95% CI 1.06-1.54) in the unadjusted and the adjusted analyses respectively. Intradialytic hypotension was also associated with longer DRT in the unadjusted (per 10% higher frequency, OR 1.04 [95% CI 1.01-1.07]) and adjusted analyses (OR 1.03 [95% CI 1.00-1.07]). CONCLUSION: Long recovery time is common after HD. Rapid fluid removal is associated with longer DRT.

Patient education and care for peritoneal dialysis catheter placement: a quality improvement study.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Peritoneal dialysis catheter (PDC) complications are an important barrier to peritoneal dialysis (PD) utilization. Practice guidelines for PDC placement exist, but it is unknown if these recommendations are followed. We performed a quality improvement study to investigate this issue. ♢ METHODS: A prospective observational study involving 46 new patients at a regional US PD center was performed in collaboration with a nephrology fellowship program. Patients completed a questionnaire derived from the International Society for Peritoneal Dialysis (ISPD) catheter guidelines and were followed for early complications. ♢ RESULTS: Approximately 30% of patients reported not being evaluated for hernias, not being asked to visualize their exit site, or not receiving catheter location marking before placement. After insertion, 20% of patients reported not being given instructions for follow-up care, and 46% reported not being taught the warning signs of PDC infection. Directions to manage constipation (57%), immobilize the PDC (68%), or leave the dressing undisturbed (61%) after insertion were not consistently reported. Nearly 40% of patients reported that their PDC education was inadequate. In 41% of patients, a complication developed, with 30% of patients experiencing a catheter or exit-site problem, 11% developing infection, 13% needing PDC revision, and 11% requiring unplanned transfer to hemodialysis because of catheter-related problems. ♢ CONCLUSIONS: There were numerous deviations from the ISPD guidelines for PDC placement in the community. Patient satisfaction with education was suboptimal, and complications were frequent. Improving patient education and care coordination for PDC placement were identified as specific quality improvement needs.

Individualized reduction in dialysate sodium in conventional in-center hemodialysis.

Recent studies have focused on the association between dialysate sodium (Na(+)) prescriptions and interdialytic weight gain (IDWG). We report on a case series of 13 patients undergoing conventional, thrice-weekly in-center hemodialysis with an individualized dialysate Na(+) prescription. Individualized dialysate Na(+) was achieved in all patients through a stepwise weekly reduction of the standard dialysate Na(+) prescription (140 mEq/L) by 2-3 mEq/L until reaching a Na(+) gradient of -2 mEq/L (dialysate Na(+) minus average plasma Na(+) over the preceding 3 months). Interdialytic weight gain, with and without indexing to dry weight (IDWG%), blood pressure, and the proportion of treatments with cramps, intradialytic hypotension (drop in systolic blood pressure >30 mmHg) and intradialytic hypotension requiring an intervention were reviewed. At the beginning of the observation period, the pre-hemodialysis (HD) plasma Na(+) concentration ranged from 130 to 141 mEq/L. When switched from the standard to the individualized dialysate Na(+) concentration, IDWG% decreased from 3.4% ± 1.6% to 2.5% ± 1.0% (P = 0.003) with no change in pre- or post-HD systolic or diastolic blood pressures (all P > 0.05). We found no significant change in the proportion of treatments with cramps (6% vs. 13%), intradialytic hypotension (62% vs. 65%), or intradialytic hypotension requiring an intervention (29% vs. 33%). Individualized reduction of dialysate Na(+) reduces IDWG% without significantly increasing the frequency of cramps or hypotension.

Underuse of effective measures to prevent and manage pediatric tuberculosis in the United States.

OBJECTIVE: To characterize problems with prevention and management of pediatric tuberculosis (TB) and latent TB infection (LTBI). DESIGN: A multisite, cross-sectional study using data from medical records and public health logs to categorize and define use of routine prevention practices in managing pediatric TB and LTBI. SETTING: Four areas of the United States. PARTICIPANTS: Children younger than 5 years diagnosed with TB from January 1, 2002, through December 31, 2004, and children with LTBI reported during a continuous 12-month period in 2003 to 2004. Main Exposure Mycobacterium tuberculosis. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Underuse or nonuse of standard medical and public health interventions. RESULTS: Almost 40% of children had a TB risk factor related to their country of birth, parental origin, or travel to a country with a high incidence of TB. Children having LTBI were less likely than those having TB to complete treatment (53.7% vs 88.6%, respectively). Almost half (46.3%) of the children with TB came to medical attention late in their course when they already had symptoms. Among 63 adult source patients, 19 (30.2%) previously had LTBI but were not treated, and none of the 40 foreign-born source patients were known to have been evaluated for TB before entry into the United States. CONCLUSIONS: Prevention efforts are unsatisfactory to prevent TB in children. Effective interventions such as treatment of LTBI and TB evaluation of adult immigrants remain less than optimal.

Transmission network analysis in tuberculosis contact investigations.

BACKGROUND: Social network analysis (SNA) is an innovative approach to the collection and analysis of infectious disease transmission data. We studied whether this approach can detect patterns of Mycobacterium tuberculosis transmission and play a helpful role in the complex process of prioritizing tuberculosis (TB) contact investigations. METHODS: We abstracted routine demographic and clinical variables from patient medical records and contact interview forms. We also administered a structured questionnaire about places of social aggregation to TB patients and their contacts. All case-contact, contact-contact, case-place, and contact-place dyads (pairs and links) were considered in order to analyze the structure of a social network of TB transmission. Molecular genotyping was used to confirm SNA-detected clusters of TB. RESULTS: TB patients not linked through conventional contact-investigation data were connected through mutual contacts or places of social aggregation, using SNA methods. In some instances, SNA detected connected groups prior to the availability of genotyping results. A positive correlation between positive results of contacts' tuberculin skin test (TST) and location in denser portions of the person-place network was observed (P<.01). CONCLUSIONS: Correlation between TST-positive status and dense subgroup occurrence supports the value of collecting place data to help prioritize TB contact investigations. TB controllers should consider developing social network analysis capacity to facilitate the systematic collection, analysis, and interpretation of contact-investigation data.

Identifying the sources of tuberculosis in young children: a multistate investigation.

To better understand the molecular epidemiology of tuberculosis (TB) transmission for culture-confirmed patients <5 years of age, data were analyzed from a population-based study conducted in seven U.S. sites from 1996 to 2000. Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates were genotyped with IS6110-based restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis and spoligotyping. Case-patient data were obtained from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention s national tuberculosis registry and health department records. Routine public health investigations conducted by local health departments identified suspected source patients for 57 (51%) of 111 culture-confirmed patients <5 years of age. For 8 (15%) of 52 culture-confirmed patients <5 years of age and their suspected source patients with complete genotyping results, genotypes suggested infection with different TB strains. Potential differences between sources for patients <5 years of age and source patients that transmitted TB to adolescent and adult patients were identified.