Assessing success in transitioning of young adults from pediatric to adult kidney practice

Transition in enuresis patients: Identifying the gaps and opportunities for the future

BACKGROUND

Nocturnal enuresis is generally considered a children's condition, yet it may persist 1%-2% in adolescence and early adulthood. Refractory patients often demand follow-up by multidisciplinary teams, which is only restricted to some of the expert tertiary centers. However, there are no standardized transition programs/guidelines when follow-up must be passed from pediatric to adult healthcare providers.

AIM, MATERIALS & METHODS

To investigate this issue, we conducted a literature search on enuresis transition, which resulted in no articles. We, therefore, proceeded in a rescue search strategy: we explored papers on transition programs of conditions that may be related and/or complicated by enuresis, nocturia, or other urinary symptoms (chronic diseases, CKD, bladder dysfunction, kidney transplant, neurogenic bladder).

RESULTS

These programs emphasize the need for a multidisciplinary approach, a transition coordinator, and the importance of patient and parent participation, practices that could be adopted in enuresis. The lack of continuity in enuresis follow-up was highlighted when we investigated who was conducting research and publishing on enuresis and nocturia. Pediatric disciplines (50%) are mostly involved in children's studies, and urologists in the adult ones (37%).

DISCUSSION

We propose a stepwise approach for the transition of children with enuresis from pediatric to adult care, depending on the clinical subtype: from refractory patients who demand more complex, multidisciplinary care and would benefit from a transition coordinator up to children/young adults cured of enuresis but who persist in having or present lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS)/nocturia later on. In any case, the transition process should be initiated early at the age of 12-14 years, with adequate information to the patient and parents regarding relapses or LUTS/nocturia occurrence and of the future treating general practitioner on the enuresis characteristics and comorbidities of the patient.

Evidence-based clinical practice guideline for management of urinary tract infection and primary vesicoureteric reflux

We present updated, evidence-based clinical practice guidelines from the Indian Society of Pediatric Nephrology (ISPN) for the management of urinary tract infection (UTI) and primary vesicoureteric reflux (VUR) in children. These guidelines conform to international standards; Institute of Medicine and AGREE checklists were used to ensure transparency, rigor, and thoroughness in the guideline development. In view of the robust methodology, these guidelines are applicable globally for the management of UTI and VUR. Seventeen recommendations and 18 clinical practice points have been formulated. Some of the key recommendations and practice points are as follows. Urine culture with > 104 colony forming units/mL is considered significant for the diagnosis of UTI in an infant if the clinical suspicion is strong. Urine leukocyte esterase and nitrite can be used as an alternative screening test to urine microscopy in a child with suspected UTI. Acute pyelonephritis can be treated with oral antibiotics in a non-toxic infant for 7-10 days. An acute-phase DMSA scan is not recommended in the evaluation of UTI. Micturating cystourethrography (MCU) is indicated in children with recurrent UTI, abnormal kidney ultrasound, and in patients below 2 years of age with non-E. coli UTI. Dimercaptosuccinic acid scan (DMSA scan) is indicated only in children with recurrent UTI and high-grade (3-5) VUR. Antibiotic prophylaxis is not indicated in children with a normal urinary tract after UTI. Prophylaxis is recommended to prevent UTI in children with bladder bowel dysfunction (BBD) and those with high-grade VUR. In children with VUR, prophylaxis should be stopped if the child is toilet trained, free of BBD, and has not had a UTI in the last 1 year. Surgical intervention in high-grade VUR can be considered for parental preference over antibiotic prophylaxis or in children developing recurrent breakthrough febrile UTIs on antibiotic prophylaxis.

A lack of KDIGO guidelines for adolescents and young adults with IgA nephropathy

BACKGROUND

IgA nephropathy (IgAN) is one of the most prevalent primary glomerular diseases in children and adolescents. In 2021, The Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) released Clinical Practice Guidelines for the Management of Glomerular Diseases as an update to the 2012 guidelines. However, the lack of available evidence for the treatment of IgAN in children has led to an absence of treatment recommendations.

CLINICAL CASE

We present the case of a 19-year-old male with IgAN who was lost to follow-up after an appointment at a children's hospital 3 years prior. He presents for care at an adult hospital after running out of his medications for many months. He is found to have an elevated blood pressure of 152/97 and an elevated creatinine at 0.8 mg/dL.

DISCUSSION

There is not only a need for treatment guidelines for IgAN in pediatric patients, but also a need for guidelines for adolescent patients with IgAN as they transition from pediatric to adult care. Therefore, we review the KDIGO treatment guidelines for adults with IgAN and the treatment evidence for children with IgAN and discuss the management dilemma that exists for adolescents and young adults (AYA) with IgAN. Specifically, we propose renin-angiotensin-aldosterone blockade (RASB) treatment, irrespective of blood pressure, for AYA with proteinuria >0.5 g/day. We also propose treatment with corticosteroids for patients with proteinuria >1 g/day and/or mesangial hypercellularity.

CONCLUSION

The formation of treatment guidelines for patients transitioning from pediatric to adult nephrology care is paramount.

Transition From Pediatric to Adult Nephrology Care: Program Report of a Single-Center Experience

Purpose of program

Adolescents and young adults with chronic disease face many personal and systemic barriers that may impede their successful transition from pediatric to adult care, putting them at risk for treatment nonadherence, loss to follow-up, and poor health outcomes. Such barriers include impaired socioemotional functioning, overreliance on adult caregivers, lack of disease-specific knowledge, and poor coordination between pediatric and adult health care services. In 2007, we established a specialized youth to adult nephrology transition clinic at a tertiary care center to address these barriers and provide adolescents and young adults with renal disease followed at the affiliated children's hospital with a seamless transition to adult care.

Sources of information

The attending clinic nephrologist collected data prospectively for this quality improvement report.

Methods

The features of this specialized clinic included (1) single point of entry and single triage adult nephrologist, (2) ongoing follow-up with a single adult nephrologist who communicated with the pediatric nephrologists, and (3) a single specialized clinic nurse who provided disease-specific education and helped to ensure ongoing patient engagement and follow-up. Importantly, the transition patients were booked into regular appointment slots in the adult nephrologist's general clinic, which facilitated regular follow-up without additional resources. The salary of the transition clinic nurse was covered by an unrestricted grant. Patient visits were in-person, except between 2020 and 2021 when visits were by telephone due to the pandemic.

Key findings

A total of 213 patients were referred and assessed in the transition clinic from February 2007 until October 2022. Most referrals were from pediatric nephrologists. Among the patients, 29% had a hereditary kidney disease; in 71%, the disease was acquired. The most common disease was glomerulonephritis and ~30% of the patients suffered from a "rare" disease. Of the 213 patients, 123 (58%) continue to be followed up (mean follow-up: 4.8 years), 27 (13%) were transferred to other physicians, in part to accommodate treatment closer to patients' homes, and 29 (14%) without ongoing care needs were discharged. Only 33 (15%) were lost to follow-up. There were several advantages to the clinic, including the maintenance of accurate records, a process to minimize loss to follow-up, and a "critical mass" of patients with rare diseases, which facilitated development of special expertise in rare disease pathogenesis, diagnosis, treatment, and management of complications. Patients with glomerulonephritis demonstrated a stable serum creatinine over 3 to 15 years, and morbidity (as reflected by emergency room visits and hospitalizations) was low.

Limitations

Due to the relatively small numbers of patients in the disease categories, it was not possible to determine conclusively whether attendance of patients in the transition clinic reduced the rate of progression of kidney disease or morbidity.

Implications

A dedicated referral, triage, and follow-up process post-transition with only modest financial resources and personnel can result in accurate tracking of clinic data, as well as consistent and reliable follow-up and expert patient care.

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on medical genetics and genomics training: Perspective from clinical trainees

We sought to understand how the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) pandemic has affected the well‐being, clinical training, and medical education for clinical trainees in medical genetics and genomics residency and fellowship programs. All clinical genetics trainees in the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME)‐accredited training programs were invited to complete a survey. 31 out of 174 trainees completed the survey. With regards to well‐being, 18 trainees reported increased anxiety, 10 had increased depression, 3 increased financial strain, 13 worsening work‐life balance, and 13 worsening physical health. There was increased telehealth utilization in both outpatient (3% before the pandemic vs. 67% during the pandemic) and inpatient clinical encounters (0% vs. 29%). The most commonly reported challenges in telehealth use were inadequate physical examination and technical problems during visits. Twenty trainees believed that the pandemic has negatively impacted overall clinical training while none reported a positive impact. We concluded that the COVID‐19 pandemic has negatively impacted most clinical genetics trainees in ACGME‐accredited training programs. Telehealth has been increasingly used with some challenges. Further studies are needed on how to optimally integrate what we have learned into the training of medical genetics and genomics in the post‐pandemic era.

Digitale Systeme zur Unterstützung von präklinischen Notfalleinsätzen

Hintergrund und Fragestellung

Steigende Anforderungen an Dokumentation und sektorenübergreifende Kommunikation führen zu vermehrtem organisatorischem Aufwand im Notarzt- und Rettungsdienst. Die Verwendung digitaler Informationssysteme im präklinischen Einsatz kann sowohl dazu beitragen, Einsatzkräfte bei diesen Aufgaben zu unterstützen als auch neue Behandlungsmöglichkeiten für Patienten eröffnen. Die Arbeit versucht, ein möglichst umfassendes Bild der derzeitigen Verbreitung und Nutzung von Informations- und Kommunikationssystemen zur Einsatzunterstützung in Deutschland zu erstellen.

Material und Methoden

Die Querschnittsstudie wurde als deutschlandweite, explorative Online-Befragung unter Notärzten und Rettungsdienstfachpersonal von Juli bis August 2020 durchgeführt. Die anschließende Datenanalyse erfolgte durch deskriptive Statistikmethoden. Betrachtet wurden u. a. Lösungen für die digitale Dokumentation und Krankenhausvoranmeldung, für den Versorgungsnachweis und Telenotarztdienst sowie der Digitalfunk.

Ergebnisse

Es wurden 821 Antwortbogen von 481 Rettungswachen aus insgesamt 382 Städten in der Auswertung berücksichtigt. Die Verfügbarkeit von 16 untersuchten Systemen variiert deutschlandweit je nach Bundesland und Anwendungsbereich. Befragte Einsatzkräfte zeigen sich gegenüber neuen Technologien und Möglichkeiten grundsätzlich offen, wenngleich die aktuelle Umsetzung als nicht zufriedenstellend bewertet wird. Herausforderungen zeigen sich v. a. hinsichtlich Verlässlichkeit, Hardware, Benutzerfreundlichkeit und Interoperabilität.

Diskussion

Eine weitreichende Digitalisierung der präklinischen Notfallmedizin wurde in Deutschland bislang nicht erreicht. Die ganzheitliche Betrachtung und vernetzte Implementierung aller am Einsatz beteiligten Systeme und Prozesse kann dazu beitragen, digitale Lösungen für die Präklinik zu verbessern und weiter zu verbreiten.

Transition readiness among adolescents with rare endocrine conditions

OBJECTIVE

Adolescents and young adults (AYA) with common endocrine disorders show a high dropout (up to 50%) after the transfer from paediatric to adult endocrinology. Little is known about transition readiness in rare endocrine conditions (rEC). This study aims to assess medical self-management skills (SMS) among AYA with rEC in relation to age and gender, in order to understand dropout and increase transition readiness.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional study using web-based medical self-management questionnaires.

METHODS

Questionnaires consisting of 54 questions in seven domains were filled out by the adolescents before the first shared appointment with both paediatric and adult endocrinologist.

RESULTS

Fifty-seven patients (median age 17 years, 25/57 females) participated and generally scored well on most items. However, one out of seven did not know the name of their disorder, one sixth of the glucocorticoid users did not know that dose should be adapted in case of illness or surgery, over one-fifth had never ordered their repeat prescriptions themselves and two-thirds had never had a conversation alone with their doctor.

CONCLUSIONS

Several SMS among patients with rEC are insufficient, with regard to medical knowledge, practical skills and communication. As SMS are only weakly related to non-modifiable factors, such as age and gender, we recommend focussing on other factors to increase transition readiness. The timing, amount and 'mode' of medical information should be individualised. Transition checklists should be used to detect shortcomings in practical skills and communication, which can subsequently be trained with the help of parents, caregivers and/or e-technology.