Pathways to improve nephrologist comfort in managing patients on in-center or home self-care dialysis.

In end-stage kidney disease (ESKD), patient engagement and empowerment are associated with improved survival and complications. However, patients lack education and confidence to participate in self-care. The development of in center self-care hemodialysis can enable motivated patients to allocate autonomy, increase satisfaction and engagement, reduce human resource intensiveness, and cultivate a curiosity about home dialysis. In this review, we emphasize the role of education to overcome barriers to home dialysis, strategies of improving home dialysis utilization in the COVID 19 era, the significance of in-center self-care dialysis (e.g., cost containment and empowering patients), and implementation of an in-center self-care dialysis as a bridge to home hemodialysis (HHD).

The Impact of a Wearable Activity Tracker and Structured Feedback Program on Physical Activity in Hemodialysis Patients: The Step4Life Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial.

RATIONALE & OBJECTIVE: People with end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) have very low physical activity, and the degree of inactivity is strongly associated with morbidity and mortality. We assessed the feasibility and effectiveness of a 12-week intervention coupling a wearable activity tracker (FitBit) and structured feedback coaching versus wearable activity tracker alone on changes in physical activity in hemodialysis patients. STUDY DESIGN: Randomized controlled trial. SETTING & PARTICIPANTS: 55 participants with ESKD receiving hemodialysis who were able to walk with or without assistive devices recruited from a single academic hemodialysis unit between January 2019 and April 2020. INTERVENTIONS: All participants wore a Fitbit Charge 2 tracker for a minimum of 12 weeks. Participants were randomly assigned 1:1 to a wearable activity tracker plus a structured feedback intervention versus the wearable activity tracker alone. The structured feedback group was counseled weekly on steps achieved after randomization. OUTCOME: The outcome was step count, and the main parameter of interest was the absolute change in daily step count, averaged per week, from baseline to completion of 12 weeks intervention. In the intention-to-treat analysis, mixed-effect linear regression analysis was used to evaluate change in daily step count from baseline to 12-weeks in both arms. RESULTS: Out of 55 participants, 46 participants completed the 12-week intervention (23 per arm). The mean age was 62 (± 14 SD) years; 44% were Black, and 36% were Hispanic. At baseline, step count (structured feedback intervention: 3,704 [1,594] vs wearable activity tracker alone: 3,808 [1,890]) and other participant characteristics were balanced between the arms. We observed a larger change in daily step count in the structured feedback arm at 12 weeks relative to use of the wearable activity tracker alone arm (Δ 920 [±580 SD] versus Δ 281 [±186 SD] steps; between-group difference Δ 639 [±538 SD] steps; P<0.05). LIMITATIONS: Single-center study and small sample size. CONCLUSION: This pilot randomized controlled trial demonstrated that structured feedback coupled with a wearable activity tracker led to a greater daily step count that was sustained over 12 weeks relative to a wearable activity tracker alone. Future studies are required to determine longer-term sustainability of the intervention and potential health benefits in hemodialysis patients. FUNDING: Grants from industry (Satellite Healthcare) and government (National Institute for Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK). TRIAL REGISTRATION: Registered at ClinicalTrials.gov with study number NCT05241171.

Physical activity in hemodialysis patients on nondialysis and dialysis days: Prospective observational study.

INTRODUCTION: The physical decline in patients with end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) is associated with morbidity and mortality. Prior studies have attempted to promote physical activity at the time of dialysis; however, physical activity patterns on the nondialysis days are unknown. This study aimed to quantify physical activity on dialysis and nondialysis days in hemodialysis patients using a wearable actigraph. METHODS: In this prospective study, subjects receiving hemodialysis were recruited from two outpatient dialysis units in urban San Diego and rural Imperial County, CA, between March 2018 and April 2019. Key inclusion criteria included: (1) receiving thrice weekly hemodialysis for ≥3 months, (2) age ≥ 18 years, and (3) able to walk with or without assistive devices. All participants wore a Fitbit Charge 2 tracker for a minimum of 4 weeks. The primary outcome was the number of steps per day. Each participant completed the Physical Activity Questionnaire, the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ)-9, the PROMIS Short form Fatigue Questionnaire at baseline, and the Participant Technology Experience Questionnaire at day 7 after study enrolment. FINDINGS: Of the 52 recruited, 45 participants (urban = 25; rural = 20) completed the study. The mean age was 61 ± 15 years, 42% were women, 64% were Hispanic, and the mean dialysis vintage was 4.4 ± 3.0 years. For those with valid Fitbit data (defined as ≥10 hours of wear per day) for 28 days (n = 45), participants walked an average of 3688 steps per day, and 73% of participants were sedentary (<5000 steps/day). Participants aged >80 years were less active than younger (age < 65 years) participants (1232 vs. 4529 steps, P = 0.01). There were no statistical differences between the groups when stratified by gender (women vs. men [2817 vs. 4324 steps, respectively]), urbanicity (rural vs. urban dialysis unit [3141 vs. 4123 steps, respectively]), and dialysis/nondialysis day (3177 vs. 4133 steps, respectively). Due to the small sample size, we also calculated effect sizes. The effect size was medium for the gender differences (cohen's d = 0.57) and small to medium for urbanicity and dialysis/nondialysis day (d = 0.37 and d = 0.33, respectively). We found no association between physical activity and self-reported depression and fatigue scale. The majority of participants (62%, 28/45) found the Fitbit tracker easy to wear and comfortable. DISCUSSION: ESKD participants receiving hemodialysis are frequently sedentary, and differences appear more pronounced in older patients. These findings may assist in designing patient-centered interventions to increase physical activity among hemodialysis patients.

Strategies to Prevent Peritonitis after Procedures: Our Opinions.

Peritoneal Dialysis (PD) patients are at increased risk of peritonitis following elective colonoscopy and other potentially invasive dental or gynecological procedures. The increased risk of iatrogenic peritonitis is attributed to procedure-related factors such as instrumentation, biopsies, tissue injury, and peri-procedural bacterial contamination. Also contributory are patient-related factors such as the effect of the immunocompromised status of end-stage renal disease and the presence of intraperitoneal dialysate on the disruption of natural host defense mechanisms. We propose the use of standard peri-procedure protocols, including procedure-specific prophylactic antibiotics, and discuss the enhanced defense rationale for a dry abdomen during and sometimes after procedures. Depending on the procedure and its inherent risk of causing peritonitis, as well as the patient's ability to withhold PD for up to 3 days, we sometimes increase the intensity of PD before the procedure. We conclude that it is imperative that proceduralists and nephrologists be aware of and proactive about how to mitigate postprocedure PD complications.

Management of a Mycobacterium immunogenum infection of a peritoneal dialysis catheter site.

Mycobacterium immunogenum is a member of the rapidly growing non-tuberculous mycobacteria and is a relatively new species identified within this group. An 81-year-old immune-competent male was diagnosed with M. immunogenum infection of his peritoneal dialysis catheter exit site and surrounding soft tissue. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of M. immunogenum infection of a peritoneal catheter. Treatment included catheter removal, local surgical debridement, and combination antimicrobial therapy. Herein, we review literature describing antibiotic management of M. immunogenum, an organism for which optimal therapy is not defined.

Long-Term Outcomes and Associated Risk Factors of Post-Hospitalization Dialysis-Dependent Acute Kidney Injury Patients.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Acute kidney injury requiring dialysis (AKI-D) is associated with poor outcomes. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services have reversed their clarification allowing AKI-D patients to be dialyzed at outpatient dialysis units. Data assessing long-term outcomes of AKI-D patients and their predictors is needed to adopt guidelines to ensure adequate management. We assessed long-term outcomes and associated risk factors of AKI-D patients who survived 90 days post-hemodialysis (HD) initiation. METHODS: AKI-D patients surviving hospitalization and dialyzed at a specialized outpatient AKI dialysis unit between April 11, 2012 and December 25, 2013 were prospectively followed. Long-term outcomes of AKI-D patients were obtained by a single provider through a telephone survey, and factors affecting their outcomes were statistically analyzed. RESULTS: Ninety-one out of 108 patients were reached for telephone survey. At baseline (90 days post-HD initiation), 52/91 patients were declared end-stage renal disease (ESRD; group 1) and 39/91 were dialysis-independent (group 2). At the end of an average follow up period of 859.7 days, 32/91 (35.2%) were dialysis-independent (3/52 from group 1 and 29/39 from group 2), with 28/91 dead (25/52 from group 1 and 3/39 from group 2). After adjusting for demographics and comorbidities, baseline renal function, prior AKI, ESRD, and requirement for continuous renal replacement therapy were associated with poor outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: Sustaining long-term dialysis independence in AKI-D patients is significant. Baseline renal function, prior AKI, and hemodynamic changes during hospitalization are predictors of long-term outcomes. Meticulous follow up of AKI-D patients in the outpatient dialysis facilities in their first 90 days post-HD initiation is crucial.

Recent advances in CKD and ESRD: A literature update.

The past year has seen interesting publications in the fields of chronic kidney disease and end stage renal disease. This review highlights some of these important papers and places their findings in the context of clinical care.

Acute Kidney Injury Prevention.

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a condition associated with significant morbidity and mortality. The incidence of AKI is increasing due to predisposing factors (sepsis, nephrotoxins, and hypotension). This review will focus on the risk stratification of patients vulnerable to developing AKI in whom the timing of the insult is known (e.g., cardiac surgery, contrast exposure) as well as the clinical context in which the risk intensifies. The review will also focus on preventive measures and different pharmacological agents for preventing AKI. Clinical trials of pharmacological agents for the prevention of AKI are challenging. While many compounds are promising in preclinical testing, only a few compounds have been tested, and none has shown consistent results in clinical trials. This is in part due to the lack of large and well-designed trials. With well-designed clinical trials, the use of novel biomarkers and innovative therapeutic strategies, we are on the verge of improving outcomes in the prevention of AKI.

Understanding nephrogenic systemic fibrosis.

Nephrogenic systemic fibrosis (NSF) is a rare and a debilitating disease noted uncommonly in patients with impaired renal function when exposed to low-stability gadolinium-based contrast agents (Gd-CAs). According to experimental studies, cytokines released by the stimulation of effector cells such as skin macrophages and peripheral blood monocytes activate circulating fibroblasts which play a major role in the development of NSF lesions. The presence of permissive factors, presumably, provides an environment conducive to facilitate the process of fibrosis. Multiple treatment modalities have been tried with variable success rates. More research is necessary to elucidate the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms which could potentially target the initial steps of fibrosis in these patients. This paper attempts to collate the inferences from the in vivo and in vitro experiments to the clinical observations to understand the pathogenesis of NSF. Schematic representations of receptor-mediated molecular pathways of activation of macrophages and fibroblasts by gadolinium and the final pathway to fibrosis are incorporated in the discussion.