Blood pressure and angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor use in hypertensive patients with chronic renal insufficiency

Guideline-Directed Medical Therapy in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease Undergoing Peripheral Vascular Intervention

INTRODUCTION

Guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT) is imperative to improve cardiovascular and limb outcomes for patients with critical limb ischemia (CLI), especially amongst those at highest risk for poor outcomes, including those with comorbid chronic kidney disease (CKD). Our objective was to examine GDMT prescription rates and their variation across individual sites for patients with CLI undergoing peripheral vascular interventions (PVIs), by their comorbid CKD status.

METHODS

Patients with CLI who underwent PVI (October 2016-April 2019) were included from the Vascular Quality Initiative (VQI) database. CKD was defined as GFR <60 mL/min/1.73 m2. GDMT included the composite use of antiplatelet therapy and a statin, as well as an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor or angiotensin receptor blocker if hypertension was present. The use of GDMT before and after the index procedure was summarized in those with and without CKD. Adjusted median odds ratios (MORs) for site variability were calculated.

RESULTS

The study included 28,652 patients, with a mean age of 69.4 ± 11.7 years, and 40.8% were females. A total of 47.5% had CKD. Patients with CKD versus those without CKD had lower prescription rates both before (31.7% vs. 38.9%) and after (36.5% vs. 48.8%) PVI (p < 0.0001). Significant site variability was observed in the delivery of GDMT in both the non-CKD and CKD groups before and after PVI (adjusted MORs: 1.31-1.41).

DISCUSSION/CONCLUSION

In patients with CLI undergoing PVI, patients with comorbid CKD were less likely to receive GDMT. Significant variability of GDMT was observed across sites. These findings indicate that significant improvements must be made in the medical management of patients with CLI, particularly in patients at high risk for poor clinical outcomes.

Renin-angiotensin system inhibition in advanced chronic kidney disease: how low can the kidney function go?

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

To present the available data on the risks and benefits for ACEi/ARB usage in patients with advanced CKD.

RECENT FINDINGS

It has been well established that ACEi/ARB use is beneficial in patients with mild-to-moderate CKD, especially in patients with proteinuria. The majority of available data includes patients with diabetes mellitus. However, data in individuals with advanced CKD are limited. Additionally, data available for this subset of patients is conflicting and the definition of advanced CKD varies across clinical trials.

SUMMARY

On the basis of our literature review, evidence suggests continuing ACEi/ARB therapy in patients with advanced CKD (eGFR less than 15 ml/min/1.73 m) unless hyperkalemia ensues unresponsive to therapy, hypotension develops or have unusually rapid worsening of eGFR (not usual progressive decline). These patients should be monitored closely. There is not enough data to support starting ACEi/ARBs de novo in patients with advanced CKD (eGFR less than 15 ml/min/1.73 m). If RAS blockade is started de novo in this subgroup, we recommend close monitoring.

Multicentre randomized controlled trial of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor/angiotensin receptor blocker withdrawal in advanced renal disease: the STOP-ACEi trial

BACKGROUND

Blood pressure (BP) control and reduction of urinary protein excretion using agents that block the renin-angiotensin aldosterone system are the mainstay of therapy for chronic kidney disease (CKD). Research has confirmed the benefits in mild CKD, but data on angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEi) or angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) use in advanced CKD are lacking. In the STOP-ACEi trial, we aim to confirm preliminary findings which suggest that withdrawal of ACEi/ARB treatment can stabilize or even improve renal function in patients with advanced progressive CKD.

METHODS

The STOP-ACEi trial (trial registration: current controlled trials, ISRCTN62869767) is an investigator-led multicentre open-label, randomized controlled clinical trial of 410 participants with advanced (Stage 4 or 5) progressive CKD receiving ACEi, ARBs or both. Patients will be randomized in a 1:1 ratio to either discontinue ACEi, ARB or combination of both (experimental arm) or continue ACEi, ARB or combination of both (control arm). Patients will be followed up at 3 monthly intervals for 3 years. The primary outcome measure is eGFR at 3 years. Secondary outcome measures include the number of renal events, participant quality of life and physical functioning, hospitalization rates, BP and laboratory measures, including serum cystatin-C. Safety will be assessed to ensure that withdrawal of these treatments does not cause excess harm or increase mortality or cardiovascular events such as heart failure, myocardial infarction or stroke.

RESULTS

The rationale and trial design are presented here. The results of this trial will show whether discontinuation of ACEi/ARBs can improve or stabilize renal function in patients with advanced progressive CKD. It will show whether this simple intervention can improve laboratory and clinical outcomes, including progression to end-stage renal disease, without causing an increase in cardiovascular events.

Reporting of the estimated glomerular filtration rate was associated with increased use of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and angiotensin-II receptor blockers in CKD

Many guidelines suggest that angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and angiotensin-II receptor antagonists (collectively referred to as renin, angiotensin, aldosterone system blockers (RAAS blockers)) are the preferred treatment for hypertension in most patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Improving the recognition of CKD with the introduction of eGFR reporting was intended to have more patients recognized with and treated for this disease. To quantify this, we examined trends in RAAS-blocker use over an 88-month period before and after routine eGFR reporting in southwestern Ontario, Canada. An intervention analysis with seasonal time-series modeling on linked health administrative data for 45,361 ambulatory residents with CKD (eGFR stages 3-5) older than 65 years was performed with a primary outcome of RAAS-blocker usage. The reporting of eGFR was associated with a significant increase in the use of RAAS blockers, as the prescription rate was 571 per 1000 patients with CKD prior to reporting but improved to 607 per 1000 after reporting. There was a significant increase in RAAS-blocker use attributable to eGFR reporting of 19 per 1000 CKD patients. Since about 8% of the adult population has CKD, this equates to about 15,200 new patients receiving RAAS-blocker treatment by 1 year after the introduction of eGFR reporting in community laboratories. Thus, eGFR reporting contributes to improved, guideline-appropriate care of older patients with CKD.

Use of clinical decision support systems for kidney-related drug prescribing: a systematic review

BACKGROUND

Clinical decision support systems (CDSSs) have the potential to improve kidney-related drug prescribing by supporting the appropriate initiation, modification, monitoring, or discontinuation of drug therapy.

STUDY DESIGN

Systematic review. We identified studies by searching multiple bibliographic databases (eg, MEDLINE and EMBASE), conference proceedings, and reference lists of all included studies.

SETTING & POPULATION

CDSSs used in hospital or outpatient settings for acute kidney injury and chronic kidney disease, including end-stage renal disease (chronic dialysis patients or transplant recipients).

SELECTION CRITERIA FOR STUDIES

Studies prospectively using CDSSs to aid in kidney-related drug prescribing.

INTERVENTION

Computerized or manual CDSSs.

OUTCOMES

Clinician prescribing and patient-important outcomes as reported by primary study investigators. CDSS characteristics, such as whether the system was computerized, and system setting.

RESULTS

We identified 32 studies. In 17 studies, CDSSs were computerized, and in 15 studies, they were manual pharmacist-based systems. Systems intervened by prompting for drug dosing adjustments in relation to the level of decreased kidney function (25 studies) or in response to serum drug concentrations or a clinical parameter (7 studies). They were used most in academic hospital settings. For computerized CDSSs, clinician prescribing outcomes (eg, frequency of appropriate dosing) were considered in 11 studies, with all 11 reporting statistically significant improvements. Similarly, manual CDSSs that incorporated clinician prescribing outcomes showed statistically significant improvements in 6 of 8 studies. Patient-important outcomes (eg, adverse drug events) were considered in 7 studies of computerized CDSSs, with statistically significant improvements in 2 studies. For manual CDSSs, 6 studies measured patient-important outcomes and 5 reported statistically significant improvements. Cost-savings also were reported, mostly for manual CDSSs.

LIMITATIONS

Studies were heterogeneous in design and often limited by the evaluation method used. Benefits of CDSSs may be reported selectively in this literature.

CONCLUSION

CDSSs are available for many dimensions of kidney-related drug prescribing, and results are promising. Additional high-quality evaluations will guide their optimal use.

Potential role of differential medication use in explaining excess risk of cardiovascular events and death associated with chronic kidney disease: a cohort study

Background

Patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) are less likely to receive cardiovascular medications. It is unclear whether differential cardiovascular drug use explains, in part, the excess risk of cardiovascular events and death in patients with CKD and coronary heart disease (CHD).

Methods

The ADVANCE Study enrolled patients with new onset CHD (2001-2003) who did (N = 159) or did not have (N = 1088) CKD at entry. The MDRD equation was used to estimate glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) using calibrated serum creatinine measurements. Patient characteristics, medication use, cardiovascular events and death were ascertained from self-report and health plan electronic databases through December 2008.

Results

Post-CHD event ACE inhibitor use was lower (medication possession ratio 0.50 vs. 0.58, P = 0.03) and calcium channel blocker use higher (0.47 vs. 0.38, P = 0.06) in CKD vs. non-CKD patients, respectively. Incidence of cardiovascular events and death was higher in CKD vs. non-CKD patients (13.9 vs. 11.5 per 100 person-years, P < 0.001, respectively). After adjustment for patient characteristics, the rate of cardiovascular events and death was increased for eGFR 45-59 ml/min/1.73 m² (hazard ratio [HR] 1.47, 95% CI: 1.10 to 2.02) and eGFR < 45 ml/min/1.73 m² (HR 1.58, 95% CI: 1.00 to 2.50). After further adjustment for statins, β-blocker, calcium channel blocker, ACE inhibitor/ARB use, the association was no longer significant for eGFR 45-59 ml/min/1.73 m² (HR 0.82, 95% CI: 0.25 to 2.66) or for eGFR < 45 ml/min/1.73 m² (HR 1.19, 95% CI: 0.25 to 5.58).

Conclusions

In adults with CHD, differential use of cardiovascular medications may contribute to the higher risk of cardiovascular events and death in patients with CKD.

Physician characteristics and knowledge of CKD management

BACKGROUND

Many studies suggest that chronic kidney disease (CKD) care is suboptimal in the United States. However, it is not known whether knowledge of CKD management in primary care physicians (PCPs) might have an important role in the suboptimal care and whether PCP characteristics are associated with having adequate knowledge.

STUDY DESIGN

Cross-sectional study.

SETTING & PARTICIPANTS

Self-administered questionnaire sent to a random sample of 1,550 US PCPs in February 2007.

PREDICTOR OR FACTOR

PCP characteristics, including age, sex, degree (MD versus DO), primary specialty, board certification, patient volume, percentage of time in patient care spent in the inpatient versus outpatient setting, and number of patients referred to nephrologists in a month.

OUTCOMES & MEASUREMENTS

Regression analyses of the association between physician characteristics and overall physician knowledge of CKD management, as well as individual subdomains of CKD knowledge related to recognition of CKD and management of hypertension in the setting of CKD.

RESULTS

470 of 1,453 (32.4%) eligible PCPs returned a completed survey. PCPs show significant variation in their ability to recognize CKD stages 2 to 4, but most have appropriate blood pressure goals in patients with CKD and are knowledgeable of the role of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors in managing proteinuria. For each 10-year increase in age, the odds of showing satisfactory knowledge of CKD management decreased by 26% (odds ratio, 0.74; 95% confidence interval, 0.60 to 0.92). PCPs with the primary specialty of internal medicine had a more than 3-fold greater odds of showing a satisfactory level of knowledge compared with family practice specialists (odds ratio, 3.40; 95% confidence interval, 2.17 to 5.32).

LIMITATIONS

The study findings are limited by the potential presence of nonresponse bias, information bias, and results suggesting there are multiple knowledge subdomains that perhaps are not additive.

CONCLUSION

There is need to improve CKD knowledge in PCPs, especially regarding recognition of CKD at an early stage.

Chronic kidney disease: appropriateness of therapeutic management and associated factors in the AVENIR study

RATIONALE, AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

The nephrology literature contains little information about the global patterns of medication used in the management of patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). This study aims to evaluate the appropriateness of nephrological therapeutic management of CKD patients compared with current guidelines and to investigate associations between patient characteristics and the quality of therapeutic management.

METHODS

All adult CKD patients who were starting dialysis in Lorraine (France) between 1 January 2005 and 31 December 2006 and who had been referred to a nephrologist no less than 1 month previously were enrolled. Demographic, clinical, biological and therapeutic data were collected retrospectively from medical records covering the period from the first nephrology consultation to initiation of dialysis. Outcomes of interest were the appropriateness of the therapeutic management of five aspects of CKD: hypertension/proteinuria, anaemia, bone disease, metabolic acidosis and dyslipidemia. Therapeutic care was given a global rating (high, moderate or poor), depending on the number of aspects being managed appropriately. Relationships between the global rating and demographic and clinical characteristics of patients were explored.

RESULTS

During predialysis nephrology follow-up, 93.1% of the 420 patients enrolled were receiving antihypertensive therapy; 67.1% were taking a renin-angiotensin system inhibitor. Other prescriptions included: erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (67.4%), iron (48.3%), phosphate binders (38.1%), vitamin D (21.1%), bicarbonates (15.5%) and statins (36.2%). Hypertension/proteinuria was managed appropriately in 72.4% of cases, anaemia in 56.2%, bone disease in 16.7%, metabolic acidosis in 60.2% and dyslipidemia in 61.4%. The global quality of care was high in 22.1% of cases, moderate in 65.7% and poor in 12.2%. After adjustment, the more nephrology consultations a patient had before dialysis, the higher the quality of his or her care.

CONCLUSION

The quality of therapeutic care delivered to CKD patients in nephrology setting was suboptimal when assessed in terms of adherence to guidelines.

Delivery patterns of recommended chronic kidney disease care in clinical practice: administrative claims-based analysis and systematic literature review

BACKGROUND

Clinical practice guidelines for management of chronic kidney disease (CKD) have been developed within the Kidney Disease Outcomes Quality Initiative (K/DOQI). Adherence patterns may identify focus areas for quality improvement.

METHODS

We retrospectively studied contemporary CKD care patterns within a private health system in the United States, and systematically reviewed literature of reported practices internationally. Five hundred and nineteen patients with moderate CKD (estimated GFR 30-59 ml/min) using healthcare benefits in 2002-2005 were identified from administrative insurance records. Thirty-three relevant publications in 2000-2006 describing care in 77,588 CKD patients were reviewed. Baseline demographic traits and provider specialty were considered as correlates of delivered care. Testing consistent with K/DOQI guidelines and prevalence of angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor/angiotensin receptor blocker (ACEi/ARB) medication prescriptions were ascertained from billing claims. Care descriptions in the literature sample were based on medical charts, electronic records and/or claims.

RESULTS

KDOQI-consistent measurements of parathyroid hormone (7.1 vs. 0.6%, P = 0.0002), phosphorus (38.2 vs. 1.9%, P < 0.0001) and quantified urinary protein (23.8 vs. 9.4%, P = 0.008) were more common among CKD patients with versus without nephrology referral in the administrative data. Nephrology referral correlated with increased likelihood of testing for parathyroid hormone and phosphorus after adjustment for baseline patient factors. Use of ACEi/ARB medications was more common among patients with nephrology contact (50.0 vs. 30.0%; P = 0.008) but appeared largely driven by higher comorbidity burden. The literature review demonstrated similar practice patterns.

CONCLUSIONS

Delivery of CKD care may be monitored by administrative data. There is opportunity for improvement in CKD guideline adherence in practice.

Cardiovascular Outcomes and All-Cause Mortality: Exploring the Interaction Between CKD and Cardiovascular Disease

BACKGROUND

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD). Concurrently, CVD may promote CKD, resulting in a vicious cycle. We evaluated this hypothesis by exploring whether CKD and CVD have an additive or synergistic effect on future cardiovascular and mortality outcomes.

METHODS

Patients were pooled from 4 community-based studies: Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities, Framingham Heart, Framingham Offspring, and Cardiovascular Health Study. CKD is defined by an estimated glomerular filtration rate less than 60 mL/min/1.73 m(2) (<1 mL/s/1.73 m(2)). Baseline CVD included myocardial infarction, angina, stroke, transient ischemic attack, claudication, heart failure, and coronary revascularization. The primary outcome is a composite of cardiac events, stroke, and death. Secondary outcomes included individual components. Multivariable analyses using Cox regression examined differences in study outcomes. The interaction of CKD and CVD was tested.

RESULTS

The study population included 26,147 individuals. During 10 years, 4% (n = 2,927) of individuals with no CKD or CVD developed the primary outcome, 33% (n = 518) with only CKD, 37% (n = 1,260) with only CVD, and 66% (n = 459) with both. Both CKD (hazard ratio [HR], 1.26; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.16 to 1.35; P < 0.0001) and CVD (HR, 1.83; 95% CI, 1.72 to 1.95; P < 0.0001) were independent risk factors for the primary outcome. The interaction term CKD x CVD was not statistically significant (HR, 0.98; 95% CI, 0.85 to 1.13; P = 0.74). Similar results were obtained for secondary outcomes.

CONCLUSION

CKD and CVD are both strong independent risk factors for adverse cardiovascular and mortality outcomes in the general population. Although individuals with both risk factors are at extremely high risk, there does not appear to be a synergistic effect of CKD and CVD on outcomes.

Blood pressure control in patients with chronic renal insufficiency in Spain: a cross-sectional study

OBJECTIVE

Despite therapeutic advances, strict control of hypertension remains elusive in patients with chronic renal insufficiency (CRI). The present study was designed for assessment of control rates of blood pressure in patients with CRI. Secondary objectives included evaluation of the control rates of proteinuria and cardiovascular comorbidities.

METHODS

A multicenter and cross-sectional survey of unselected patients with CRI attending outpatient nephrology clinics in Spain between April and September 2003 was performed.

RESULTS

Fifty-two centers recruited 2501 patients with a mean age 64.8 years (65.7% men). The prevalence of previous cardiovascular disease was 55%. The two most prevalent renal diseases were vascular (38.9%) and diabetic nephropathy (20.1%). Blood pressure below 130/80 mmHg was observed in 435 patients (17.4%). A poor blood pressure control was associated with older age, greater proteinuria and higher low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels. Proteinuria less than 0.5 g/day was observed in 1209 cases (48.3%). A total of 1899 patients (75.9%) were receiving drugs suppressing the activity of the renin-angiotensin system and 1048 patients (41.9%) were being treated with three or more antihypertensive drugs. Lipid-lowering agents and antiplatelet therapy were used in 49.3 and 38.1% of patients, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

The control rate of blood pressure in patients with CRI is inadequate despite frequent use of combination therapy that most commonly included an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor or an angiotensin receptor blocker. Greater emphasis should be made to increase the number and dose of antihypertensive drugs and the need for using a statin as well as antiplatelet therapy in order to improve renal and cardiovascular outcomes.

Identifying Individuals with a Reduced GFR Using Ambulatory Laboratory Database Surveillance

The use of outpatient laboratory databases to identify people with a low GFR may be part of an effective strategy to increase their use of treatments to prevent kidney failure. All renal function data from 17 independent outpatient laboratories in Eastern Ontario were combined to determine the proportion of adults with at least one serum creatinine measurement during a 1-yr period. The detection rates of low GFR were measured using different algorithms, and what proportion of identified low GFR was transient was considered. Canadian census data were used to calculate rates and proportions. Renal function testing was common. Of the 1,090,000 adult residents, 32% of the entire population and 63% of seniors had at least one serum creatinine measured during the study year. Sixteen percent of the population (49% of those with tests performed) had at least one GFR <80 ml/min per 1.73 m2, 5% (16%) had at least one GFR <60 ml/min per 1.73 m2, and 0.6% (1.7%) had at least one GFR <30 ml/min per 1.73 m2. Low GFR were usually not transient: 68% of individuals with subsequent testing at least 30 d later had a similar or worse GFR. Ambulatory laboratory database case finding, particularly in older patients, seems to be a promising method for easily identifying large segments of the population with persistent reductions in GFR. Whether such identification leads to improved health outcomes warrants further study.

Automated coded ambulatory problem lists: evaluation of a vocabulary and a data entry tool

BACKGROUND

Problem lists are fundamental to electronic medical records (EMRs). However, obtaining an appropriate problem list dictionary is difficult, and getting users to code their problems at the time of data entry can be challenging.

OBJECTIVE

To develop a problem list dictionary and search algorithm for an EMR system and evaluate its use.

METHODS

We developed a problem list dictionary and lookup tool and implemented it in several EMR systems. A sample of 10,000 problem entries was reviewed from each system to assess overall coding rates. We also performed a manual review of a subset of entries to determine the appropriateness of coded entries, and to assess the reasons other entries were left uncoded.

RESULTS

The overall coding rate varied significantly between different EMR implementations (63-79%). Coded entries were virtually always appropriate (99%). The most frequent reasons for uncoded entries were due to user interface failures (44-45%), insufficient dictionary coverage (20-32%), and non-problem entries (10-12%).

CONCLUSION

The problem list dictionary and search algorithm has achieved a good coding rate, but the rate is dependent on the specific user interface implementation. Problem coding is essential for providing clinical decision support, and improving usability should result in better coding rates.

Effectiveness of antihypertensive treatment in chronic renal failure: to what extent and with which drugs do patients treated by nephrologists achieve the recommended blood pressure?

Adequate control of blood pressure (BP) is important to slow the progression of chronic renal failure (CRF). The Joint National Committee (JNC) VI recommends BP <130/85 mmHg, or <125/75 mmHg if urinary protein excretion exceeds 1 g/d. Angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE-I) are considered as first-line agents. The current study is a survey of the degree of goal achievement and prescription patterns of antihypertensive (AHT) medication according to the JNC guidelines in clinical nephrology practice. All patients with CRF, not on renal replacement therapy, treated by nephrologists at the University Hospital of North-Norway were included in this retrospective cross-sectional study. Data on protein:creatinine ratio (PC ratio), BP and AHT drugs prescribed were extracted from the hospital's databases and medical records. A total of 144 patients were included. The patients' age was 62+/-16 years and the serum creatinine value was 210+/-92 micromol/l (mean+/-s.d.). In all, 74 patients (51%) had PC ratio < or =1, 36 (25%) >1, and for 34 (24%) PC ratio had not been measured; 23 (31%) of the patients with PC ratio < or =1 had BP < or =130/85 (139+/-21/78+/-12), and 5 (14%) of those with PC ratio >1 had BP < or =125/75 (145+/-22/85+/-14). Failure to achieve the goal was most commonly due to elevated SBP. In all, 55 % of the patients were prescribed ACE-I or angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB). In conclusion, the recommended BP goals may be difficult to achieve for a high proportion of patients in clinical practice due to difficulty in lowering SBP. There is a potential for improved treatment of hypertension in CRF patients, including increased prescription of ACE-I and ARB.