State-level adjusted ESRD incident rates: use of observed vs model-predicted category-specific rates

Changes in hemodialysis catheter management after introduction of the end-stage renal disease prospective payment system

Background

We investigated whether implementation of the end-stage renal disease prospective payment system (ESRD PPS) was associated with changes in thrombolytic therapy use and other aspects of catheter management in hemodialysis (HD) patients.

Methods

Using quarterly, period prevalent cohorts of patients undergoing maintenance HD with a catheter in the US Renal Data System (2008–2015), we studied rates of claims for within- and outside-HD-unit thrombolytic use, and thrombus/fibrin sheath removal, and rates of delayed HD treatment after ESRD PPS implementation, January 1, 2011. Associations between PPS implementation and change in trend of rates of each outcome were assessed using covariate-adjusted Poisson regression, using a piecewise linear function for quarter-time (with breakpoint at PPS implementation).

Results

Among an average of 69,428 quarterly catheter users, rates of claims for within-HD-unit thrombolytic use declined from 236.6 (Q1–2008) to 81.4 (Q4–2012) per 100 person-years (P < 0.0001, PPS association with change in trend); rates of claims for thrombus/fibrin sheath removal procedures increased from 3.9 (Q1–2008) to 8.8 (Q3–2015) per 100 person-years (P = 0.0001, PPS association with change in trend). Rates of delayed HD treatment increased from 1.6 (Q2–2008) to 2.3 (Q3–2015) per patient-quarter, although PPS implementation was associated with a decrease in this rising trend (1.6% increase per quarter pre-PPS, 1.2% post-PPS; P < 0.0001, change in trend).

Conclusions

After PPS implementation, thrombolytic use decreased and thrombus/fibrin sheath removal increased. The increasing trend in delayed HD treatment appeared to slow after PPS implementation, but delayed sessions continued to increase year over year for unclear reasons.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12882-020-02222-9.

Epidemiological Transition of End-Stage Kidney Disease in Oman

INTRODUCTION

The number of persons receiving renal replacement therapy (RRT) is estimated at more than 2.5 million worldwide, and is growing by 8% annually. Registries in the developing world are not up to standards compared to the United States Renal Data System (USRDS). Herein we examine the causes, progression, and magnitude of end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) over 3 decades in Oman.

METHODS

We examined ESKD data from 1983 to 2013. Data from 1998 to 2013 were obtained through an Information Management System. Data before 2008 were collected from patients' files. A questionnaire based on USRDS form 2728 was completed by nephrologists once a citizen reached ESKD.

RESULTS

A total of 4066 forms were completed, with a response rate of 90% (52% male). The mean (SD) age was 50.1 (14.0) years. By 31 December 2013, there were 2386 patients alive on RRT, of whom 1206 were on hemodialysis (50.5%), 1080 were living with a functioning kidney transplant (45.3%), and 100 were receiving peritoneal dialysis (4.2%). The incidence of ESKD on RRT was 21, 75, and 120 per million population in 1983, 2001, and 2013, respectively. Similarly, the prevalence of ESKD was 49, 916, and 2386 in 1983, 2001, and 2013 respectively. Among patients with ESKD on RRT, a progressive rise was seen in diabetic nephropathy, with 5.8%, 32.1%, and 46% in 1983, 2001, and 2013 respectively.

DISCUSSION

The incidence and prevalence of ESKD has increased progressively over last 30 years. This is anticipated to continue at an even higher rate in view of the progressive rise in noncommunicable diseases. Continuous improvement in registries is required to improve capturing of ESKD patients for providing accurate data to health authorities, and enhancing public awareness of the magnitude, future trends, treatments, and outcomes regarding ESKD.

Trends in Mortality Following Acute Myocardial Infarction Among Dialysis Patients in the United States Over 15 Years

BACKGROUND

We sought to determine 15-year trends in mortality rates among dialysis patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in the contemporary era.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Using the US Renal Data System database, we assembled 4 study cohorts of period-prevalent dialysis patients in 1993, 1998, 2003, and 2008 who were hospitalized for an index AMI in that calendar year. ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and non-STEMI were identified, and in-hospital mortality was calculated. Cumulative probability of death during 2-year follow-up after AMI admission was estimated by the Kaplan-Meier method and adjusted for patient characteristics. A total of 42 933 dialysis patients with AMI were included. Between 1993 (n=4494) and 2008 (n=16 361), proportional increases occurred in patient groups aged ≥75 years (23% and 31%, respectively; P<0.001), of black race (25% and 31%, respectively; P<0.001), with end-stage renal disease due to diabetes (42% and 55%, respectively; P<0.001), and with non-STEMI (42.2% and 80.7%, respectively; P<0.001). For all patients with AMI, in-hospital mortality rates decreased (31.9% in 1993, 18.8% in 2008; P<0.001), as did unadjusted 2-year cumulative probability of death after AMI admission (76.5% in 1993, 71.5% in 2008; P<0.001). Between 1993 and 2008, among STEMI patients, in-hospital mortality (38.2% and 25.9%, P<0.001) and unadjusted 2-year cumulative probability of mortality (77.3% and 71.2%, P<0.001) decreased, but decreases did not occur among NSTEMI patients (14.2% and 14.9%, P=0.47, and 70.9% and 70.1%, P=0.52 respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

In-hospital mortality and 2-year cumulative probability of death following AMI among dialysis patients decreased between 1993 and 2008 but only among STEMI patients, coincident with increased in-hospital percutaneous coronary intervention rates. Period-prevalent cases of non-STEMI markedly increased without interval change in survival.

An instrumental variable approach finds no associated harm or benefit with early dialysis initiation in the United States

The estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) at dialysis initiation has been rising. Observational studies suggest harm, but may be confounded by unmeasured factors. As instrumental variable methods may be less biased we performed a retrospective cohort study of 310,932 patients starting dialysis between 2006 to 2008 and registered in the United States Renal Data System in order to describe geographic variation in eGFR at dialysis initiation and determine its association with mortality. Patients were grouped into 804 health service areas by zip code. Individual eGFR at dialysis initiation averaged 10.8 ml/min/1.73m² but varied geographically. Only 11% of the variation in mean health service areas-level eGFR at dialysis initiation was accounted for by patient characteristics. We calculated demographic-adjusted mean eGFR at dialysis initiation in the health service areas using the 2006 and 2007 incident cohort as our instrument and estimated the association between individual eGFR at dialysis initiation and mortality in the 2008 incident cohort using the 2 stage residual inclusion method. Among 89,547 patients starting dialysis in 2008 with eGFR 5 to 20 ml/min/1.73m², eGFR at initiation was not associated with mortality over a median of 15.5 months [hazard ratio 1.025 per 1 ml/min/1.73m² for eGFR 5 to 14 ml/min/1.73m²; and 0.973 per 1 ml/min/1.73m² for eGFR 14 to 20 ml/min/1.73m²]. Thus, there was no associated harm or benefit from early dialysis initiation in the United States.

Trends in hip fracture rates in US hemodialysis patients, 1993-2010

BACKGROUND

Changes in mineral and bone disorder treatment patterns and demographic changes in the dialysis population may have influenced hip fracture rates in US dialysis patients in 1993-2010.

STUDY DESIGN

Retrospective follow-up study analyzing trends over time in hospitalized hip fracture rates.

SETTING & PARTICIPANTS

Using Medicare data, we created 2 point-prevalent study cohorts for each study year. Hemodialysis cohorts included patients with Medicare as primary payer receiving hemodialysis in the United States on January 1 of each year; non-end-stage renal disease (ESRD) cohorts included Medicare beneficiaries 66 years or older on January 1 of each year.

FACTORS

Age, sex, race, primary cause of ESRD, dual Medicare/Medicaid enrollment status, comorbid conditions.

OUTCOMES

Hip fracture rates.

MEASUREMENTS

Unadjusted hip fracture rates measured using number of events per 1,000 person-years in each year, then adjusted for patient characteristics. Poisson models estimated strata-specific event rates.

RESULTS

The observed number of first hospitalized hip fracture events and the adjusted hip fracture rate increased steadily from 1993 (831 events; 11.9/1,000 person-years), peaked in 2004 (3,256 events; 21.9/1,000 person-years), and decreased through 2010 (2,912 events; 16.6/1,000 person-years). The trend for the subset of hemodialysis patients 66 years or older was similar to the trend for the full hemodialysis cohort; however, it differed markedly in magnitude and pattern from the non-ESRD Medicare cohort, for which rates were substantially lower and slowly decreasing since 1996.

LIMITATIONS

Unable to provide causal explanations for observed changes; hip fractures identified through inpatient episodes; results do not describe hemodialysis patients without Medicare Parts A and B; laboratory values unavailable in the Medicare data set.

CONCLUSIONS

Temporal trends in hip fracture rates among Medicare hemodialysis patients differ markedly from the steadily decreasing trend in non-ESRD Medicare beneficiaries, showing a relatively rapid increase until 2004 and relatively rapid decrease thereafter. Further research is needed to define associated factors.