One-year impact of COVID-19 pandemic on renal replacement therapy and kidney transplantation in a tertiary center in Southern Brazil / Impacto de um ano da Pandemia COVID 19 na terapia renal substitutiva e no transplante renal em centro terciário no Sul do Brasil

ABSTRACT Introduction: Patients on renal replacement therapy (RRT) and kidney transplant recipients (KTR) present multiple factors that may increase the risk of death from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). This study aimed to evaluate the incidence and impact of COVID-19 in RRT patients and KTRs. Methods: Between March 2020 and February 2021, we monitored the RRT population of thirteen dialysis facilities that refer patients for transplantation to our center, a tertiary hospital in Southern Brazil. In the same period, we also monitor COVID-19 incidence and mortality in our KTR population. Demographical, clinical, and COVID-19-related information were analyzed. Results: We evaluated 1545 patients in the dialysis centers, of which 267 (17.4%) were infected by COVID-19 and 53 (19.9%) died. Among 275 patients on the kidney transplant waiting list, 63 patients (22.9%) were infected and seven (11.1%) died. COVID-19 was the leading cause of death (29.2%) among patients on the waiting list. Within the population of 1360 KTR, 134 (9.85%) were diagnosed with COVID-19 and 20 (14.9%) died. The number of kidney transplants decreased by 56.7% compared with the same period in the previous twelve months. Conclusion: In the study period, patients on RRT and KTRs presented a high incidence of COVID-19 and high COVID-19-related lethality. The impact on the patients on the transplant waiting list was less pronounced. The lethality rate observed in both cohorts seems to be related to age, comorbidities, and disease severity.

Resumo Introdução: Pacientes em terapia renal substitutiva (TRS) e receptores de transplante renal (RTR) apresentam múltiplos fatores que podem aumentar o risco de óbito por doença do coronavírus 2019 (COVID-19). Este estudo teve como objetivo avaliar incidência e impacto da COVID-19 em pacientes em TRS e RTR. Métodos: Entre Março de 2020 e Fevereiro de 2021, monitoramos a população em TRS de treze unidades de diálise que encaminham pacientes para transplante ao nosso centro, um hospital terciário no Sul do Brasil. No mesmo período, também monitoramos a incidência e mortalidade da COVID-19 em nossa população de RTR. Foram analisadas informações demográficas, clínicas e relacionadas à COVID-19. Resultados: Avaliamos 1545 pacientes nos centros de diálise, dos quais 267 (17,4%) foram infectados pela COVID-19 e 53 (19,9%) foram a óbito. Entre 275 pacientes na lista de espera para transplante renal, 63 (22,9%) foram infectados e sete (11,1%) foram a óbito. COVID-19 foi a principal causa de óbito (29,2%) entre pacientes na lista de espera. Dentre a população de 1360 RTR, 134 (9,85%) foram diagnosticados com COVID-19 e 20 (14,9%) foram a óbito. O número de transplantes renais diminuiu em 56,7% comparado ao mesmo período nos doze meses anteriores. Conclusão: No período do estudo, pacientes em TRS e RTR apresentaram alta incidência de COVID-19 e alta letalidade relacionada à COVID-19. O impacto nos pacientes na lista de espera para transplante foi menos pronunciado. A taxa de letalidade observada em ambas as coortes parece estar relacionada à idade, comorbidades e gravidade da doença.

One-year impact of COVID-19 pandemic on renal replacement therapy and kidney transplantation in a tertiary center in Southern Brazil.

INTRODUCTION: Patients on renal replacement therapy (RRT) and kidney transplant recipients (KTR) present multiple factors that may increase the risk of death from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). This study aimed to evaluate the incidence and impact of COVID-19 in RRT patients and KTRs. METHODS: Between March 2020 and February 2021, we monitored the RRT population of thirteen dialysis facilities that refer patients for transplantation to our center, a tertiary hospital in Southern Brazil. In the same period, we also monitor COVID-19 incidence and mortality in our KTR population. Demographical, clinical, and COVID-19-related information were analyzed. RESULTS: We evaluated 1545 patients in the dialysis centers, of which 267 (17.4%) were infected by COVID-19 and 53 (19.9%) died. Among 275 patients on the kidney transplant waiting list, 63 patients (22.9%) were infected and seven (11.1%) died. COVID-19 was the leading cause of death (29.2%) among patients on the waiting list. Within the population of 1360 KTR, 134 (9.85%) were diagnosed with COVID-19 and 20 (14.9%) died. The number of kidney transplants decreased by 56.7% compared with the same period in the previous twelve months. CONCLUSION: In the study period, patients on RRT and KTRs presented a high incidence of COVID-19 and high COVID-19-related lethality. The impact on the patients on the transplant waiting list was less pronounced. The lethality rate observed in both cohorts seems to be related to age, comorbidities, and disease severity.

Self-reported adherence to physical activity recommendations compared to the IPAQ interview in patients with hypertension.

BACKGROUND: Physical activity (PA) is recommended as adjuvant therapy to control blood pressure (BP). The effectiveness of simple recommendations is not clear. We aimed to assess the agreement between self-report of adherence to PA in clinical routine and International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) interview and its association with BP control. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted with hypertensive outpatients. Adherence to recommendation to PA was assessed by the physician and IPAQ interview. A cutoff of 150 minutes/week was used to classify active or nonactive patients. High sitting time was considered >4 hours/day. A total of 127 individuals (SBP 144.9±24.4 mmHg/DBP 82.0±12.8 mmHg) were included. RESULTS: A total of 69 subjects (54.3%) reported to be active to their physician, whereas 81 (63.8%) were classified as active by IPAQ (6.3% active in leisure time PA). Kappa test was 0.22 (95% CI, 0.06-0.37). The rate of BP control was 45.7%. There was no association with the reported PA assessed by both methods nor with sitting time. Our results demonstrated poor agreement between self-report adherence and IPAQ interview, and neither evaluation was associated with BP control. CONCLUSION: Our findings underpin evidences that a simple PA recommendation has low association with BP control in clinical settings.

Early Manipulation of Arterial Blood Pressure in Acute Ischemic Stroke (MAPAS): Results of a Randomized Controlled Trial.

INTRODUCTION: There is uncertainty over the optimal level of systolic blood pressure (SBP) in the setting of acute ischemic stroke (AIS). The aim of this study was to determine the efficacy of the early manipulation of SBP in non-thrombolised patients. The key hypothesis under investigation was that clinical outcomes vary across ranges of SBP in AIS. METHODS: 218 patients were randomized within 12 h of AIS to maintain the SBP during 24 h within three ranges: Group 1 140-160 mmHg, Group 2 161-180 mmHg or Group 3 181-200 mmHg. Vasoactive drugs and fluids were used to achieve these targets. Good outcome was defined as a modified Rankin score 0-2 at 90-days. RESULTS: The median SBP in the three groups in 24 h was: 153 mmHg, 163 mmHg, and 178 mmHg, respectively, P < 0.0001. Good clinical outcome did not differ among the different groups (51% vs 52% vs 39%, P = 0.27). Symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (SICH) was more frequent in the higher SBP range (1% vs 2.7% vs 9.1%, P = 0.048) with similar mortality rates. No patient had acute neurological deterioration related to the SBP reduction in the first 24 h. In our logistic regression analysis, the odds of having good clinical outcome was higher in Group 2 (OR 2.83) after adjusting for important confounders. Regardless of the assigned group, the probability of good outcome was 47% in patients who were manipulated to increase the BP, 42% to decrease and 62% in non-manipulated (P = 0.1). Adverse effects were limited to Group 2 (4%) and Group 3 (7.6%) and were associated with the use of norepinephrine (P = 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Good outcome in 90 days was not significantly different among the 3 blood pressure ranges. After logistic regression analysis, the odds of having good outcome was greater in Group 2 (SBP 161-180 mmHg). SICH occurred more frequently in Group 3 (181-200 mmHg).

Long-term effectiveness of non-drug recommendations to treat hypertension in a clinical setting.

BACKGROUND: Nonpharmacological interventions have been efficacious to control blood pressure (BP) in clinical trials, but their long-term effectiveness in clinical practice was still not documented. METHODS: This is a prospective cohort study of 825 patients who received repeated nonpharmacological recommendations to treat hypertension. The outcomes were BP change and rate of BP control by pattern of adherence (informed by the patients) to the recommendations to follow low-salt and low-calorie diets and to do physical activities. RESULTS: Patients were followed for 23.1 ± 8.4 months. Between group deltas of BP change in patients with and without adherence to the low-salt diet, adjusted for baseline BP, body mass index (BMI), age, and number of drugs in use, were 5.1 (95% confidence interval: 1.7-8.6) mm Hg for systolic (P = 0.003) and 2.1 (0.2-3.9) mmHg for diastolic BP (P = 0.02). For adherence to low-calorie diet, the deltas were 6.6 (2.9-10.2) mm Hg (P < 0.001) and 2.0 (0.1-3.9) mm Hg (P = 0.045). Adherence to physical activities was not associated with a BP-lowering effect. Relative risks for a fall of 10 mm Hg in systolic or 5 mm Hg in diastolic BP, with adjustment for confounding, were 0.69 (95% confidence interval: 0.55-0.87) for adherence to the low-salt diet, 0.83 (0.66-1.05) for low-calorie diet, and 0.99 (0.79-1.24) for exercise. CONCLUSIONS: Adherence to low-salt and low-calorie diets is associated with clinically relevant long-term BP reduction and better hypertension control in a clinical setting.

Prevalência de hipertensão resistente em adultos não idosos: estudo prospectivo em contexto ambulatorial / Prevalence of resistant hypertension in non-elderly adults: prospective study in a clinical setting

FUNDAMENTO: Em face de definições de variáveis e critérios de amostragem, a real prevalência de hipertensão resistente em ambiente clínico é desconhecida. OBJETIVO: Investigar a prevalência de real hipertensão resistente em uma clínica de hipertensão arterial. MÉTODOS: Hipertensão resistente verdadeira foi diagnosticada quando fenômeno do jaleco branco, insuficiente adesão ao tratamento e hipertensão secundária foram excluídos em pacientes com Pressão Arterial (PA) ≥ 140/90 mmHg em duas visitas consecutivas, usando três de fármacos anti-hipertensivos, incluindo um diurético. RESULTADOS: No total, 606 pacientes, com 35 a 65 anos de idade, a maioria mulheres, com PA de 156,8 ± 23,8 mmHg por 91,9 ± 15,6 mmHg e IMC de 29,7 ± 5,9 Kg/m² foram sequencialmente avaliados. Cento e seis pacientes em uso de três agentes anti-hipertensivos estavam com pressão arterial não controlada (17,5% da amostra total) na primeira visita. Oitenta e seis pacientes (81% dos pacientes com PA não controlada na primeira avaliação) retornaram para a avaliação de confirmação: 25 estavam com PA controlada; 21 tinham evidência de baixa adesão ao tratamento; 13 tinham fenômeno do jaleco branco; e 9 tinham hipertensão secundária, restando 18 pacientes (20,9% dos não controlados na consulta de confirmação e 3% da amostra total) com verdadeira hipertensão resistente. Considerando pacientes com hipertensão secundária como casos de hipertensão refratária, a prevalência de hipertensão resistente aumentou para 4,5%. CONCLUSÃO: A frequência de hipertensão resistente verdadeira em pacientes não idosos é baixa em um ambiente clínico, e não é substancialmente aumentada com a inclusão de pacientes com hipertensão secundária. (Arq Bras Cardiol. 2012; [online].ahead print, PP.0-0).

BACKGROUND: In face of variable definitions and sampling criteria, the real prevalence of resistant hypertension in a clinical setting is unknown. OBJECTIVE: We investigated the prevalence of true resistant hypertension in an outpatient hypertension clinic. METHODS: True resistant hypertension was diagnosed when white coat phenomenon, lack of compliance and secondary hypertension were excluded in patients with blood pressure ≥ 140/90 mmHg in two consecutive visits, despite to be using three blood pressure-lowering agents, including a diuretic. RESULTS: In the total, 606 patients, with 35 to 65 years of age, mostly women, with BP of 156.8 ± 23.8 mmHg by 91.9 ± 15.6 mmHg and a BMI of 29.7 ± 5.9 Kg/m² were sequentially evaluated. One hundred and six patients using three BP drugs had uncontrolled blood pressure (17.5% of the whole sample) in the first visit. Eighty-six patients (81% of the patients with uncontrolled BP in the first evaluation) returned for the confirmatory evaluation. Twenty-five had controlled BP, 21 had evidence of low adherence to treatment, 13 had white coat phenomenon and 9 had secondary hypertension, leaving only 18 patients (20.9% of those uncontrolled in the confirmatory visit and 3% of the whole sample) with true resistant hypertension. Considering patients with secondary hypertension as cases of resistant hypertension, the prevalence of resistant hypertension increased to 4.5%. CONCLUSION: The frequency of patients with true resistant hypertension in non-elderly patients is low in a clinical setting, and is not substantially increased with the inclusion of patients with secondary hypertension. (Arq Bras Cardiol. 2012; [online].ahead print, PP.0-0).

Prevalence of resistant hypertension in non-elderly adults: prospective study in a clinical setting.

BACKGROUND: In face of variable definitions and sampling criteria, the real prevalence of resistant hypertension in a clinical setting is unknown. OBJECTIVE: We investigated the prevalence of true resistant hypertension in an outpatient hypertension clinic. METHODS: True resistant hypertension was diagnosed when white coat phenomenon, lack of compliance and secondary hypertension were excluded in patients with blood pressure ≥ 140/90 mmHg in two consecutive visits, despite to be using three blood pressure-lowering agents, including a diuretic. RESULTS: In the total, 606 patients, with 35 to 65 years of age, mostly women, with BP of 156.8 ± 23.8 mmHg by 91.9 ± 15.6 mmHg and a BMI of 29.7 ± 5.9 Kg/m² were sequentially evaluated. One hundred and six patients using three BP drugs had uncontrolled blood pressure (17.5% of the whole sample) in the first visit. Eighty-six patients (81% of the patients with uncontrolled BP in the first evaluation) returned for the confirmatory evaluation. Twenty-five had controlled BP, 21 had evidence of low adherence to treatment, 13 had white coat phenomenon and 9 had secondary hypertension, leaving only 18 patients (20.9% of those uncontrolled in the confirmatory visit and 3% of the whole sample) with true resistant hypertension. Considering patients with secondary hypertension as cases of resistant hypertension, the prevalence of resistant hypertension increased to 4.5%. CONCLUSION: The frequency of patients with true resistant hypertension in non-elderly patients is low in a clinical setting, and is not substantially increased with the inclusion of patients with secondary hypertension.

Avaliação da função renal em pacientes hipertensos / Measurement of kidney function in patient with hypertension

Pacientes com hipertensão apresentam maior risco de desenvolver insuficiência renal crônica por nefrosclerose benigna. A avaliação da função renal em pacientes com hipertensão tem vários propósitos. O primeiro é estabelecer se o paciente tem nefropatia como causa da hipertensão. O segundo é definir a natureza e atividade da nefropatia. O terceiro é avaliar o grau de alteração na função renal. A taxa de filtração glomerular (TFG) é amplamente aceita como a melhor medida do funcionamento renal. Não pode ser mensurada diretamente, sendo estimada pelo clearance urinário de um marcador de filtração. As estimativas da TFG baseadas em marcadores de filtração exógenos, como inulina, são muito trabalhosas e dispendiosas para o uso rotineiro. A estimativa da TFG usando marcadores de filtração endógenos é mais factível. A concentração da creatinina sérica, a depuração da creatinina endógena e as equações para estimar a TFG utilizando a creatinina sérica são as técnicas mais freqüentemente utilizadas. As limitações dessas técnicas serão discutidas.

Detection of arteriolar narrowing in fundoscopic examination: evidence of a low performance of direct ophthalmoscopy in comparison with a microdensitometric method.

BACKGROUND: Retinal abnormalities, particularly arteriolar narrowing, are powerful predictors of cardiovascular events. The precision of internists and ophthalmologists in the assessment of retinal vessels widths has been disputed but not evaluated against a technology of edge detection. METHODS: Fifty-two patients with hypertension had optic fundi examination done by an internist and an ophthalmologist, and had retinographies taken and digitized to determine vessel diameters by a new technology of edge detection (microdensitometric method). Physicians asserted the presence of arteriolar narrowing (

Avanços na avaliação e no tratamento da hipertensão renovascular / Advances on evaluation and treatment of renovascular hypertension

A hipertensão renovascular é secundária à isquemia renal. É causada principalmente por doença aterosclerótica da artéria renal e displasia fibromuscular. A ativação do eixo renina-angiotensina-aldosterona e suas conseqüências hemodinâmicas é o principal fator fisiopatológico. A investigação diagnóstica está indicada em pacientes com características clínicas sugestivas da doença. A avaliação é feita através de métodos não-invasivos, como a ultra-sonografia com Doppler, a ressonância nuclear magnética, a tomografia computadorizada espiral e a cintilografia renal com captopril. A avaliação invasiva com a arteriografia permanece o padrão-ouro no diagnóstico da hipertensão renovascular. Há duas escolhas possíveis de tratamento: o medicamentoso e a revascularização cirúrgica ou percutânea. As indicações mais claras de angioplastia em estenoses hemodinamicamente significativas são a displasia fibromuscular e, no caso de doença aterosclerótica, hipertensão não-controlada, perda de função renal progressiva e edema pulmonar recorrente sem causa cardíaca identificada.

Measuring arteriolar-to-venous ratio in retinal photography of patients with hypertension: development and application of a new semi-automated method.

BACKGROUND: The extent of arteriolar narrowing has been recognized as a major sign of end-organ damage in patients with hypertension, but most methods used for its evaluation are highly dependent on the observer. We describe a new semi-automated method to measuring arteriolar-to-venous (A/V) ratio in retinal photography and present its application in the evaluation of patients with hypertension. METHODS: In a cross-sectional study, 58 patients with hypertension had retinographies taken and digitized to determine the vessel diameter by direct measurement (micrometric method) or by the new microdensitometric method. Sub-pixel resolution was obtained via cubic spline fitting of the edge of vessel walls. For each pair of adjacent pixels, 10 intermediate points were generated in the perpendicular direction of the wall. Vessel widths were automatically extracted from this synthetic curve, with cut-points defined where the exterior wall position equals the double of mean noise along the slice. RESULTS: The intra- and interobserver kappa statistics for the diagnosis of abnormal A/V ratio by the microdensitometric measurements were 0.93 (P < .0001) and 0.85 (P = .0005), respectively. Systolic blood pressure was inversely and significantly associated with the A/V ratio measured by the microdensitometric method. CONCLUSIONS: The microdensitometric method is reliable, is easy to operate, and captures the expected association between blood pressure and retinal vessels narrowing. Its performance in clinical practice and in the prediction of cardiovascular events should be confirmed in larger databases with retinographies.

Hipertensão arterial sistêmica: estudos diagnósticos / Hypertension: diagnostic studies

Confirmação diagnóstica e avaliação de repercussão sobre órgãos-alvo são passos críticos na avaliação de pacientes hipertensos. Demonstramos a importância da aferição repetida da pressão arterial, do tamanho do manguito e da temperatura ambiente para o diagnóstico de hipertensão arterial. Cefaléia tem associação fortuita com pressão arterial, assim como epistaxe. A tradicional classificação de Keith & Wagener (KW) não tem paralelismo com a gravidade da hipertensão arterial. A associação entre anormalidades fundoscópicas isoladas e pressão arterial é fortemente influenciada pela idade dos pacientes. O método microdensitométrico, desenvolvido em nosso serviço em conjunto com a engenharia biomédica, pode aumentar a eficiência da fundoscopia em predizer eventos cardiovasculares. Os achados descritos demonstram a importância de se empregar adequadas rotinas diagnósticas de hipertensão arterial e contribuem para o esclarecimento de muitas falsas associações com hipertensão arterial.

The confirmation of the diagnosis and the evaluation of end-organ damage are indispensable steps in the care of hypertensive patients. Repeated blood pressure measurements, cuff size and room temperature influence the diagnosis of hypertension. Headache and epistaxis have a casual association with blood pressure. The traditional Keith-Wagener (KW) classification does not vary in parallel with the severity of hypertension. The association between isolated funduscopic abnormalities and blood pressure is strongly influenced by age. The microdensitometric method, developed in our service with the collaboration of the bioengineering division, may improve the efficiency of funduscopy in predicting cardiovascular events. These findings confirm the importance of following the recommendations to measure blood pressure and contribute to the understanding of several false associations with hypertension.

O estudante de medicina e sua dificuldade de dispor de tempo livre para a pratica de atividades culturais extra-academicas / The medical student and his difficulity in have free time for cultural activitis extra-academic

O trabalho se propos a enfocar o estudante de medicina e sua dificuldade na pratica de atividade extra-academicas. Os dados foram obtidos a partir de um questionario preenchido pelos alunos de graduacao de todas as turmas medicas. foram consideradas as respostas a tres perguntas, que permitiramevidenciar o interesse dos estudantes pelas atividades culturais apresentadas, afrequencia relativa com que ele praticou a atividade no semestre de pesquisa em relacao ao semestre anterior e os motivos que o levaram a nao praticar, parar ou diminuir a atividade no semestre em que o entrevistado se encontrava. A partir das seis atividades que mais interessaram aos estudantes, observou-se que o maior indice de abandono se dava no final do curso e que o principal motivo desse abandono era o proprio curso de medicina, que absorve grande parte do tempo livre extra-classe do estudante. Sao discutidos aspectos que levam a este comportamento e consequencias dessa situacao para o estudante e asociedade