Establishment of a renal supportive care program: Experience from a rural community hospital in Taiwan

A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial of Integrated Palliative Care and Nephrology Care

BACKGROUND

There has been a call by both patients and health professionals for the integration of palliative care with nephrology care, yet there is little evidence describing the effect of this approach. The objective of this paper is to report the feasibility and acceptability of a pilot randomized controlled trial testing the efficacy of integrated palliative and nephrology care.

METHODS

English speaking patients with CKD stage 5 were randomized to monthly palliative care visits for 3 months in addition to their usual care, as compared with usual nephrology care. Feasibility of recruitment, retention, completion of intervention processes, and feedback on participation was measured. Other outcomes included differences in symptom burden change, measured by the Integrated Palliative Outcome Scale-Renal, and change in quality of life, measured by the Kidney Disease Quality of Life questionnaire and completion of advance care planning documents.

RESULTS

Of the 67 patients approached, 45 (67%) provided informed consent. Of these, 27 patients completed the study (60%), and 14 (74%) of those in the intervention group completed all visits. We found small improvements in overall symptom burden (-2.92 versus 1.57) and physical symptom burden scores (-1.92 versus 1.79) in the intervention group. We did not see improvements in the quality-of-life scores, with the exception of the physical component score. The intervention group completed more advance care planning documents than controls (five health care proxy forms completed versus one, nine Medical Orders for Life Sustaining Treatment forms versus none).

CONCLUSIONS

We found that pilot testing through a randomized controlled trial of an ambulatory integrated palliative and nephrology care clinical program was feasible and acceptable to participants. This intervention has the potential to improve the disease experience for those with nondialysis CKD and should be tested in other CKD populations with longer follow-up.

CLINICAL TRIALS REGISTRY NAME AND REGISTRATION NUMBER

Pilot Randomized-controlled Trial of Integrated Palliative and Nephrology Care Versus Usual Nephrology Care, NCT04520984.

Psychosocial factors in patients with kidney failure and role for social worker: A secondary data audit

BACKGROUND

People with kidney failure face a multitude of psychosocial stressors that affect disease trajectory and health outcomes.

OBJECTIVES

To investigate psychosocial factors affecting people with kidney failure before or at start of kidney replacement therapy (KRT) and kidney supportive and palliative care (KSPC) phases of illness and to explore role of social worker during the illness trajectory.

METHODS

We conducted a secondary data audit of patients either before or at start of KRT (Phase 1) and at the KSPC (Phase 2) of illness and had psychosocial assessments between March 2012 and March 2020 in an Australian setting.

RESULTS

Seventy-nine individuals, aged 70 ± 12 years, had at least two psychosocial assessments, one in each of the two phases of illness. The median time between social worker evaluations in Phase 1 and Phase 2 was 522 (116-943) days. Adjustment to illness and treatment (90%) was the most prevalent psychosocial issue identified in Phase 1, which declined to 39% in Phase 2. Need for aged care assistance (7.6%-63%; p < 0.001) and carer support (7.6%-42%; p < 0.001) increased significantly from Phase 1 to Phase 2. There was a significant increase in psychosocial interventions by the social worker in Phase 2, including supportive counselling (53%-73%; p < 0.05), provision of education and information (43%-65%; p < 0.01), and referrals (28%-62%; p < 0.01).

CONCLUSION

Adults nearing or at the start of KRT experience immense psychosocial burden and adaptive demands that recognisably change during the course of illness. The positive role played by the nephrology social worker warrants further investigation.

CKD Care Programs and Incident Kidney Failure: A Study of a National Disease Management Program in Taiwan

Rationale & Objective

Taiwan implemented national pay-for-performance programs for chronic kidney disease (CKD) care in 2006 and 2011; however, it is unknown whether this affected trends in maintenance dialysis. This study assessed the temporal trends in the incidence, prevalence, and mortality of individuals treated with maintenance dialysis from 2002-2016 in Taiwan.

Study Design

Follow-up study using Taiwan Renal Disease System Databases.

Setting & Participants

Participants who received dialysis for ≥90 days.

Predictors

Age, sex, and calendar year.

Outcomes

Incidence, prevalence of maintenance dialysis, or death, ascertained using the National Death Registry database.

Analytical Approach

The estimated annual percentage change was assessed by a generalized linear model, and the association of the programs with changes in the incidence of maintenance dialysis was evaluated using an age-period-cohort model.

Results

A total of 144,258 incident cases with a follow-up of 346 million person-years were analyzed during the observed periods. The estimated annual percentage change of the expected crude incidence rate was slightly reduced by 0.41% (95% CI, −1.06 to 0.24) and was more obvious in women and patients aged greater than 70 years; whereas, it was significantly increased in those aged greater than 75 years. After disentangling age and cohort effects, the implementation of the care programs was associated with an overall net drift of −1.09% (95% CI, −1.65 to −0.52) per year and a significant linear reduction in the period rate ratio from 1.06 (95% CI, 1.02-1.09) in the years 2002-2006 to 0.95 (95% CI, 0.92-0.98) in 2012-2016, using years 2007-2011 as reference.

Limitations

The findings of the study may have limited inferences to other countries with different health care systems.

Conclusions

The implementation of universal CKD care programs in Taiwan has significantly reduced the long-term trends in the incidence of maintenance dialysis; hence, devoting governmental resources to CKD care and prevention is advocated.

Predictors and Assessment of Hospice Use for End-Stage Renal Disease Patients in Taiwan

OBJECTIVES

Hospice and early palliative care are generally considered as an alternative and supportive care to offer symptoms relief and optimize the quality of life among end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients, but hospice care remains underutilized. This study aimed to examine patient and health system characteristics and develop a patient assessment scale to evaluate ESRD patients for hospice care after the implementation of non-cancer hospice care reimbursement policy in 2009 in Taiwan.

METHOD

We conducted a retrospective cohort study using nationwide population-based datasets. Adult long-term dialysis patients between 2009 and 2012 were included. Multivariable logistic regression and the Firth penalized likelihood estimation were used to estimate the likelihood of receiving hospice care. A receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) analysis and C-statistic were calculated to determine the optimal models for a patient assessment of hospice use.

RESULTS

Patients who were older, comorbid with anemia (odds ratio [OR] 3.53, 95% CI 1.43-8.70) or sepsis (OR 1.62, 95% CI 1.08-2.44), with longer dialysis durations, more hospitalizations (OR 4.68, 95% CI 2.56-8.55), or primary provider care with hospice (OR 5.15, 95% CI 2.80-9.45) were more likely to receive hospice care. The total score of the patient assessment scale of hospice care was 0-28 with a cut-off value of 19 based on the results of the receiver operating characteristic curve.

CONCLUSION

Given the "Patient Right to Autonomy Act" implemented in Taiwan in 2019 to promote the concept of a "good quality of death", this patient assessment scale may help health professionals target ESRD patients for hospice care and engage in shared decision making and the advance care planning process.

Differences in Hospitalization Outcomes of Kidney Disease between Patients Who Received Care by Nephrologists and Non-Nephrologist Physicians: A Propensity-Score-Matched Study

The influence of physician specialty on the outcomes of kidney diseases (KDs) remains underexplored. We aimed to compare the complications and mortality of patients with admissions for KD who received care by nephrologists and non-nephrologist (NN) physicians. We used health insurance research data in Taiwan to conduct a propensity-score matched study that included 17,055 patients with admissions for KD who received care by nephrologists and 17,055 patients with admissions for KD who received care by NN physicians. Multivariable logistic regressions were conducted to calculate adjusted odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for 30-day mortality and major complications associated with physician specialty. Compared with NN physicians, care by nephrologists was associated with a reduced risk of 30-day mortality (OR 0.29, 95% CI 0.25–0.35), pneumonia (OR 0.82, 95% CI 0.76–0.89), acute myocardial infarction (OR 0.68, 95% CI 0.54–0.87), and intensive care unit stay (OR 0.78, 95% CI 0.73–0.84). The association between nephrologist care and reduced admission adverse events was significant in every age category, for both sexes and various subgroups. Patients with admissions for KD who received care by nephrologists had fewer adverse events than those who received care by NN physicians. We suggest that regular nephrologist consultations or referrals may improve medical care and clinical outcomes in this vulnerable population.

Exploring the Impact of Different Types of Do-Not-Resuscitate Consent on End-of-Life Treatments among Patients with Advanced Kidney Disease: An Observational Study

Background: Patients with advanced kidney disease have a symptomatic and psychological burden which warrant renal supportive care or palliative care. However, the impact of do-not-resuscitate consent type (signed by patients or surrogates) on end-of-life treatments in these patients remains unclear. Objective: We aim to identify influential factors correlated with different do-not-resuscitate consent types in patients with advanced kidney disease and the impact of do-not-resuscitate consent types on various life-prolonging treatments. Methods: This was a retrospective observational study. We included patients aged 20 years and over, diagnosed with advanced kidney disease and receiving palliative and hospice care consultation services between January 2014 and December 2018 in a tertiary teaching hospital in Taiwan. We reviewed medical records and used logistic regression to identify factors associated with do-not-resuscitate consent types and end-of-life treatments. Results: A total of 275 patients were included, in which 21% signed their do-not-resuscitate consents. A total of 233 patients were followed until death, and 32% of the decedents continued hemodialysis, 75% underwent nasogastric (NG) tube placement, and 70% took antibiotics in their final seven days of life. Do-not-resuscitate consents signed by patients were associated with reduced life-prolonging treatments including feeding tube placement and antibiotic use in the last seven days (odd ratio and 95% confidence interval were 0.16, 0.07-0.34 and 0.33, 0.16-0.69, respectively) compared to do-not-resuscitate consents signed by surrogates. Conclusions: Do-not-resuscitate consent signed by patients and not by surrogates may reflect better patients' autonomy and reduced life-prolonging treatments in the final seven days of patients with advanced kidney disease.

Integrating the Surprise Question, Palliative Care Screening Tool, and Clinical Risk Models to Identify Peritoneal Dialysis Patients With High One-Year Mortality

CONTEXT

Universal screening to identify vulnerable patients who may receive limited benefits from life-sustaining treatments can facilitate palliative care in dialysis populations.

OBJECTIVES

We aimed to develop prediction models for one-year mortality in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients.

METHODS

This prospective cohort study included 401 adult Taiwanese prevalent PD patients (average age 56.2 ± 14 years). In addition to obtaining clinical characteristics and laboratory data, the primary care nurses evaluated the surprise question (SQ) and palliative care screening tool (PCST) for each patient in March 2015. Multivariate logistic regression models were conducted to predict the primary outcome of one-year all-cause mortality.

RESULTS

There were 34 (8.5%) patients who died during the first year of follow-up. Patients allocated to the not surprised group according to the SQ and those who received a score of ≥4 on the PCST had increased odds of death (odds ratio 24.68 [95% CI 10.66-57.13] and 12.18 [95% CI 5.66-26.21], respectively). We also developed a clinical risk model for one-year mortality that included sex, dialysis vintage, coronary artery disease, malignancy, normalized protein nitrogen appearance, white blood cell count, and serum albumin and sodium levels. Integrating the SQ, PCST, and clinical risk model exhibited good discrimination with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.95. Kaplan-Meier analysis showed worse survival in high-risk patients predicted by the integrated model (log-rank P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

Screening with the use of the integrated measurement can identify high-risk PD patients. This approach may facilitate palliative care interventions for at-risk subpopulations.

Utilization and Costs of Health Care in a Kidney Supportive Care Program

Kidney supportive care (KSC) is a patient-centered model of multidisciplinary care designed for patients with advanced chronic kidney disease (CKD) and end-stage kidney disease (ESKD). Our goal was to characterize the types, frequencies, and costs of services accessed by patients enrolled in a KSC program. We analyzed health care utilization data prospectively collected from 102 patients who enrolled in the KSC program during the first 52 weeks of its existence. The data comprised program appointments, emergency department presentations, ambulance service use, outpatient visits, inpatient episodes, and dialysis treatments made within the Brisbane area of Metro North. Costs of resource use were estimated using Queensland Health funding principles and guidelines. Analyses included descriptive statistics, correlations, and multivariate regressions. During the median program participation of 22 weeks, patients had 3975 contacts with health care, with the total value of services amounting to nearly A$3 million. Dialysis treatments accounted for 70% of visits and 49% of costs. Patients receiving dialysis had higher utilization of outpatient services and associated cost, compared to patients who were not dialyzed. The presence of diabetes and the choice of conservative pathway were both predictors of higher frequency and cost of services. Longer program participation was associated with lower weekly utilization and cost. The program attracted patients representing various characteristics, pathways, needs, and outcomes. Exploring these patterns will enable better understanding of the patient population and improved service planning, in KSC and similar programs that aim to comprehensively address the needs of patients with advanced CKD and ESKD.

Protein-energy wasting significantly increases healthcare utilization and costs among patients with chronic kidney disease: a propensity-score matched cohort study

BACKGROUND

Disease-related malnutrition is highly prevalent, and has prognostic implications for patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD); however, few studies have investigated the impact of malnutrition, or protein-energy wasting (PEW), on healthcare utilization and medical expenditure among CKD patients.

METHODS

Using claim data from the National Health Insurance in Taiwan, this study identified patients with CKD between 2009-2013 and categorized them into those with mild, moderate, or severe CKD. Cases with PEW after CKD was diagnosed were propensity-score matched with controls in a 1:4 ratio. Healthcare resource utilization metrics were compared, including outpatient and emergency department visits, frequency and duration of hospitalization, and the cumulative costs associated with different CKD severity.

RESULTS

From among 347,501 CKD patients, eligible cohorts of 66,872 with mild CKD (49.2%), 27,122 with moderate CKD (19.9%), and 42,013 with severe CKD (30.9%) were selected. Malnourished CKD patients had significantly higher rates of hospitalization (p < .001 for all severities) and re-admission (p = .015 for mild CKD, p = .002 for severe CKD) than non-malnourished controls. Cumulative medical costs for outpatient and emergency visits, and hospitalization, were significantly higher among all malnourished CKD patients than non-malnourished ones (p < .001); total medical costs were also higher among malnourished patients with mild (62.9%), moderate (59.6%), or severe (43.6%) CKD compared to non-malnourished patients (p < .001).

CONCLUSIONS

In a nationally-representative cohort, CKD patients with PEW had significantly more healthcare resource utilization and higher aggregate medical costs than those without, across the spectrum of CKD: preventing PEW in CKD patients should receive high priority if we would like to reduce medical costs.

A nationwide survey of healthcare personnel's attitude, knowledge, and interest toward renal supportive care in Taiwan

BACKGROUND

Renal supportive care (RSC) is an important option for elderly individuals reaching end-stage renal disease; however, the frequency of RSC practice is very low among Asian countries. We evaluated the attitude, the knowledge, and the preference for specific topics concerning RSC among participants who worked in different medical professions in Taiwan.

METHODS

A cross-sectional questionnaire-based survey was employed. Healthcare personnel (N = 598) who were involved in caring for end-stage renal disease patients at more than 40 facilities in Taiwan participated in this study. Participants were asked about their motivation for learning about RSC, the topics of RSC they were most and least interested in, their willingness to provide RSC, and to rate their knowledge and perceived importance of different topics.

RESULTS

The vast majority of respondents (81.9%) were self-motivated about RSC, among whom nephrologists (96.8%) and care facilitators (administrators/volunteers) (45%) exhibited the highest and the least motivation, respectively (p < 0.01). Overall, respondents indicated that they had adequate knowledge about the five pre-specified RSC topics between medical professions (p = 0.04). Medical professions and institutional size exerted significant influence on the willingness to provide RSC.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results facilitate the understanding of the knowledge and attitude toward different RSC topics among varied medical professions, and can guide the design of RSC education content for healthcare personnel.