Achievement of NKF/K-DOQI recommended target values for bone and mineral metabolism in incident hemodialysis patients: results of the FARO-2 cohort.

BACKGROUND: Mineral Bone Disorders (MBD) is prevalent in hemodialysis (HD) patients and associated with increased cardiovascular mortality. The FARO-2 study evaluated the achievement of the NKF/K-DOQI guidelines on recommended target values for serum calcium (Ca), phosphorous (P) and intact parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels on survival in incident HD patients. METHODS: Data were collected by questionnaire from 568 incident HD patients followed prospectively over a 3-year period from 26 Italian dialysis units. The cumulative probability of time-to-death for CKD-MBD treatment characteristics was determined by the Kaplan-Meier curves. RESULTS: Serum PTH levels (median values at 6 months vs. 36 months; 225 vs. 254 pg/ml), Ca (8.8 vs. 8.9 g/dl) and P (5.1 vs. 4.8 mg/dl) were not significantly different at 6 months versus follow-up. The majority of incident HD patients (60-70%) who were followed up for 36 months did not achieve the NKF/K-DOQI recommended target values. Survival rates were higher in patients on target for three parameters versus patients off target (survival at 24 months: at target 95.7% (95% CI: 84.0-98.9) versus not on target 71.1% (95% CI: 66.3-75.4, p < 0.01)). The 30.1% of patients on target for three MBD parameters at least once during the follow-up period had better survival rates compared to those not reaching these targets (survival at 24 months: at least once 88.0% (95% CI: 81.9-92.1); 67.7% (95% CI: 61.9-72.8, p < 0.01)). CONCLUSION: Our findings indicate that incident HD patients who achieved target levels (for three MBD parameters) for at least one visit have a lower risk of mortality.

Four year incidence of respiratory syncytial virus infection in infants and young children referred to emergency departments for lower respiratory tract diseases in Italy: the "Osservatorio VRS" Study (2000-2004).

Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) is a frequent cause of hospital admission in young children and high risk babies such as premature newborns, or babies with underlying cardiac or pulmonary disease, or immunodeficiency. Outbreaks occur most frequently in the cold season in areas with temperate and Mediterranean climates. Aim of the "Osservatorio VRS" Study was to describe the time-related pattern of RSV epidemics in Italy, across four consecutive epidemics, from 2000 to 2004. Nasal specimens for RSV detection were obtained and tested by an immunoenzymatic test. A total of 2110 children were tested for RSV determination, the rate of children with RSV infection was 21%, and that of children hospitalized for RSV disease was 49%. Considering the whole study period, the RSV epidemics started in October-November and ended in May, showing a peak incidence in February, with a median of 28.1% and a maximum of 48.9%. Analysis of monthly distribution of each year of the study showed a biennial trend for an earlier appearance. A different epidemiological pattern of the infection was observed among the three national areas. In conclusion, even though the mechanism governing RSV infection periodicity remains unknown, its awareness in the absence of an RSV surveillance system as in Italy, may be useful for scheduling RSV prophylaxis and for hospital resource management.

End-stage Renal Disease Costs for Patients New to Hemodialysis in Italy: The FARO-2 Study.

Background: Increasing incidence and prevalence of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) together with the presence of several comorbidities in chronic kidney disease patients (CKD) could be associated with a relevant economic burden. Aim: The aim of this analysis was to estimate the direct healthcare costs of ESRD and its major comorbidities in Italian patients who were naïve to hemodialysis (HD) recruited for the FARO-2 study. Methods: The FARO-2 study was a retrospective observational study conducted in Italy that evaluated the patterns of treatment of secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT) and related costs in patients naïve to HD. The observational period was 2006–2008. Costs were measured in Euros (reference year: 2008). Resource use for the first 2 periods of 6 months of HD was monetized, with reimbursement calculated for SHPT drugs, phosphate binders, and erythropoietin-stimulating agents (ESAs); HD sessions; and hospitalizations due to ESRD and its major comorbidities. The analysis was performed by the Italian National Health Service (INHS) perspective. Results: 567 patients were observed for at least 2 periods of 6 months. During the first 12 months after the initiation of HD, average direct healthcare costs were assessed using the percentage of patients treated and the average daily dosages (for drugs), the percentage of patients hospitalized and the types of hospitalizations (for inpatients), and the average weekly frequency of HD sessions. Total per-patient yearly costs totaled 34,789.9 €: HD accounted for 66.1% of expenditures, with hospitalizations and drugs accounting for 12.9% and 21.0% of expenditures, respectively (including 17.1% for ESAs). Conclusions: Patients naïve to HD have a significant impact on Italian National Health Service expenditures, although only the costs related to treatment of ESRD and its comorbidities were calculated in the present study. The major cost drivers were HD and ESAs, while SHPT drugs and phosphate binders together accounted for only 3.9% of direct healthcare expenditures.

Risk factors for severe RSV-induced lower respiratory tract infection over four consecutive epidemics.

UNLABELLED: Variability in severity among different respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) seasons may influence hospital admission rates for RSV-induced lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI) in young children. The aim of the present study was to identify through logistic regression analysis, risk factors associated with higher likelihood to acquire RSV-induced LRTI, in children with symptoms severe enough to lead to hospital admission. Over four consecutive RSV seasons (2000-2004), records from children <4 years of age admitted for RSV-induced LRTI ("cases") were compared with those from children with LRTI not due to RSV and not requiring hospitalization ("controls"). 145 "case-patients" and 295 "control-patients" were evaluated. Independent from the severity of the four epidemic seasons, seven predictors for hospitalization for RSV infection were found in the bivariate analysis: number of children in the family, chronological age at the onset of RSV season, birth weight and gestational age, birth order, daycare attendance, previous RSV infections. In the logistic regression analysis, only three predictors were detected: chronological age at the beginning of RSV season [aOR =8.46; 95% CI:3.09-23.18]; birth weight category [aOR =7.70; 95% CI:1.29-45.91]; birth order (aOR =1.92; 95% CI:1.21-3.06). CONCLUSIONS: Independent from the RSV seasonality, specific host/environmental factors can be used to identify children at greatest risk for hospitalization for RSV infection.