Chronic kidney disease is associated with poorer in-hospital outcomes in patients hospitalized with infections: Electronic record analysis from China

Advanced healing potential of simple natural hydrogel loaded with sildenafil in combating infectious wounds

Infected wounds are common clinical injuries that often complicated by inflammation and oxidative stress due to bacterial invasion. These wounds typically suffer from impaired vascularization, which delays healing and increases the risk of complications such as sepsis and chronic wounds. Therefore, developing an effective treatment for infected wounds is highly necessary. Egg white can promote cell regeneration and repair, while chitosan is effective in resisting bacterial invasion. Sildenafil is believed to have the potential to promote angiogenesis. Based on these properties, we have prepared a new type of hydrogel using egg white and chitosan as the framework, loaded with sildenafil (CEHS). The hydrogel combines the benefits of its components, exhibiting good biocompatibility and promoting the proliferation and migration of NIH 3T3 (3T3) cells and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC), as well as the angiogenesis in HUVEC. It also exhibits significant antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial properties against Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus). Additionally, in a mouse model of infected wounds, the CEHS effectively promoted wound healing through its excellent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, antibacterial activity, and pro-angiogenic effects. In summary, this simple-to-prepare, multifunctional natural hydrogel shows great promise for the treatment of infected wounds.

Factors associated with serum concentrations of vancomycin crystalline degradation product (CDP-1) among patients with chronic kidney disease

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study was to identify the clinical factors associated with serum trough concentrations of vancomycin crystalline degradation product (CDP-1) and to determine the impact of CDP-1 on chemiluminescence microparticle immunoassay (CMIA) results among patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD).

METHODS

In this retrospective observational study, patients with CKD who were receiving vancomycin intravenously were included if steady-state serum trough levels of vancomycin were available. Patients were allocated to three groups on the basis of their estimated creatinine clearance (eCrCl) on the day of trough level monitoring: G1 (60 < eCrCl ≤ 90 mL/min), G2 (30 < eCrCl ≤ 60 mL/min), and G3 (eCrCl ≤ 30 mL/min). CDP-1 serum concentrations were determined via ultra-high performance liquid chromatography‒tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC‒MS/MS). Vancomycin serum concentrations measured via CMIA were compared with those measured via UPLC‒MS/MS. Multiple linear regression analyses were performed to identify factors associated with the CDP-1 concentration and the ratio of vancomycin concentration determined via CMIA to vancomycin concentration via UPLC‒MS/MS (VCMIA/VUPLC-MS/MS).

RESULTS

Among the 167 patients included, 49 (29.34%), 69 (41.32%), and 49 (29.34%) were allocated to G1, G2, and G3, respectively. There were significant differences in the CDP-1 trough concentrations and VCMIA/VUPLC-MS/MS ratios between the three groups. In the multivariate analysis, eCrCl levels (P < 0.001), the time interval from the initial dose to the trough level (P < 0.001), and vancomycin dose (P < 0.001) were associated with CDP-1 trough concentrations. The CDP-1 trough concentration was positively associated with the VCMIA/VUPLC-MS/MS ratio (P = 0.002).

CONCLUSIONS

Delayed timing of trough level sampling could contribute to increased CDP-1 levels and the overestimation of vancomycin levels, especially in patients with severe deterioration in renal function. It may be necessary to increase the frequency of TDM and select quantitative methods to measure vancomycin serum levels without interfering with CDP-1.

Classification and Regression Trees analysis identifies patients at high risk for kidney function decline following hospitalization

Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) decline is associated with negative health outcomes, but the use of decision tree algorithms to predict eGFR decline is underreported. Among patients hospitalized during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, it remains unclear which individuals are at the greatest risk of eGFR decline after discharge. We conducted a retrospective cohort study on patients hospitalized at Stony Brook University Hospital in 2020 who were followed for 36 months post discharge. Random Forest (RF) identified the top ten features associated with fast eGFR decline. Logistic regression (LR) and Classification and Regression Trees (CART) were then employed to uncover the relative importance of these top features and identify the highest risk patients. In the cohort of 1,747 hospital survivors, 61.6% experienced fast eGFR decline, which was associated with younger age, higher baseline eGFR, and acute kidney injury (AKI). Multivariate LR analysis showed that older age was associated with lower odds of fast eGFR decline whereas length of hospitalization and vasopressor use with greater odds. CART analysis identified length of hospitalization as the most important factor and that patients with AKI and hospitalization of 27 days or more were at highest risk. After grouping by ICU and COVID-19 status and propensity score matching for demographics, these risk factors of fast eGFR decline remained consistent. CART analysis can help identify patient subgroups with the highest risk of post-discharge eGFR decline. Clinicians should consider the length of hospitalization in post-discharge monitoring of kidney function.

Comorbidity of patients with noncommunicable diseases in general practice. Eurasian guidelines

Создание руководства поддержано Советом по терапевтическим наукам отделения клинической медицины Российской академии наук.

The Impact of COVID-19 Infection on Patients with Chronic Diseases Admitted to ICU: a Cohort Retrospective Study

The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) infection is causing significant morbidity and mortality rates worldwide. A comprehensive investigation of the disease characteristics, especially among vulnerable disease groups, could help better manage the disease and reduce the pathogen's effect. This retrospective study examined the impact of COVID-19 infection on three groups of patients with chronic diseases. We investigated the clinical characteristics and outcomes of 535 COVID-19 patients with cardiovascular diseases (CVD), chronic kidney diseases (CKD), and Cancer that were admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). Of the total cases, 433 patients (80.93%) were discharged from the ICU, and 102 patients (19.06%) were declared dead. Patients' symptoms, their clinical laboratory findings, number and type of medications, length of ICU stay, and outcome were collected and analyzed. Most COVID-19 patients included in our study were associated with other comorbidities such as diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and heart disease and failure. Upon ICU admission, the main COVID-19-related symptoms in CVD, CKD, and cancer patients were cough (55.73, 50.42, and 50.5%, respectively), Shortness of Breath (SOB) (59.38, 43.1, and 43.7%, respectively), and fever (41.15%, 48.75%, and 28.2%, respectively). In terms of lab findings, D-dimer, LDH, and inflammatory markers, in particular, were outside the normal range. Treatment options for patients with COVID-19 in ICU were mainly antibiotics, synthetic glucocorticoids, and Low Molecular Weight Heparin (LMWH). Furthermore, CKD patients had a longer ICU stay (13.93 ± 15.87 days) which illustrates the poorer outcome in this group of patients compared with the others. In conclusion, our results highlighted the significant risk factors among COVID-19 patients within the three groups. This can guide physicians in prioritizing ICU admission and help in the management of critically ill patients with COVID-19.

Validation of the Wisconsin upper respiratory symptom survey-24, Chinese version

BACKGROUND

The Wisconsin upper respiratory symptom survey (WURSS) is a validated English questionnaire to evaluate the quality of life and severity of upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs). We aimed to develop a Mandarin Chinese version of WURSS-24 (WURSS-24-C) and evaluate its reliability, validity and minimal important difference (MID).

METHODS

The WURSS-24-C was developed using the forward-backward translation procedure. People with URTIs' symptoms within 48 h of onset were recruited and asked to fill in the WURSS-24-C daily for up to 14 d. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were used to suggest domains. The 8-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-8) assessing general mental and physical health was used to assess validity. Reliability estimated by Cronbach's alpha and mean day-to-day change for those indicating minimal improvement as MID were evaluated.

RESULTS

The WURSS-24-C was found to be acceptable, relevant, and easy to complete in cognitive debriefing interviews. A total number of 300 participants (age 28.4 ± 9.3, female 70%) were monitored for 2500 person-days. Four domains (activity and function, systemic symptoms, nasal symptoms and throat symptoms) of the WURSS-24-C were confirmed (comparative fit index [CFI] = 0.93). The reliability of this 4-domain-structure is good (Cronbach's alphas varied from 0.849 to 0.943). Convergent validity is moderate (Pearson correlation coefficients between daily WURSS-24-C and the SF-8 were -0.780 and -0.721, for the SF-8 physical and mental health, respectively). Estimates of MID for individual items varied from -0.41 to -1.14.

CONCLUSIONS

The WURSS-24-C is a reliable and valid questionnaire for assessing illness-specific quality-of-life health status in Chinese-speaking patients with URTIs.Key messagesThe Wisconsin upper respiratory symptom survey (WURSS) series are patient-oriented questionnaire instruments assessing the quality of life and severity of upper respiratory tract infections (URTIs).The WURSS-24 was translated into Mandarin Chinese using the forward-backward translation procedure, and evaluated its validity, reliability and minimal important difference (MID) in 300 Chinese participants with URTIs.The WURSS-24 Chinese version (WURSS-24-C) seems to be a reliable and valid questionnaire for assessing illness-specific quality-of-life health status in Chinese patients with URTIs.

Reduced renal function is associated with prolonged hospitalization in frail older patients with non-severe pneumonia

Objective

Pneumonia is a disease with high morbidity and mortality among older individuals in Japan. In practice, most older patients with pneumonia are not required ventilatory management and are not necessarily in critical respiratory condition. However, prolonged hospitalization itself is considered to be a serious problem even in these patients with non-critical pneumonia and have negative and critical consequences such as disuse syndrome in older patients. Therefore, it is essential to examine the factors involved in redundant hospital stays for older hospitalized patients with non-severe pneumonia, many of whom are discharged alive.

Method

We examined hospitalized patients diagnosed with pneumonia who were 65 years and older in our facility between February 2017 and March 2020. A longer length of stay (LOS) was defined in cases in which exceeded the 80th percentile of the hospitalization period for all patients was exceeded, and all other cases with a shorter hospitalization were defined as a shorter LOS. In a multivariate logistic regression model, factors determining longer LOSs were analyzed using significant variables in univariate analysis and clinically relevant variables which could interfere with renal function, including fasting period, time to start rehabilitation, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), the Quick Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (qSOFA) score of 2 or higher, bed-ridden state.

Results

We analyzed 104 eligible participants, and the median age was 86 (interquartile range, 82–91) years. Overall, 31 patients (30.7%) were bed-ridden, and 37 patients (35.6%) were nursing-home residents. Patients with a Clinical Frailty Scale score of 4 or higher, considered clinically frail, accounted for 93.2% of all patients. In multivariate analysis, for a decrease of 5 ml/min/1.73m² in eGFR, the adjusted odds ratios for longer LOSs were 1.22 (95% confidence interval, 1.04–1.44) after adjusting for confounders.

Conclusion

Reduced renal function at admission has a significant impact on prolonged hospital stay among older patients with non-severe pneumonia. Thoughtful consideration should be given to the frail older pneumonia patients with reduced renal function or with chronic kidney disease as a comorbidity at the time of hospitalization to prevent the progression of geriatric syndrome associated with prolonged hospitalization.

Cost of End-of-Life Inpatient Encounters in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease in the United States: A Report from the DISCOVER CKD Retrospective Cohort

INTRODUCTION

Real-world data reporting healthcare resource utilisation and costs associated with end-of-life care for patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) are limited. We examined length of hospitalisation and costs associated with end-of-life inpatient encounters using retrospective data from DISCOVER CKD.

METHODS

Data on inpatient encounters for patients with CKD aged ≥ 18 years between January 2016 and March 2020 were extracted from the US Premier Hospital Database. Encounters ending in death were identified and grouped by reason for the encounter, using the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, and by their insurance coverage. Encounters were evaluated overall and stratified according to cardiovascular (CV), kidney failure and infection-related reasons, and by their coverage by commercial, Medicaid, Medicare or other insurers. Length of hospitalisation and total costs were calculated for encounters.

RESULTS

Among 237,734 encounters ending in death, the mean [standard deviation (SD)] age was 74.2 (12.4) years, and 45.3% of patients were female. In total, 25,118, 4210 and 76,307 encounters were classified as relating to CV reasons, kidney failure and infection, respectively. Among all encounters, the mean (SD) length of hospitalisation ranged from 9.1 (11.2) (Medicare) to 12.8 (18.4) (Medicaid) days. Across insurers, encounters related to kidney failure were associated with the longest hospitalisations compared with CV and infection [mean range (days): 10.7-15.9 vs. 7.5-10.5 and 8.7-12.7, respectively]. The median [interquartile range (IQR)] total cost of any inpatient encounter was $17,057 ($8040-35,873). Kidney failure-related encounters had higher costs compared with CV and infection [median (IQR), $18,469 ($8673-38,315) vs. $17,503 ($7766-39,693) and $16,403 ($7762-34,910), respectively]. Medicaid-covered encounters had the highest costs of all insurers [median (IQR), $16,189 ($7725-33,443)].

CONCLUSIONS

Among patients with CKD, end-of-life encounters were most frequently related to infection. Encounters relating to kidney failure incurred the highest costs.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT04034992.

Kidney Failure Risk Equation and Cost of Care in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Patients with CKD exhibit heterogeneity in their rates of progression to kidney failure. The kidney failure risk equation (KFRE) has been shown to accurately estimate progression to kidney failure in adults with CKD. Our objective was to determine health care utilization patterns of patients on the basis of their risk of progression.

DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS, & MEASUREMENTS

We conducted a retrospective cohort study of adults with CKD and eGFR of 15-59 ml/min per 1.73 m² enrolled in multidisciplinary CKD clinics in the province of Saskatchewan, Canada. Data were collected from January 1, 2004 to December 31, 2012 and followed for 5 years (December 31, 2017). We stratified patients by eGFR and risk of progression and compared the number and cost of hospital admissions, physician visits, and prescription drugs.

RESULTS

In total, 1003 adults were included in the study. Within the eGFR of 15-29 ml/min per 1.73 m² group, the costs of hospital admissions, physician visits, and drug dispensations over the 5-year study period comparing high-risk patients with low-risk patients were (Canadian dollars) $89,265 versus $48,374 (P=0.008), $23,423 versus $11,231 (P<0.001), and $21,853 versus $16,757 (P=0.01), respectively. Within the eGFR of 30-59 ml/min per 1.73 m² group, the costs of hospital admissions, physician visits, and prescription drugs were $55,944 versus $36,740 (P=0.10), $13,414 versus $10,370 (P=0.08), and $20,394 versus $14,902 (P=0.02) in high-risk patients in comparison with low-risk patients, respectively, for progression to kidney failure.

CONCLUSIONS

In patients with CKD and eGFR of 15-59 ml/min per 1.73 m² followed in multidisciplinary clinics, the costs of hospital admissions, physician visits, and drugs were higher for patients at higher risk of progression to kidney failure by the KFRE compared with patients in the low-risk category. The high-risk group of patients with CKD and eGFR of 15-29 ml/min per 1.73 m² had stronger association with hospitalizations costs, physician visits, and drug utilizations.

End-stage kidney disease and COVID-19 in an urban safety-net hospital in Boston, Massachusetts

Introduction

End-stage kidney disease (ESKD) patients are at a high risk for Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). In this study, we compared characteristics and outcomes of ESKD and non-ESKD patients admitted with COVID-19 to a large safety-net hospital.

Methods

We evaluated 759 adults (45 with ESKD) hospitalized with COVID-19 in Spring of 2020. We examined clinical characteristics, laboratory measures and clinical outcomes. Logistic regression analyses were performed to investigate the associations between ESKD status and outcomes.

Results

73% of ESKD and 47% of non-ESKD patients identified as Black (p = 0.002). ESKD patients were older and had higher rates of comorbidities. Admission ferritin was approximately 6-fold higher in ESKD patients. During hospitalization, the rise in white blood cell count, lactate dehydrogenase, ferritin and C-reactive protein, and the decrease in platelet count and serum albumin were all significantly greater in ESKD patients. The in-hospital mortality was higher for ESKD [18% vs. 10%; multivariable adjusted odds ratio 1.5 (95% CI, 0.48–4.70)], but this did not reach statistical significance.

Conclusions

Among hospitalized COVID-19 patients, ESKD patients had more co-morbidities and more robust inflammatory response than non-ESKD patients. The odds ratio point estimate for death was higher in ESKD patients, but the difference did not reach statistical significance.

Prevalence and associated factors of impaired renal function and albuminuria among adult patients admitted to a hospital in Northeast Ethiopia

Background

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is increasingly common in hospitalized patients and is associated with increased risk for in-hospital morbidity and mortality. However, data regarding the prevalence of CKD in the African hospitalized patient population are limited. We therefore examined the prevalence and associated factors of impaired renal function and albuminuria among adult patients admitted to the internal medicine wards of a hospital in Northeast Ethiopia.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted from January 1 to April 30, 2020 at the inpatient settings of Dessie referral hospital. Data on demographics and medical history were obtained, and serum creatinine and albuminuria were analyzed. Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was calculated using the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD) equation. CKD was defined as impaired eGFR (<60 ml/min/1.73m²) and/or albuminuria. Univariate and multivariable analysis were conducted to determine factors associated with impaired eGFR and albuminuria.

Results

A total of 369 patients were included in this study. The prevalence of impaired eGFR was 19.0% (95%CI: 15.2%–23.2%) and albuminuria was 30.9% (95%CI: 26.3%–35.7%). Overall, 33.9% (95%CI: 29.2%–38.9%) of the patients had some degree of CKD, but only 21.6% (95%CI: 15.1%–29.4%) were aware of their renal disease. In multivariable analysis, older age, a family history of kidney disease, diabetes, hypertension and HIV were independently associated with both impaired eGFR and albuminuria while male gender was independently associated with only albuminuria.

Conclusions

CKD is common in adult patients admitted to the internal medicine wards, but only few patients are aware of their condition. These findings highlight the need for feasible approaches to timely identify kidney disease and raise awareness on the importance of detection and early intervention in the inpatient settings.

Kidney disease and mortality in patients with respiratory tract infections: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Respiratory tract infections (RTIs) are a common reason for people to seek medical care. RTIs are associated with high short-term mortality. Inconsistent evidence exists in the association between the presence of kidney disease and the risk of death in patient with RTIs.

METHODS

We searched the PubMed, Cochrane Library and Embase databases from inception through April 2019 for cohort and case-control studies investigating the presence of kidney disease (defined as medical diagnosis of kidney disease, reduced estimated glomerular filtration rate or creatinine clearance, elevated serum creatinine and proteinuria) on mortality in adults with RTIs in different settings including community, inpatient and intensive care units. We assessed the quality of the included studies using Cochrane Collaboration's tool and conducted a meta-analysis on the relative risk (RR) of death.

RESULTS

Of 5362 records identified, 18 studies involving 16 676 participants met the inclusion criteria, with 15 studies investigating pneumonia and 3 studies exploring influenza. The risk of bias in the available evidence was moderate. Most [17/18 (94.5%)] of studies reported positive associations of underlying chronic kidney disease with mortality. The pooled adjusted risk for all-cause mortality in patients with RTIs almost doubled [RR 1.96 (95% confidence interval 1.48-2.59)] in patients with kidney disease. Associations were consistent across different timings of kidney disease assessment and provenances of RTIs (community-acquired or healthcare-associated).

CONCLUSIONS

The presence of kidney disease is associated with higher mortality among people with RTIs, especially in those with pneumonia. The presence of kidney disease might be taken into account when considering admission for patients who present with RTIs.

Prevalences of hyperuricemia and electrolyte abnormalities in patients with chronic kidney disease in Japan: A nationwide, cross-sectional cohort study using data from the Japan Chronic Kidney Disease Database (J-CKD-DB)

BACKGROUND

The Japan Chronic Kidney Disease Database (J-CKD-DB) is a nationwide clinical database of patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) based on electronic health records. The objective of this study was to assess the prevalences of hyperuricemia and electrolyte abnormalities in Japanese patients with CKD.

METHODS

In total, 35,508 adult outpatients with estimated glomerular filtration rates of 5-60 ml/min/1.73 m2 in seven university hospitals were included this analysis. The proportions of patients with CKD stages G3b, G4, and G5 were 23.5%, 7.6%, and 3.1%, respectively.

RESULTS

Logistic regression analysis showed that prevalence of hyperuricemia was associated with CKD stages G3b (adjusted odds ratio [95% confidence interval]: 2.12 [1.90-2.37]), G4 (4.57 [3.92-5.32]), and G5 (2.25 [1.80-2.80]). The respective prevalences of hyponatremia, hypercalcemia, hyperphosphatemia, and narrower difference between serum sodium and chloride concentrations were elevated in patients with CKD stages G3b, G4, and G5, compared with those prevalences in patients with CKD stage G3a. The prevalences of hyperkalemia were 8.3% and 11.6% in patients with CKD stages G4 and G5, respectively. In patients with CKD stage G5, the proportions of patients with optimal ranges of serum uric acid, potassium, corrected calcium, and phosphate were 49.6%, 73.5%, 81.9%, and 56.1%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

We determined the prevalences of hyperuricemia and electrolyte abnormalities in Japanese patients with CKD using data from a nationwide cohort study.

Association Between IV Thiamine and Mortality in Patients With Septic Shock: A Nationwide Observational Study

OBJECTIVES

To examine the effect of thiamine administration on mortality in patients with septic shock requiring norepinephrine.

DESIGN

Retrospective observational cohort study from July 2010 to March 2017.

SETTING

More than 1,000 acute care hospitals covering approximately 90% of all tertiary care emergency hospitals in Japan.

PATIENTS

Patients with septic shock requiring norepinephrine within 2 days of admission were retrospectively reviewed.

INTERVENTIONS

Patients who received greater than or equal to 100 mg of thiamine within 2 days of admission were included in the thiamine group and those who did not were included in the control group.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

We identified a total of 68,571 eligible patients, including 18,780 and 49,791 patients in the thiamine and control groups, respectively. In the thiamine group, 100 and 200 mg of thiamine per day were administered to 10,143 (54.0%) and 7,679 (40.9%) patients, respectively. The 28-day mortality were 19.2% (3,609/18,780) and 17.8% (8,845/49,791) in the thiamine and control groups, respectively. After adjusting for confounders by inverse probability of treatment weighting, no significant differences were observed between the two groups (risk difference, 0.2%; 95% CI, -0.5% to 0.9%). There were also no significant differences between the 100-mg thiamine group and the control group (risk difference, 0.6%; 95% CI, -0.3% to 1.4%) or between the 200-mg thiamine group and the control group (risk difference, -0.3%; 95% CI, -1.3% to 0.8%).

CONCLUSIONS

The findings of this nationwide database-based observational study did not support an association between thiamine administration early after admission and the 28-day mortality in patients with septic shock.

Prevalence of anemia in patients with chronic kidney disease in Japan: A nationwide, cross-sectional cohort study using data from the Japan Chronic Kidney Disease Database (J-CKD-DB)

BACKGROUND

The Japan Chronic Kidney Disease Database (J-CKD-DB) is a nationwide clinical database of patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) based on electronic health records. The objective of this study was to assess the prevalence of anemia and the utilization rate of erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs) in Japanese patients with CKD.

METHODS

In total, 31,082 adult outpatients with estimated glomerular filtration rates of 5-60 ml/min/1.73 m2 in seven university hospitals were included this analysis. The proportions of patients with CKD stages G3b, G4, and G5 were 23.5%, 7.6%, and 3.1%, respectively.

RESULTS

The mean (standard deviation) hemoglobin level of male patients was 13.6 (1.9) g/dl, which was significantly higher than the mean hemoglobin level of female patients (12.4 (1.6) g/dl). The mean (standard deviation) hemoglobin levels were 11.4 (2.1) g/dl in patients with CKD stage G4 and 11.2 (1.8) g/dl in patients with CKD stage G5. The prevalences of anemia were 40.1% in patients with CKD stage G4 and 60.3% in patients with CKD stage G5. Logistic regression analysis showed that diagnoses of CKD stage G3b (adjusted odds ratio [95% confidence interval]: 2.32 [2.09-2.58]), G4 (5.50 [4.80-6.31]), and G5 (9.75 [8.13-11.7]) were associated with increased prevalence of anemia. The utilization rates of ESAs were 7.9% in patients with CKD stage G4 and 22.4% in patients with CKD stage G5.

CONCLUSIONS

We determined the prevalence of anemia and utilization rate of ESAs in Japanese patients with CKD using data from a nationwide cohort study.

Stratified risks of infection-related hospitalization in patients with chronic kidney disease - A prospective cohort study

Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) are at high risk of infection, but whether the risks are attenuated in different patient groups remains unclear. This study enrolled participants with CKD stages 1-3 in the New Taipei City Health Screening Program between 2005 and 2008. A proportional hazard regression model was employed to calculate the hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for infection-related hospitalization and mortality in younger (<50-year-old) and older (≥50-year-old) CKD patients. Of 119,871 adults, there were 14,207 cases of first hospitalization for infection during a median follow-up of 8.14 years; 45.5% of these cases were younger patients. Unlike CKD stage 1 and 2 patients, the risk of infection-related hospitalization in younger CKD stage 3 patients is as high as for older CKD stage 3 patients. Proteinuria increases the risk of infection-related hospitalization independent of estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) levels in older CKD patients but this relationship is weak in their younger counterparts. In conclusion, the risk of infection-related hospitalization is high in subgroups of CKD patients. Prevention and treatment of infections in these patients merit more attention.

Hip fractures in patients with chronic kidney disease admitted to Victorian hospitals

There is a paucity of epidemiological data in Australia on fracture rates in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Using data from the Victorian Admitted Episodes Dataset, we assessed the incidence of hip fractures requiring hospitalisation between 2006 and 2015, comparing those coded with and without the co-morbidity CKD. ICD-9 and ICD-10 codes were used to determine hip fractures and comorbidities. Overall, 7.4% of 77 076 Victorian hospital admissions for hip fractures had CKD as a co-morbidity, with an increasing proportion over the study period. Mortality was significantly higher in the CKD cohort compared to no CKD, perhaps in part due to increased associated comorbidities of diabetes and ischaemic heart disease.

Association between intravenous contrast media exposure and non-recovery from dialysis-requiring septic acute kidney injury: a nationwide observational study

PURPOSE

This study aimed to examine the association between the use of intravenous contrast and non-recovery from dialysis-requiring acute kidney injury (AKI-D) and in-hospital mortality among patients with sepsis.

METHODS

This was a retrospective observational study using the Japanese Diagnosis Procedure Combination inpatient database between January 2011 and December 2016. We identified patients with septic AKI who began continuous renal replacement therapy (RRT) within 2-days of admission and underwent computed tomography. We compared patients with AKI-D with and without the use of intravenous contrast for computed tomography and performed propensity score matching to adjust for confounders for the association between exposure to intravenous contrast and outcomes, including a composite outcome of in-hospital mortality and RRT dependence at discharge and RRT duration.

RESULTS

From 3782 and 6619 patients with septic AKI-D with and without intravenous contrast exposure, respectively, 3485 propensity score-matched pairs were generated. No significant differences were found in the outcomes between the propensity score-matched groups: a composite outcome of in-hospital mortality and RRT dependence, 49.6% vs. 50.2% (odds ratio (OR) 0.98; 95% CI (confidence interval) 0.88, 1.07); in-hospital mortality, 45.3% vs. 46.1% (OR 0.97; 95% CI 0.87, 1.06); RRT dependence, 4.4% vs 4.1% (OR 1.08; 95% CI 0.85, 1.31); and median (interquartile range) of RRT duration, 4 [2-11] days vs. 4 [2-11] days (P = 0.58).

CONCLUSIONS

This large observational study did not support an association between intravenous contrast media and adverse in-hospital outcomes in patients with septic AKI-D. Further studies are warranted to assess the generalizability.

Adverse outcomes after non urological surgeries in patients with chronic kidney disease: a propensity-score-matched study

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the complications, mortality, and medical expenditures after nonurological surgical procedures in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD).

METHODS

Using claims data of Taiwan's National Health Insurance, we conducted a matched cohort study of 35,643 patients with CKD who underwent nonurological surgeries in 2008-2013. By using a propensity-score matching procedure, 35,643 non-CKD patients were selected for comparison. Logistic regression was used to calculate the odds ratios (ORs) and the 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of postoperative complications and in-hospital mortality associated with CKD.

RESULTS

The results showed that patients with CKD had higher risks of postoperative septicemia (OR: 1.78, 95% CI: 1.68-1.89), pneumonia (OR: 1.60, 95% CI: 1.48-1.73), stroke (OR: 1.34, 95% CI: 1.24-1.44), and in-hospital mortality (OR: 2.17, 95% CI: 1.90-2.47) compared with non-CKD patients. Longer hospital stays and higher medical expenditures after nonurological surgical procedures were noted in CKD patients. The association between CKD and postoperative adverse events was significant in both sexes, all of the age groups, and the other subgroups. Histories of myocardial infarction, epilepsy, and ages greater than 70 years were factors that were significantly associated with postoperative adverse events.

CONCLUSION

Compared with non-CKD patients, surgical patients with CKD exhibited more adverse events, with risks of in-hospital mortality that were approximately 2-fold higher after nonurinary surgery. These findings suggest an urgent need to revise the protocols for postoperative care in this population.

Point of Care eGFR and the Prediction of Outcomes in Pneumonia

Pneumonia is a leading cause of mortality. Severity-assessment scores in pneumonia guide treatment crucially, but the ones currently in existence are limited in their use. Community-based studies demonstrated the association between pre-existing low estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and outcomes in pneumonia. However, whether a single emergency department-eGFR measurement could predict outcomes in pneumonia remains unclear. This retrospective cohort study included 1554 patients hospitalized with pneumonia. The predictor was the first eGFR measurement. Outcomes included mortality, intensive care unit (ICU) admission, durations of hospital and ICU stay, and ventilator use. Receiver operating characteristic curves was used to determine optimal cutoff values to predict mortality. Of 1554 patients, 263 had chronic kidney disease, demonstrated higher C-reactive protein and SMART-COP scores, and had more multilobar pneumonia, acute kidney injury, ICU admission, and mortality. Patients with higher pneumonia severity scores tended to have lower eGFR. For predicting in-hospital mortality, the optimal eGFR cutoff value was 56 mL/min/1.73 m². eGFR < 56 mL/min/1.73 m² had an odds ratio of 2.5 (95% confidence interval, 1.6–4.0) for mortality by multivariate logistic regression. In Conclusion, eGFR < 56 mL/min/1.73 m² is an independent predictor of mortality, indicating that even mild renal impairment affects the outcome of pneumonia adversely.

Temporal change in characteristics and outcomes of acute kidney injury on renal replacement therapy in intensive care units: analysis of a nationwide administrative database in Japan, 2007-2016

Background

We aimed to examine recent trends in patient characteristics and mortality in patients with acute kidney injury (AKI) receiving renal replacement therapy (RRT), including continuous RRT (CRRT) and intermittent RRT (IRRT), in intensive care units (ICUs).

Methods

From the Diagnosis Procedure Combination database in Japan during 6 months (July–December) from 2007 to 2016, we identified patients with AKI who received RRT in ICUs. We restricted the study participants to those admitted to hospitals (in which both CRRT and IRRT were available) that participated in the Diagnosis Procedure Combination database for all 10 years. We examined the trends in patient characteristics and mortality overall, by RRT modality, and by main diagnosis category subgroup. Logistic regression was used to adjust for patient characteristics.

Results

We identified 51,758 patients starting RRT in 287 hospitals, including 39,471 (76.3%) and 12,287 (23.7%) patients starting CRRT and IRRT. The crude in-hospital mortality declined from 44.9 to 36.1% (P for trend < 0.001). Compared with 2007, the adjusted odds ratio (aOR) for in-hospital mortality was 0.66 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.60–0.72) in 2016, and the decreasing trend was observed in both patients starting CRRT (aOR 0.67, 95% CI 0.61–0.75) and IRRT (0.58, 0.45–0.74), and in all subgroups except for coronary artery disease: sepsis aOR 0.68 (95% CI 0.57–0.81); cardiovascular surgery 0.58 (0.45–0.76); coronary artery disease 0.84 (0.60–1.19); non-coronary heart disease 0.78 (0.64–0.94); central nervous system disorders 0.42 (0.28–0.62); trauma 0.39 (0.21–0.72); and other 0.64 (0.50–0.82).

Conclusions

This nationwide study confirmed a consistent decline in mortality among patients with AKI on RRT in ICUs. The adjusted mortality also declined during the study period; however, physiological variables were not measured in this study and it is possible that RRT may have been indicated for patients with less severe AKI in more recent years.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s13054-019-2468-8) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.