Finerenone: A Potential Treatment for Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) affects an estimated 463 million people worldwide, equivalent to 1 in 11 adults. Moreover, the rapid growth of this disease has resulted in a high incidence of diabetic kidney disease (DKD), which, together with hypertension, is the main cause of chronic kidney disease (CKD). Hyperglycaemia, low-grade inflammation, altered lipid metabolism and hyperactivation of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) seem to be interrelated mechanisms contributing to both T2DM and microvascular complications. The introduction of drugs such as sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors and glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists has improved the ability to slow the progression of DKD, and has also demonstrated benefits in cardiovascular disease. Beyond the effects of these novel antidiabetic drugs, a body of evidence suggests that the overactivation of the mineralocorticoid receptor also contributes to CKD progression. Moreover, new and ongoing trials have demonstrated that the selective nonsteroidal mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist (MRA) finerenone improves the risk of CKD progression and cardiovascular events in patients with CKD and T2DM and optimized RAAS blockade. We review the rationale for the development and use of MRA drugs to slow CKD progression in patients with DKD, as well as other pleiotropic effects, and highlight the warnings associated with these agents.

Advancing in the management of chronic kidney disease: the results of implementing a quick resolution consultation.

BACKGROUND: Currently, chronic kidney disease (CKD) is understood as global important public health problem, a situation that requires a new approach. OBJECTIVES: To show the results obtained after implementing a quick resolution consultation for CKD management. METHODS: Results were analysed during 6 month time period. RESULTS: A total of 9.61% of received proposals were referred to primary care without in-person visits. In addition, 28.05% of patients were initially evaluated through high resolution clinics and 62.33% were directly referred to other clinics. From the initial 28.05% mentioned, once evaluated, treatment adjusted and informed about the disease, 70% were referred over to primary care for monitoring and the remaining 30% were given specialist appointments. As a consequence, 70.65% of patients were selected for monitoring by nephrology from all proposals received, and 29.35% for primary care monitoring. We observed a significant decrease in the delay until the first medical appointment. CONCLUSIONS: Quick resolution consultations demonstrated to be an efficient tool for CKD management. Its implementation allowed both low consumption of health care resources, selected patients with high risk of progressive cardiovascular disease for long term monitoring, and offered not only an initial evaluation and adjustment of treatment with information provided to those who would be monitored by primary care, but also diminished primary care delays significantly.

Avanzando en el manejo de la enfermedad renal crónica: resultados de la implantación de una consulta de rápida resolución / Advancing in the management of chronic kidney disease: the results of implementing a quick resolution consultation

Antecedentes: La enfermedad renal crónica (ERC) se entiende actualmente como un importante problema de salud pública global, que requiere una nueva aproximación. Objetivos: Mostrar los resultados de la implantación de una consulta de rápida resolución para el manejo de la ERC. Métodos: Se han analizado de manera retrospectiva los resultados obtenidos durante un período de seis meses, entre septiembre de 2011 y febrero de 2012. Las variables estudiadas han sido la edad de los pacientes, el origen de las propuestas, la causa de las remisiones, el destino inicial dado a estas y el destino final de los pacientes. Resultados: Un 9,61 % de las propuestas recibidas se ha remitido a Atención Primaria sin consulta presencial. Un 28,05 % de los pacientes han sido evaluados inicialmente en la consulta de alta resolución y un 62,33 % se ha citado directamente para el resto de las consultas. Del 28,05 % inicial, tras el proceso de evaluación, ajuste e información acerca de la enfermedad un 70 % ha sido remitido nuevamente a Primaria para seguimiento, y el otro 30 % se ha citado para su seguimiento en consultas. Por tanto, del total de propuestas se ha seleccionado un 70,65 % de pacientes para seguimiento por Nefrología y un 29,35 % para seguimiento por Atención Primaria. Por otro lado, se ha disminuido la demora para primeras visitas a menos de la mitad. Conclusiones: La consulta de alta resolución se ha mostrado como un instrumento eficiente en el manejo de la ERC. Su implantación ha permitido, consumiendo un mínimo de los recursos asistenciales, seleccionar para seguimiento a largo plazo a aquellos pacientes de mayor riesgo de progresión y cardiovascular pero ofreciendo también una evaluación inicial, ajuste de tratamiento e información a los que serán seguidos por Atención Primaria, y disminuir la demora en primeras visitas de manera significativa (AU)

Background: Currently, chronic kidney disease (CKD) is understood as global important public health problem, a situation which requires a new approach. Objectives: To show the results obtained after implementing a quick resolution consultation for CKD management. Methods: Results were analysed during 6 month time period. Results: A total of 9.61% of received proposals were referred to primary care without in-person visits. In addition, 28.05% of patients were initially evaluated through high resolution consults and 62.33% were directly referred to other consults. From the initial 28.05% mentioned, once evaluated, treatment adjusted and informed about the disease, 70% were referred over to primary care for monitoring and the remaining 30% were given specialist appointments. As a consequence, 70.65% of patients were selected for monitoring by nephrology from all proposals received, and 29.35% for primary care monitoring. We observed a significant decrease in the delay until the first medical appointment. Conclusions: Quick resolution consultations demonstrated to be an efficient tool for CKD management. Its implementation allowed both low consumption of health care resources, selected patients with high risk of progression cardiovascular disease for long term monitoring, and offered not only an initial evaluation and adjustment of treatment with information provided to those who would be monitored by primary care, but also diminished primary care delays significantly (AU)

Repercusión ecocardiográfica del estado de hidratación en los pacientes en diálisis / Echocardiographic impact of hydration status in dialysis patients

Introducción: La enfermedad cardiovascular es la principal causa de muerte en los pacientes con enfermedad renal crónica. La hipertrofia ventricular izquierda (HVI) es la manifestación más frecuente y está relacionada con la hipertensión arterial y la hiperhidratación. El objetivo del presente trabajo es estratificar a los pacientes en diálisis según el estado de hidratación y valorar las posibles alteraciones ecocardiográficas en los distintos grupos. Métodos: Realizamos un estudio transversal de 117 pacientes, 65 en hemodiálisis (HD) y 52 en diálisis peritoneal (DP). Las exploraciones realizadas fueron: bioimpedancia multifrecuencia con el sistema BCM-Body Composition Monitor de Freesenius, ecocardiografía transtorácica y analítica de sangre. Definimos hiperhidratación cuando el cociente volumen extracelular-volumen corporal total (ECW/TBW) normalizado para edad y sexo es > 2,5% de la desviación estándar. Resultados: Los pacientes en HD están pre-HD (67,1%) más hiperhidratados de forma significativa que los de DP (46,1%), presentando casi la mitad de la población hiperhidratada hipertensión arterial; tras la sesión de HD se consigue un mejor control del estado de hidratación (26,1%). Los pacientes en DP presentan con más frecuencia cifras de tensión arterial alta y/o llevan tratamiento antihipertensivo (DP 76,9 vs. HD 49,2%). La HVI es más frecuente en los pacientes en HD e hiperhidratados, siendo la más prevalente la HVI excéntrica. Los pacientes hiperhidratados presentan cifras superiores, de forma significativa, del IVAI (volumen de aurícula izquierda indexada por superficie corporal, la IMVI (masa ventricular izquierda indexada) y el cociente sobrehidratación-agua extracelular. Conclusiones: La bioimpedancia es una técnica que nos permite detectar un gran número de pacientes hiperhidratados. Al estudiar las alteraciones ecocardiográficas en los pacientes en diálisis encontramos una alta correlación entre el estado de hidratación por ECW/TBW normalizado para edad y sexo, y el IVAI e IMVI (AU)

Introduction: Cardiovascular disease is the main cause of death in Chronic Kidney Disease patients. Left ventricular hypertrophy is the most common manifestation and it is linked to arterial hypertension and overhydration. The goal of this paper is to stratify dialyzed patients according to hydration status and to make an evaluation about the possible echocardiography alterations of the different groups. Methods: a transversal study was carried out with 117 patients: 65 were on hemodialysis and 52 on peritoneal dialysis. We performed the following tests: multifrequency bioimpedance with the BCM-Body Composition Freesenius’ Monitor system, transthoracic echocardiography, and blood tests. If ECW/TBW (extracellular water vs total body water) normalization ratio for age and gender was > 2.5% SD, the patient was considered overhydrated. Results: HD patients are significantly overhydrated before HD (67.1%) compared to DP patients (46.1%), and almost half of the overhydrated population presents arterial hypertension. However, after an HD session, a better control of the hydration status is reached (26.1%). DP patients frequently present high arterial pressure and/or are under antihypertensive treatment (DP 76.9% vs HD 49.2%). Left ventricular hypertrophy is much more common in HD overhydrated patients, eccentric LVH being more prevalent. Overhydrated patients present significantly high values of LAVI, ILVM, OH/ECW. Conclusions: Bioimpedance technique allows for the detection of a large number of overhydrated patients. Echocardiographic alterations in dialyzed patients show a high correlation between the hydration stage by ECW/TBW normalized ratio for age and gender and the LAVI and ILVM (AU)

Echocardiographic impact of hydration status in dialysis patients.

INTRODUCTION: Cardiovascular disease is the main cause of death in Chronic Kidney Disease patients. Left ventricular hypertrophy is the most common manifestation and it is linked to arterial hypertension and overhydration. The goal of this paper is to stratify dialyzed patients according to hydration status and to make an evaluation about the possible echocardiography alterations of the different groups. METHODS: A transversal study was carried out with 117 patients: 65 were on hemodialysis and 52 on peritoneal dialysis. We performed the following tests: multifrequency bioimpedance with the BCM-Body Composition Freesenius' Monitor system, transthoracic echocardiography, and blood tests. If ECW/TBW (extracellular water vs total body water) normalization ratio for age and gender was > 2.5% SD, the patient was considered overhydrated. RESULTS: HD patients are significantly overhydrated before HD (67.1%) compared to DP patients (46.1%), and almost half of the overhydrated population presents arterial hypertension. However, after an HD session, a better control of the hydration status is reached (26.1%). DP patients frequently present high arterial pressure and/or are under antihypertensive treatment (DP 76.9% vs HD 49.2%). Left ventricular hypertrophy is much more common in HD overhydrated patients, eccentric LVH being more prevalent. Overhydrated patients present significantly high values of LAVI, ILVM, OH/ECW. CONCLUSIONS: Bioimpedance technique allows for the detection of a large number of overhydrated patients. Echocardiographic alterations in dialyzed patients show a high correlation between the hydration stage by ECW/TBW normalized ratio for age and gender and the LAVI and ILVM.