Fifteen-year temporal changes in rates of acute kidney injury among children in Denmark

BACKGROUND

We aimed to examine temporal changes in the annual rate of acute kidney injury (AKI) in Danish children and associated changes in patient characteristics including potential underlying risk factors.

METHODS

In this population-based cohort study, we used plasma creatinine measurements from Danish laboratory databases to identify AKI episodes in children aged 0-17 years from 2007 to 2021. For each child, the first AKI episode per calendar year was included. We estimated the annual crude and sex- and age-standardized AKI rate as the number of children with an AKI episode divided by the total number of children as reported by census numbers. Using Danish medical databases, we assessed patient characteristics including potential risk factors for AKI, such as use of nephrotoxic medication, surgery, sepsis, and perinatal factors.

RESULTS

In total, 14,200 children contributed with 16,345 AKI episodes over 15 years. The mean annual AKI rate was 148 (95% CI: 141-155) per 100,000 children. From 2007 to 2021, the annual AKI rate demonstrated minor year-to-year variability without any discernible overall trend. The highest AKI rate was recorded in 2007 at 174 (95% CI: 161-187) per 100,000 children, while the lowest rate occurred in 2012 at 129 (95% CI: 118-140) per 100,000 children. In 2021, the AKI rate was 148 (95% CI: 141-155) per 100,000 children. Characteristics of children with AKI were similar throughout the study period.

CONCLUSION

The rate of AKI among Danish children was stable from 2007 to 2021 with little variation in patient characteristics over time.

Predicting the risks of kidney failure and death in adults with moderate to severe chronic kidney disease: multinational, longitudinal, population based, cohort study

OBJECTIVE

To train and test a super learner strategy for risk prediction of kidney failure and mortality in people with incident moderate to severe chronic kidney disease (stage G3b to G4).

DESIGN

Multinational, longitudinal, population based, cohort study.

SETTINGS

Linked population health data from Canada (training and temporal testing), and Denmark and Scotland (geographical testing).

PARTICIPANTS

People with newly recorded chronic kidney disease at stage G3b-G4, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) 15-44 mL/min/1.73 m2.

MODELLING

The super learner algorithm selected the best performing regression models or machine learning algorithms (learners) based on their ability to predict kidney failure and mortality with minimised cross-validated prediction error (Brier score, the lower the better). Prespecified learners included age, sex, eGFR, albuminuria, with or without diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. The index of prediction accuracy, a measure of calibration and discrimination calculated from the Brier score (the higher the better) was used to compare KDpredict with the benchmark, kidney failure risk equation, which does not account for the competing risk of death, and to evaluate the performance of KDpredict mortality models.

RESULTS

67 942 Canadians, 17 528 Danish, and 7740 Scottish residents with chronic kidney disease at stage G3b to G4 were included (median age 77-80 years; median eGFR 39 mL/min/1.73 m2). Median follow-up times were five to six years in all cohorts. Rates were 0.8-1.1 per 100 person years for kidney failure and 10-12 per 100 person years for death. KDpredict was more accurate than kidney failure risk equation in prediction of kidney failure risk: five year index of prediction accuracy 27.8% (95% confidence interval 25.2% to 30.6%) versus 18.1% (15.7% to 20.4%) in Denmark and 30.5% (27.8% to 33.5%) versus 14.2% (12.0% to 16.5%) in Scotland. Predictions from kidney failure risk equation and KDpredict differed substantially, potentially leading to diverging treatment decisions. An 80-year-old man with an eGFR of 30 mL/min/1.73 m2 and an albumin-to-creatinine ratio of 100 mg/g (11 mg/mmol) would receive a five year kidney failure risk prediction of 10% from kidney failure risk equation (above the current nephrology referral threshold of 5%). The same man would receive five year risk predictions of 2% for kidney failure and 57% for mortality from KDpredict. Individual risk predictions from KDpredict with four or six variables were accurate for both outcomes. The KDpredict models retrained using older data provided accurate predictions when tested in temporally distinct, more recent data.

CONCLUSIONS

KDpredict could be incorporated into electronic medical records or accessed online to accurately predict the risks of kidney failure and death in people with moderate to severe CKD. The KDpredict learning strategy is designed to be adapted to local needs and regularly revised over time to account for changes in the underlying health system and care processes.

Hypoparathyroidism and mortality after total thyroidectomy: A nationwide matched cohort study

OBJECTIVE

Total thyroidectomy (TT) carries a risk of hypoparathyroidism (hypoPT). Recently, hypoPT has been associated with higher overall mortality rates. We aimed to evaluate the frequency of hypoPT and mortality in patients undergoing TT in Denmark covering 20 years.

DESIGN

Retrospective Cohort study.

PATIENTS AND MEASUREMENTS

Using population-based registries, we identified all Danish individuals who had undergone TT between January 1998 and December 2017. We included a comparison cohort by randomly selecting 10 citizens for each patient, matched on sex and birth year. HypoPT was defined as treatment with active vitamin D after 12 months postoperatively. We used cumulative incidence to calculate risks and Cox regression to compare the rate of mortality between patients and the comparison cohort. We evaluated patients in different comorbidity groups using the Charlson Comorbidity Index and by different indications for surgery.

RESULTS

7912 patients underwent TT in the period. The prevalence of hypoPT in the study period was 16.6%, 12 months postoperatively. After adjusting for potential confounders the risk of death due to any causes (hazard ratio; 95% confidence intervals) following TT was significantly increased (1.34; 1.15-1.56) for patients who developed hypoPT. However, subgroup analysis revealed mortality was only increased in malignancy cases (2.48; 1.99-3.10) whereas mortality was not increased when surgery was due to benign indications such as goitre (0.88; 0.68-1.15) or thyrotoxicosis (0.86; 0.57-1.28).

CONCLUSIONS

The use of active vitamin D for hypoPT was prevalent one year after TT. Patients with hypoPT did not have an increased risk of mortality following TT unless the indication was due to malignancy.

Proton pump inhibitors and the risk of acute kidney injury in cancer patients receiving immune checkpoint inhibitors: A Danish population-based cohort study

Previous studies have suggested that the use of proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) more than doubles the risk of acute kidney injury (AKI) in cancer patients receiving immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). However, this association may be confounded. Therefore, we conducted a register-based cohort study to examine the risk of AKI in users and nonusers of PPIs among cancer patients treated with ICIs in Denmark from 2011 through 2021 while accounting for a comprehensive range of potential confounders. PPI use was determined based on redeemed prescriptions of PPIs before ICI initiation. We identified laboratory-recorded AKI events within the first year after ICI initiation. We estimated the risks and hazard ratios (HRs) of AKI while accounting for a comprehensive range of confounders (including comorbidities and comedication) by propensity score weighting. Furthermore, we performed an additional per-protocol analysis while accounting for informative censoring by weighting. We identified 10 200 cancer patients including 2749 (27%) users, 6214 (61%) nonusers, and 1237 (12%) former users of PPIs. PPI users had an increased risk of AKI compared to nonusers (1-year risk, 24.7% vs 19.9%; HR, 1.42 [95% confidence interval (CI), 1.29-1.56]); however, this association attenuated when accounting for confounders (weighted 1-year risk, 24.2% vs 23.8%; weighted HR, 1.06 [95% CI, 0.93-1.21]). In the per-protocol analysis, the crude HR was 1.86 (95% CI, 1.63-2.12), while the weighted HR was 1.24 (95% CI, 1.03-1.49). Thus, the association between PPI use and AKI could largely be explained by confounding, suggesting that previous studies may have overestimated the association.

Non-COVID-19 intensive care admissions during the pandemic: a multinational registry-based study

BACKGROUND

The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in a large number of critical care admissions. While national reports have described the outcomes of patients with COVID-19, there is limited international data of the pandemic impact on non-COVID-19 patients requiring intensive care treatment.

METHODS

We conducted an international, retrospective cohort study using 2019 and 2020 data from 11 national clinical quality registries covering 15 countries. Non-COVID-19 admissions in 2020 were compared with all admissions in 2019, prepandemic. The primary outcome was intensive care unit (ICU) mortality. Secondary outcomes included in-hospital mortality and standardised mortality ratio (SMR). Analyses were stratified by the country income level(s) of each registry.

FINDINGS

Among 1 642 632 non-COVID-19 admissions, there was an increase in ICU mortality between 2019 (9.3%) and 2020 (10.4%), OR=1.15 (95% CI 1.14 to 1.17, p<0.001). Increased mortality was observed in middle-income countries (OR 1.25 95% CI 1.23 to 1.26), while mortality decreased in high-income countries (OR=0.96 95% CI 0.94 to 0.98). Hospital mortality and SMR trends for each registry were consistent with the observed ICU mortality findings. The burden of COVID-19 was highly variable, with COVID-19 ICU patient-days per bed ranging from 0.4 to 81.6 between registries. This alone did not explain the observed non-COVID-19 mortality changes.

INTERPRETATION

Increased ICU mortality occurred among non-COVID-19 patients during the pandemic, driven by increased mortality in middle-income countries, while mortality decreased in high-income countries. The causes for this inequity are likely multi-factorial, but healthcare spending, policy pandemic responses, and ICU strain may play significant roles.

Oral anticoagulant treatment and risk of kidney disease-a nationwide, population-based cohort study

Background

Direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) are recommended as first-line treatment of atrial fibrillation. Whether DOAC use is associated with lower risks of kidney complications compared with vitamin K antagonists (VKAs) remains unclear. We examined this association in a nationwide, population-based cohort study.

Methods

We conducted a cohort study including patients initiating oral anticoagulant treatment within 3 months after an atrial fibrillation diagnosis in Denmark during 2012-18. Using routinely collected creatinine measurements from laboratory databases, we followed patients in an intention-to-treat approach for acute kidney injury (AKI) and chronic kidney disease (CKD) progression. We used propensity-score weighting to balance baseline confounders, computed weighted risks and weighted hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) comparing DOACs with VKAs. We performed several subgroup analyses and a per-protocol analysis.

Results

We included 32 781 persons with atrial fibrillation initiating oral anticoagulation (77% initiating DOACs). The median age was 75 years, 25% had a baseline estimated glomerular filtration rate <60 mL/min/1.73 m2, and median follow-up was 2.3 (interquartile range 1.1-3.9) years. The weighted 1-year risks of AKI were 13.6% in DOAC users and 15.0% in VKA users (HR 0.86, 95% CI 0.82; 0.91). The weighted 5-year risks of CKD progression were 13.9% in DOAC users and 15.4% in VKA users (HR 0.85, 95% CI 0.79; 0.92). Results were similar across subgroups and in the per-protocol analysis.

Conclusions

Initiation of DOACs was associated with a decreased risk of AKI and CKD progression compared with VKAs. Despite the potential limitations of observational studies, our findings support the need for increased clinical awareness to prevent kidney complications among patients who initiate oral anticoagulants.

Regional variation in incidence and prognosis of acute kidney injury

BACKGROUND

Examining regional variation in acute kidney injury (AKI) and associated outcomes may reveal inequalities and possibilities for optimization of the quality of care. Using the Danish medical databases, we examined regional variation in the incidence, follow-up, and prognosis of AKI in Denmark.

METHODS

Patients with one or more AKI episodes in 2017 were identified using population-based creatinine measurements covering all Danish residents. Crude and sex-and-age-standardized incidence rates of AKI were estimated using census statistics for each municipality. Adjusted hazard ratios (aHR) of chronic kidney disease (CKD), all-cause death, biochemical follow-up, and outpatient contact with a nephrology department after AKI were estimated across geographical regions and categories of municipalities, accounting for differences in demographics, comorbidities, medication use, lifestyle and social factors, and baseline kidney function.

RESULTS

We identified 63 382 AKI episodes in 58 356 adults in 2017. The regional standardized AKI incidence rates ranged from 12.9 to 14.9 per 1 000 person-years. Compared with the Capital Region of Denmark, the aHRs across regions ranged from 1.04 to 1.25 for CKD, from 0.97 to 1.04 for all-cause death, from 1.09 to 1.15 for biochemical follow-up, and from 1.08 to 1.49 for outpatient contact with a nephrology department after AKI. Similar variations were found across municipality categories.

CONCLUSIONS

Within the uniform Danish healthcare system, we found modest regional variation in AKI incidence. The mortality after AKI was similar; however, CKD, biochemical follow-up, and nephrology follow-up after AKI varied across regions and municipality categories.

Cohort Profile: Better Health in Late Life

Purpose

Humans are living longer and may develop multiple chronic diseases in later life. The Better Health in Late Life cohort study aims to improve our understanding of the risks and outcomes of multimorbidity in the Danish population.

Methods

A randomly-selected sample of Danish residents who were 50-65 years of age received a questionnaire and an invitation to participate in this study. Respondents completed an online survey between October 2021 and January 2022 which addressed topics that included self-assessed health, mental health, sleep, specific medical conditions, use of painkillers, diet, alcohol consumption, smoking, physical activity, and body composition. This information was linked to the Danish health and social registries (some established in 1943 and onwards) that maintain data on filled prescriptions, hospital records, socioeconomic status, and health care utilization.

Results

Responses were received from 115,431 of the 301,244 residents invited to participate (38%). We excluded respondents who answered none of the questions as well as those who provided no information on sex or indicated an age other than 50-65 years. Of the 114,283 eligible respondents, 54.8% were female, 30.3% were overweight, and 16.7% were obese. Most participants reported a weekly alcohol consumption of less than seven units and 13.3% were current smokers; 5.2% had a history of hospitalization for solid cancer, and 3.0%, 2.3%, 2.0%, and 0.9% reported chronic pulmonary disease, diabetes, stroke, and myocardial infarction, respectively. The most frequently filled prescriptions were for medications used to treat the nervous system and cardiovascular diseases (38.1% and 37.4%, respectively).

Increased Cancer Risk in Patients with Kidney Disease and Venous Thromboembolism: A Population-Based Cohort Study

BACKGROUND

 Venous thromboembolism (VTE) may be a harbinger of cancer in the general population. Patients with kidney disease have an a priori increased VTE risk. However, it remains unknown how a VTE affects subsequent cancer risk in these patients.

OBJECTIVES

 To examine the cancer risk in patients with kidney disease following a VTE.

METHODS

 We conducted a nationwide population-based cohort study in Denmark (1996-2017), including all VTE patients with a diagnosis of kidney disease. We calculated absolute risks of cancer (accounting for competing risk of death) and age-, sex-, and calendar-period standardized incidence ratios (SIRs) comparing the observed cancer incidence with national cancer incidence rates and cancer incidence rates of VTE patients without kidney disease.

RESULTS

 We followed 3,362 VTE patients with kidney disease (45.9% females) for a median follow-up time of 2.4 years (interquartile range: 0.6-5.4). During follow-up, 464 patients were diagnosed with cancer, of whom 169 (36.4%) were diagnosed within the first year. The 1-year absolute risk of any cancer was 5.0% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 4.3-5.8), with a SIR of 2.9 (95% CI: 2.5-3.4) when compared with the general population, and 2.0 (95% CI: 1.8-2.4) when compared with VTE patients without kidney disease. During subsequent years of follow-up, the SIRs declined to 1.5 (95% CI: 1.3-1.6) when compared with the general population, and 1.1 (95% CI: 0.9-1.2) compared with VTE patients without kidney disease.

CONCLUSION

 Patients with hospital-diagnosed kidney disease have increased cancer risk after VTE, especially within the first year following the VTE diagnosis.

Performance of the race-free CKD-EPI creatinine-based eGFR equation in a Danish cohort with measured GFR

Background

In 2021, an updated Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration (CKD-EPI) equation for estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) without a coefficient for race (CKD-EPI21) was developed. The performance of this new equation has yet to be examined among specific patient groups.

Methods

We compared the performances of the new CKD-EPI21 equation and the 2009 equation assuming non-Black race (CKD-EPI09-NB) in patients with GFR measured by chromium-51-EDTA plasma clearance at Aarhus University Hospital in Denmark during 2010-18. We examined bias, accuracy, precision and correct classification of chronic kidney disease (CKD) stage using chromium-51-EDTA clearance as the reference standard. We assessed the performance in the total cohort, cancer patients and potential living kidney donors. We also assessed the performance stratified by CKD stage in the total cohort.

Results

In this predominantly white population, the CKD-EPI21 equation performed slightly better than the CKD-EPI09-NB equation in both the total cohort (N = 4668), and in cancer patients (N = 3313) and potential living kidney donors (N = 239). In the total cohort, the CKD-EPI21 equation demonstrated a slightly lower median absolute bias (-0.2 versus -4.4 mL/min/1.73 m2), and a similar accuracy, precision and correct classification of CKD stage compared with the CKD-EPI09-NB equation. When stratified by CKD stage, the CKD-EPI09-NB equation performed slightly better than the CKD-EPI21 equation among patients with a measured GFR (mGFR) <60 mL/min/1.73 m2.

Conclusions

In a selected cohort of Danish patients with mGFR, the CKD-EPI21 equation performed slightly better than the CKD-EPI09-NB equation except for patients with a mGFR <60 mL/min/1.73 m2, where CKD-EPI09-NB performed slightly better although the differences were considered clinically insignificant.

Comorbidity, Criminality, and Costs of Patients Treated for Gambling Disorder in Denmark

Gambling disorder is associated with increased mental comorbidity, unhealthy lifestyle, criminality, and costs-of-illness, but the available evidence is mainly based on self-reported survey data. We examined the registry-recorded mental and somatic comorbidities, medication use, criminality, and costs-of-illness associated with gambling disorder. We identified individuals diagnosed with or treated for gambling disorder in hospitals or specialized treatment centers during 2013-2017 and matched them by age and sex to general population comparisons. Using individual-level healthcare and socioeconomic registries, we characterized their history of mental and somatic comorbidities, medication use, and criminality. We estimated their cost-of-illness of welfare services (direct) and lowered productivity (indirect) using the human capital approach. We identified 1381 individuals with gambling disorder, primarily young (median age: 34 years) men (87%). Individuals with gambling disorder more frequently than their comparisons had previous hospital-recorded comorbidity [e.g., myocardial infarction (0.8% vs. 0.5%)], medication use [e.g., respiratory system drugs (35.6% vs. 28.6%)], and hospital-recorded or pharmacologically treated mental comorbidity [e.g., depression (39.8% vs. 14.9%)]. Also, sentenced criminality was much more common in individuals with gambling disorder (7.0%) than in comparisons (1.1%). The estimated attributable direct costs were €4.0 M corresponding to €2.9 K per person with gambling disorder, and attributable indirect costs were €17.6 M, corresponding to €13.2 K per person with gambling disorder in 2018. In conclusion, individuals diagnosed with or treated for gambling disorder have a high burden of mental and somatic comorbidities as well as criminality compared with the general population. This needs attention to minimize the societal and personal costs of gambling disorder.

Temporal changes in incidence of hospital-diagnosed acute pyelonephritis: A 19-year population-based Danish cohort study

Objectives

To examine temporal changes in the incidence of hospital-diagnosed acute pyelonephritis (APN) and characterize associated demographics.

Methods

Cohort study including Danish patients with hospital-diagnosed APN during 2000-2018, identified by International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision codes. Annual sex- and age-standardized incidence rates per 10,000 person years with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were stratified by sex, age group, diagnosis code, and region of residence. Incidence rates for selected urinary tract infections and sepsis diagnoses were also computed.

Results

We included 66,937 hospital-diagnosed APN episodes in 57,162 patients. From 2000 to 2018, the incidence increased from 6.8 (95% CI: 6.8-6.8) to 15.4 (95% CI: 15.4-15.4) in women and from 2.7 (95% CI: 2.7-2.7) to 4.5 (95% CI: 4.5-4.5) in men. Among infants, the rate rose from 7.4 (95% CI: 7.4-7.4) to 64.8 (95% CI: 64.7-64.9) in girls and from 17.1 (95% CI: 17.1-17.2) to 52.5 (95% CI: 52.4-52.6) in boys. Concomitant declines were observed in incidences of hospital-diagnosed unspecified urinary tract infections and sepsis.

Conclusion

The APN incidence roughly doubled during 2000-2018. The increase was largely driven by a prominently increasing incidence among young children which was not explained by the enlarging prevalence of congenital anomalies of the kidney and urinary tract.

Labor market affiliation of patients with myeloproliferative neoplasms: a population-based matched cohort study

BACKGROUND

Patients with myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs) suffer from substantial symptoms and risk of debilitating complications, yet observational data on their labor market affiliation are scarce.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

We conducted a descriptive cohort study using data from Danish nationwide registries, including patients diagnosed with MPN in 2010-2016. Each patient was matched with up to ten comparators without MPN on age, sex, level of education, and region of residence. We assessed pre- and post-diagnosis labor market affiliation, defined as working, unemployed, or receiving sickness benefit, disability pension, retirement pension, or other health-related benefits. Labor market affiliation was assessed weekly from two years pre-diagnosis until death, emigration, or 31 December 2018. For patients and comparators, we reported percentage point (pp) changes in labor market affiliation cross-sectionally from week -104 pre-diagnosis to week 104 post-diagnosis.

RESULTS

The study included 3,342 patients with MPN and 32,737 comparators. From two years pre-diagnosis until two years post-diagnosis, a larger reduction in the proportion working was observed among patients than comparators (essential thrombocythemia: 10.2 [95% CI: 6.3-14.1] vs. 6.8 [95% CI: 5.5-8.0] pp; polycythemia vera: 9.6 [95% CI: 5.9-13.2] vs. 7.4 [95% CI: 6.2-8.7] pp; myelofibrosis: 8.1 [95% CI: 3.0-13.2] vs. 5.8 [95% CI: 4.2-7.5] pp; and unclassifiable MPN: 8.0 [95% CI: 3.0-13.0] vs. 7.4 [95% CI: 5.7-9.1] pp). Correspondingly, an increase in the proportion of patients receiving sickness benefits including other health-related benefits was evident around the time of diagnosis.

CONCLUSION

Overall, we found that Danish patients with essential thrombocythemia, polycythemia vera, myelofibrosis, and unclassifiable MPN had slightly impaired labor market affiliation compared with a population of the same age and sex. From two years pre-diagnosis to two years post-diagnosis, we observed a larger reduction in the proportion of patients with MPN working and a greater proportion receiving sickness benefits compared with matched individuals.

Healthcare Costs at the End of Life for Patients with Non-cancer Diseases and Cancer in Denmark

OBJECTIVES

To examine costs of care from a healthcare sector perspective within 1 year before death in patients with non-cancer diseases and patients with cancer.

METHODS

This nationwide registry-based study identified all Danish citizens dying from major non-cancer diseases or cancer in 2010-2016. Applying the cost-of-illness method, we included costs of somatic hospitals, including hospital-based specialist palliative care, primary care, prescription medicine and hospice expressed in 2022 euros. Costs of patients with non-cancer diseases and cancer were compared using regression analyses adjusting for sex, age, comorbidity, residential region, marital/cohabitation status and income level.

RESULTS

Within 1 year before death, mean total healthcare costs were €27,185 [95% confidence interval (CI) €26,970-27,401] per patient with non-cancer disease (n = 109,723) and €51,348 (95% CI €51,098-51,597) per patient with cancer (n = 108,889). The adjusted relative total healthcare costs, i.e. the ratio of the mean costs, of patients with non-cancer diseases was 0.64 (95% CI 0.63-0.66) at 12 months before death and 0.91 (95% CI 0.90-0.92) within 30 days before death compared with patients with cancer. Mean costs of hospital-based specialist palliative care and hospice in the year leading up to death were €17 (95% CI €13-20) and €90 (95% CI €77-102) per patient with non-cancer disease but €1552 (95% CI €1506-1598) and €3411 (95% CI €3342-3480) per patient with cancer.

CONCLUSIONS

Within 1 year before death, total healthcare costs, mainly driven by hospital costs, were substantially lower for patients with non-cancer diseases compared with patients with cancer. Moreover, the costs of hospital-based specialist palliative care and hospice were minimal for patients with non-cancer diseases.

Twenty-four-Year Trends in Incidence and Mortality of Nephrotic Syndrome: A Population-Based Cohort Study

BACKGROUND

With the increasing prevalence of risk factors for nephrotic syndrome, updated epidemiologic data on the syndrome are needed. We examined its age- and sex-specific incidence, histopathology, and mortality over 24 years.

METHODS

This nationwide cohort study included all adults with first-time-recorded nephrotic syndrome in Denmark during 1995-2018 using the Danish National Patient Registry. We obtained data on age, sex, hospital-diagnosed comorbidities, and histopathologic findings. We computed overall, and age- and sex-specific, incidence rates of nephrotic syndrome, 1- and 5-year mortality by calendar period, and 1-year hazard ratios (HRs) of death using Cox models.

RESULTS

We identified 3,970 adults with first-time nephrotic syndrome diagnosis. Incidence was highest in men and increased with age to 11.77 per 100,000 person-years (95% confidence interval [CI]: 10.21-13.32) in men aged 80+ years, and 6.56 per 100,000 person-years (95% CI: 5.71-7.41) in women aged 80+ years. Incidence of nephrotic syndrome increased from 3.35 per 100,000 person-years (95% CI: 3.12-3.58) in 1995-2000 to 4.30 per 100,000 person-years (95% CI: 4.05-4.54) in 2013-2018. Over time, 1-year mortality of nephrotic syndrome was stable at 13%-16%, but HR of death was 0.54 (95% CI: 0.42-0.69), adjusted for age, sex, and comorbidities, in 2013-2018 compared with 1995-2000. Subdistribution of glomerulopathies was stable over time with membranous nephropathy and minimal change disease being the most common.

CONCLUSION

During 1995-2018, the incidence of recorded adult nephrotic syndrome increased slightly, and the adjusted mortality of nephrotic syndrome decreased markedly. Whether these findings reflect changes in epidemiology or awareness and coding of nephrotic syndrome, remains to be clarified.

Preadmission Opioid Use and 1-Year Mortality Following Incident Myocardial Infarction: A Danish Population-Based Cohort Study (1997-2016)

Background Opioid use has been linked to an increased risk of myocardial infarction and cardiovascular mortality, but the prognostic impact of opioid use before an incident myocardial infarction is largely unknown. Methods and Results We conducted a nationwide population-based cohort study including all patients hospitalized for an incident myocardial infarction in Denmark (1997-2016). Based on their last redeemed opioid prescription before admission, patients were categorized as current users (0-30 days), recent users (31-365 days), former users (>365 days), and nonusers. One-year all-cause mortality was calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method. Hazard ratios (HRs) were computed using Cox proportional hazards regression analyses, adjusting for age, sex, comorbidity, any preceding surgery within 6 months before the myocardial infarction admission, and medication use before the myocardial infarction admission. We identified 162 861 patients with an incident myocardial infarction. Of these, 8% were current opioid users, 10% were recent opioid users, 24% were former opioid users, and 58% were nonusers of opioids. One-year mortality was highest among current users (42.5% [95% CI, 41.7%-43.3%]) and lowest among nonusers (20.5% [95% CI, 20.2%-20.7%]). Compared with nonusers, current users had an elevated 1-year all-cause mortality risk (adjusted HR, 1.26 [95% CI, 1.22-1.30]). Following adjustment, neither recent users nor former users of opioids were at elevated risk. Conclusions Preadmission opioid use was associated with an increased 1-year all-cause mortality risk following an incident myocardial infarction. Opioid users thus represent a high-risk subgroup of patients with myocardial infarction.

Utilisation of hospital-based specialist palliative care in patients with gynaecological cancer: Temporal trends, predictors and association with high-intensity end-of-life care

OBJECTIVE

To examine hospital-based specialist palliative care (SPC) utilisation among patients with gynaecological cancer, including temporal trends, predictors and associations with high-intensity end-of-life care.

METHODS

We conducted a nationwide registry-based study for all patients dying from gynaecological cancer in Denmark during 2010-2016. We estimated the proportions of patients receiving SPC by year of death and used regression analyses to examine predictors of SPC utilisation. Use of high-intensity end-of-life care according to SPC utilisation was compared by regression analyses adjusting for type of gynaecological cancer, year of death, age, comorbidities, residential region, marital/cohabitation status, income level and migrant status.

RESULTS

Among 4502 patients dying from gynaecological cancer, the proportion of patients receiving SPC increased from 24.2% in 2010 to 50.7% in 2016. Young age, three or more comorbidities, residence outside the Capital Region and being immigrant/descendant were associated with increased SPC utilisation, whereas income, cancer type and stage were not. SPC was associated with lower high-intensity end-of-life care utilisation. Particularly, when compared with patients not receiving SPC, patients who accessed SPC >30 days before death had 88% lower risk of intensive care unit admissions within 30 days before death (adjusted relative risk: 0.12 (95% CI: 0.06; 0.24)) and 96% lower risk of surgery within 14 days before death (adjusted relative risk: 0.04 (95% CI: 0.01; 0.31)).

CONCLUSIONS

Among patients dying from gynaecological cancer, SPC utilisation increased over time and age, comorbidities, residential region and migrant status were associated with access to SPC. Furthermore, SPC was associated with lower use of high-intensity end-of-life care.

Twenty-Three-Year Trends in the Use of Potentially Nephrotoxic Drugs in Denmark

Background

The occurrence of acute and chronic kidney diseases has been rising in the last decades. Although drug use is a common risk factor for impaired kidney function, changes in utilization of potential nephrotoxic drugs have received little attention.

Purpose

To describe temporal trends in the utilization of potentially nephrotoxic drugs in Denmark between 1999 and 2021.

Methods

Specific drugs known or suspected to be nephrotoxic were identified in the literature. Data on the sold defined daily doses (DDDs) of potentially nephrotoxic drugs between 1999 and 2021 were retrieved using the Danish Register of Medical Product Statistics. Trends in sales of DDDs per 1000 inhabitants per day were tabulated and illustrated graphically.

Results

From 1999 to 2021, the total sale of all selected drugs increased from 286 to 457 DDDs per 1000 inhabitants per day. The overall sale reached a preliminary peak in 2012 with 449 DDDs per 1000 inhabitants per day and remained relatively stable thereafter until reaching an all-time high in 2021 with 457 DDDs per 1000 inhabitants per day. Contributing with the majority in volume, sales of drugs inhibiting the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) increased dramatically throughout the period. The same was observed for acetaminophen, methotrexate, tacrolimus, and iodinated contrast dye. In contrast, the sales of diuretics, acetylsalicylic acid, and ciclosporin decreased during the last decade of the study period.

Conclusion

From 1999-2021 considerable changes in sales of potentially nephrotoxic drugs were observed. In general, the sales increased, in volume predominated by RAAS inhibiting drugs. This increase in sales of potential nephrotoxins could contribute to an increasing occurrence of kidney diseases.

Routine Clinical Care Creatinine Data in Denmark - An Epidemiological Resource for Nationwide Population-Based Studies of Kidney Disease

PURPOSE

Creatinine data are key in identifying acute and chronic kidney disease. In Denmark, routine clinical care creatinine data have been collected regionally in the Clinical Laboratory Information System Research Database (LABKA) since the 1990s and nationwide in the Register of Laboratory Results for Research (RLRR) since 2013. Here we describe the geographical coverage of the databases and characteristics of Danish individuals with creatinine tests. This information is pivotal for the design and interpretation of studies using these data to examine kidney disease epidemiology.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We included all creatinine tests in LABKA and RLRR from 1990 through 2018. The daily number of creatinine tests by municipality and region of residence were plotted and geographical coverage was ascertained. In addition, we characterized a contemporary cohort of creatinine-tested individuals in 2016-2018.

RESULTS

During 1990-2018, 61,011,941 creatinine tests were available for 4,647,966 unique Danish residents. The North Denmark Region was the first region to achieve complete reporting in November 2004, and nationwide reporting was complete starting in October 2015. In each year from 2016 to 2018, more than a third of Danish residents had a recorded creatinine measurement, with the highest proportion of tested individuals aged 77-87 years and the lowest proportion aged 3-5 years. During 2016-2018, the creatinine-tested cohort had a median age of 53 years (IQR, 35-67 years) and included 54.3% women. The most common comorbidity was a hospital-based diagnosis of hypertension (12.0%), and the most common prescription drug was angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and angiotensin II receptor blockers (15.8%).

CONCLUSION

In combination, the population-based LABKA and RLRR databases provide regional creatinine data with long follow-up and nationwide data for the Danish population. There was considerable variation in the time of complete geographical coverage by region, which needs to be considered when using these data for studies on kidney disease epidemiology.

Kidney function before and after acute kidney injury: a nationwide population-based cohort study

Background

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common and serious condition defined by a rapid decline in kidney function. Data on changes in long-term kidney function following AKI are sparse and conflicting. Therefore, we examined the changes in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) from before to after AKI in a nationwide population-based setting.

Methods

Using Danish laboratory databases, we identified individuals with first-time AKI defined by an acute increase in plasma creatinine (pCr) during 2010 to 2017. Individuals with three or more outpatient pCr measurements before and after AKI were included and cohorts were stratified by baseline eGFR (≥/<60 mL/min/1.73 m²). Linear regression models were used to estimate and compare individual eGFR slopes and eGFR levels before and after AKI.

Results

Among individuals with a baseline eGFR ≥60 mL/min/1.73 m² (n = 64 805), first-time AKI was associated with a median difference in eGFR level of -5.6 mL/min/1.73 m² [interquartile range (IQR) -16.1 to 1.8] and a median difference in eGFR slope of -0.4 mL/min/1.73 m²/year (IQR -5.5 to 4.4). Correspondingly, among individuals with a baseline eGFR <60 mL/min/1.73 m² (n = 33 267), first-time AKI was associated with a median difference in eGFR level of -2.2 mL/min/1.73 m² (IQR -9.2 to 4.3) and a median difference in eGFR slope of 1.5 mL/min/1.73 m²/year (IQR -2.9 to 6.5).

Conclusion

Among individuals with first-time AKI surviving to have repeated outpatient pCr measurements, AKI was associated with changes in eGFR level and eGFR slope for which the magnitude and direction depended on baseline eGFR.

Healthcare resource utilization in patients with myeloproliferative neoplasms: A Danish nationwide matched cohort study

Few studies have assessed healthcare resource utilization (HRU) in patients with Philadelphia-negative myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN) using a matched cohort design. Further, no detailed assessment of HRU in the years preceding an MPN diagnosis exists. We conducted a registry-based nationwide Danish cohort study, including patients with essential thrombocythemia, polycythemia vera, myelofibrosis, and unclassifiable MPN diagnosed between January 2010 and December 2016. HRU data were summarized annually from 2 years before MPN diagnosis until emigration, death, or end of study (December 2017). We included 3342 MPN patients and 32 737 comparisons without an MPN diagnosis, matched on sex, age, region of residence, and level of education. During the study period, the difference in HRU (rate ratio) between patients and matched comparisons ranged from 1.0 to 1.5 for general practitioner contacts, 0.9 to 2.2 for hospitalizations, 0.9 to 3.8 for inpatient days, 1.0 to 4.0 for outpatient visits, 1.3 to 2.1 for emergency department visits, and 1.0 to 4.1 for treatments/examinations. In conclusion, MPN patients had overall higher HRU than the matched comparisons throughout the follow-up period (maximum 8 years). Further, MPN patients had substantially increased HRU in both the primary and secondary healthcare sector in the 2 years preceding the diagnosis.

Effect of Calcium vs. Placebo on Long-Term Outcomes in Patients with Out-of-hospital Cardiac Arrest A Randomized Clinical Trial

OBJECTIVE

The Calcium for Out-of-hospital Cardiac Arrest (COCA) trial was a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind trial of calcium for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. The primary and secondary outcomes have been reported previously. This article describes the long-term outcomes of the trial.

METHODS

Patients aged ≥ 18 years were included if they had a non-traumatic out-of-hospital cardiac arrest during which they received adrenaline. The trial drug consisted of calcium chloride (5 mmol) or saline placebo given after the first dose of adrenaline and again after the second dose of adrenaline for a maximum of two doses. This article presents pre-specified analyses of 6-month and 1-year outcomes for survival, survival with a favorable neurological outcome (modified Rankin Scale of 3 or less), and health-related quality of life.

RESULTS

A total of 391 patients were analyzed. At 1 year, 9 patients (4.7%) were alive in the calcium group while 18 (9.1%) were alive in the placebo group (risk ratio 0.51; 95% confidence interval 0.24, 1.09). At 1 year, 7 patients (3.6%) were alive with a favorable neurological outcome in the calcium group while 17 (8.6%) were alive with a favorable neurological outcome in the placebo group (risk ratio 0.42; 95% confidence interval 0.18, 0.97). Outcomes for health-related quality of life likewise suggested harm of calcium but results were imprecise with wide confidence intervals.

CONCLUSIONS

Effect estimates remained constant over time suggesting harm of calcium but with wide confidence intervals. The results do not support calcium administration during out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov-number, NCT04153435.

Long-Term Outcomes of Perioperative Versus Nonoperative Myocardial Infarction: A Danish Population-Based Cohort Study (2000–2016)

Background:

Perioperative myocardial infarction is a serious cardiovascular complication of noncardiac surgery. The clinical course of perioperative myocardial infarction, other than all-cause mortality, is largely unknown. We examined long-term fatal and nonfatal outcomes of perioperative myocardial infarction compared with nonoperative myocardial infarction.

Methods:

We conducted a population-based cohort study of first-time myocardial infarction in Denmark from 2000 to 2016. We calculated cumulative incidence of all-cause mortality, cardiac mortality, recurrent myocardial infarction, heart failure, stroke, venous thromboembolism, acute kidney injury, and kidney failure with replacement therapy. We computed 5-year risk ratios adjusted for age, sex, year of diagnosis, educational level, and comorbidities.

Results:

We identified 5068 patients with perioperative myocardial infarction and 137 862 patients with nonoperative myocardial infarction. The 5-year risk of all-cause mortality was 67.5% (95% CI, 66.1%–69.0%) for perioperative myocardial infarction patients and 38.0% (95% CI, 37.7%–38.3%) for nonoperative myocardial infarction patients. The adjusted risk ratio of all-cause mortality was 1.13 (95% CI, 1.11–1.16) at 5 years. After adjustment, we found no association between patients with perioperative myocardial infarction and 5-year cardiac mortality, recurrent myocardial infarction, heart failure, stroke, or kidney failure with replacement therapy when compared with nonoperative myocardial infarction patients. Perioperative myocardial infarction patients had a higher relative risk of venous thromboembolism (5-year risk ratio, 1.21 [95% CI, 1.01–1.46]) and acute kidney injury (5-year risk ratio, 1.37 [95% CI, 1.22–1.53]).

Conclusions:

Compared with nonoperative myocardial infarction patients, perioperative myocardial infarction patients had elevated risk of all-cause mortality, venous thromboembolism, and acute kidney failure. In addition to the myocardial infarction component of perioperative myocardial infarction, this poor prognosis seemed associated with the surgery or underlying comorbidities. These findings warrant further research on strategies to reduce the risk of perioperative myocardial infarction and on strategies to manage perioperative myocardial infarction.

Evaluation of Neurologic and Psychiatric Outcomes After Hospital Discharge Among Adult Survivors of Cardiac Arrest

IMPORTANCE

Long-term risks of neurologic and psychiatric disease after cardiac arrest are largely unknown.

OBJECTIVE

To examine the short-term and long-term risks of common neurologic outcomes (stroke, epilepsy, Parkinson disease, and dementia) and psychiatric outcomes (depression and anxiety) in patients after hospitalization for cardiac arrest.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS

This nationwide population-based cohort study with 21 years of follow-up included data on 250 838 adults from all Danish hospitals between January 1, 1996, and December 31, 2016. Danish medical registries were used to identify all patients with a first-time diagnosis of cardiac arrest and 2 matched comparison cohorts. The first comparison cohort included patients with a first-time diagnosis of myocardial infarction; the second comprised people from the general population. Data analysis was performed from November 1, 2020, to June 30, 2021.

EXPOSURES

In-hospital or out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES

Neurologic and psychiatric outcomes after hospital discharge were ascertained using medical registries. Twenty-one-year hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% CIs were computed based on Cox regression analysis, controlled for matching factors, and adjusted for comorbidity and socioeconomic status.

RESULTS

Among the 250 838 individuals included in this study (median age, 67 years [IQR, 57-76 years]; 173 946 [69.3%] male), 3 groups were identified: 12 046 patients with cardiac arrest, 118 332 patients with myocardial infarction, and 120 460 people from the general population. Compared with patients with myocardial infarction, patients with cardiac arrest had an increased rate of ischemic stroke (10 per 1000 persons; HR, 1.30; 95% CI, 1.02-1.64) and hemorrhagic stroke (2 per 1000 persons; HR, 2.03; 95% CI, 1.12-3.67) in the first year after discharge. During the full follow-up period, rates were as follows: for epilepsy, 28 per 1000 persons (HR, 2.01; 95% CI, 1.66-2.44); for dementia, 73 per 1000 persons (HR, 1.23; 95% CI, 1.09-1.38); for mood disorders including depression, 270 per 1000 persons (HR, 1.78; 95% CI, 1.68-1.89); and for anxiety, 187 per 1000 persons (HR, 1.98; 95% CI, 1.85-2.12). The rate of Parkinson disease was similar in the 2 cohorts (8 per 1000 persons; HR, 0.96; 95% CI, 0.65-1.42). The rates of the aforementioned outcomes were highest during the first year after cardiac arrest and then declined over time. Comparisons between the cohort of patients with cardiac arrest and the general population cohort showed higher rates of epilepsy, dementia, depression, and anxiety in the cardiac arrest group.

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

In this cohort study, patients discharged after cardiac arrest had an increased rate of subsequent stroke, epilepsy, dementia, depression, and anxiety compared with patients with myocardial infarction and people from the general population, with declining rates over time. These findings suggest the need for preventive strategies and close follow-up of cardiac arrest survivors.

Socioeconomic Disparity Trends in End-of-Life Care for Cancer and Non-Cancer Patients: Are We Closing the Gap?

Purpose

Socioeconomic disparities in end-of-life care have been reported across underlying diseases, but there is a paucity of information on potential time trends. Thus, we aimed to examine time trends in use of health-care services at the end of life according to socioeconomic position in patients dying from cancer and non-cancer diseases.

Materials and Methods

We conducted a nationwide registry-based study among adults dying from cancer or non-cancer diseases (diabetes, dementia, heart failure, ischemic heart disease, stroke, chronic liver disease, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) in Denmark in 2006–2016. We obtained data on patients’ educational level and income level and use of health-care services within three months before death. Use of health-care services according to educational level and income level was plotted by calendar year of death and compared by regression analyses adjusting for age, sex, comorbidity, cohabitation, and municipality.

Results

In both cancer (n = 169,694) and non-cancer patients (n = 180,350), we found limited socioeconomic disparities and no clear temporal trends in use of hospital, intensive care, emergency room, general practice, home care nurse, and hospice. In 2006/2007, one percentage point more cancer patients with high income level compared with low income level were affiliated with hospital-based specialist palliative care (adjusted mean difference: 0.01 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.01; 0.02)), whereas this was 12 percentage points in 2016 (adjusted mean difference: 0.12 (95% CI: 0.09; 0.14)).

Conclusion

Socioeconomic disparities in specialist palliative care tended to increase over time among cancer patients but were limited and without clear time trends in use of other health-care services in both cancer and non-cancer patients.

Risk of Arterial Thromboembolism, Venous Thromboembolism, and Bleeding in Patients with Nephrotic Syndrome: A Population-Based Cohort Study

BACKGROUND

Although venous thromboembolism is a well-known complication of nephrotic syndrome, the long-term absolute and relative risks of arterial thromboembolism, venous thromboembolism, and bleeding in adults with nephrotic syndrome remain unclarified.

METHODS

In this matched cohort study, we identified every adult with first-time recorded nephrotic syndrome from admissions, outpatient clinics, or emergency department visits in Denmark during 1995-2018. Each patient was matched by age and sex with 10 individuals from the general population. We estimated the 10-year cumulative risks of recorded arterial thromboembolism, venous thromboembolism, and bleeding accounting for the competing risk of death. Using Cox models, we computed crude and adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) of the outcomes in patients with nephrotic syndrome versus comparators.

RESULTS

Among 3967 adults with first-time nephrotic syndrome, the 1-year risk of arterial thromboembolism was 4.2% (95% confidence interval [CI] 3.6-4.8), of venous thromboembolism was 2.8% (95% CI 2.3-3.3), and of bleeding was 5.2% (95% CI 4.5-5.9). The 10-year risk of arterial thromboembolism was 14.0% (95% CI 12.8-15.2), of venous thromboembolism 7.7% (95% CI 6.8-8.6), and of bleeding 17.0% (95% CI 15.7-18.3), with highest risks of ischemic stroke (8.1%), myocardial infarction (6.0%), and gastrointestinal bleeding (8.2%). During the first year, patients with nephrotic syndrome had increased rates of both arterial thromboembolism (adjusted HR [HR_adj] = 3.11 [95% CI 2.60-3.73]), venous thromboembolism (HR_adj = 7.11 [5.49-9.19]), and bleeding (HR_adj = 4.02 [3.40-4.75]) compared with the general population comparators after adjusting for confounders.

CONCLUSION

Adults with nephrotic syndrome have a high risk of arterial thromboembolism, venous thromboembolism, and bleeding compared with the general population. The mechanisms and consequences of this needs to be clarified.

Hematuria and subsequent long-term risk of end-stage kidney disease: A Danish population-based cohort study

BACKGROUND

Hematuria is a frequent incidental clinical finding and may be a symptom of pre-existing underlying benign or malignant urinary tract or kidney disease. However, in patients with no apparent underlying cause of hematuria, long-term prognosis of hematuria remains unknown.

OBJECTIVES

To assess the long-term risk of end-stage-kidney disease (ESKD) in patients with a hospital-based hematuria diagnosis and no apparent underlying cause.

METHODS

Patients with a hospital diagnosis of hematuria were included and matched in a 1:5 ratio with comparison persons from the background population by age, sex and residency. We calculated the cumulative risk of ESKD considering death as a competing risk. Furthermore, we computed unadjusted and adjusted hazard ratios with 95% confidence intervals using Cox hazard regression with adjustment for age, sex, and comorbidities.

RESULTS

We included 170,189 hematuria-diagnosed patients. The absolute 10-year risk of ESKD was 0.7% (95%CI: 0.7-0.8) in patients with hematuria and 0.4% (95%CI: 0.3-0.4) in comparison persons, hence yielding an overall adjusted hazard ratio of 1.6 (95%CI: 1.4-1.7). Hematuria also increased the risk of EKSD in patients with pre-existing comorbidities like diabetes (adjusted HR: 1.3 [95%CI: 1.1-1.5]) and urogenital cancer (adjusted HR: 1.4 ([95%CI: 1.1-1.9]), whereas no association was observed in patients with previous kidney disease (adjusted HR: 0.9 (95%CI: 0.8-1.0).

CONCLUSION

A hospital-based hematuria diagnosis in patients with no apparent underlying cause of hematuria is a marker of an increased risk of future ESKD.

Inequality in place-of-death among children: a Danish nationwide study

To identify predictors for home death among children using socio-demographic factors and cause of death. It is a nationwide registry study. A cohort of children (1-17 years) who died between 1 January 2006 and 31 December 2016. It was set in Denmark, Europe. Predictors for home death were assessed: age, gender, diagnosis, region of residence, urbanicity, household income and immigrant status. Of 938 deceased children included, causes of death were solid tumours (17.3%), haematological cancers (8.5%) and non-cancerous conditions (74.2%). A total of 25% died at home. Compared to the lowest quartile, the groups with higher household income did not have a higher probability of dying at home (adjusted odds ratio (adj-OR) 0.8 (95% CI 0.5-1.2/1.3)). Dying of haematological cancers (adj-OR 0.3 (95% CI 0.2-0.7)) and non-cancerous conditions (adj-OR 0.5 (95% CI 0.3-0.7)) was associated with lower odds for home death compared to dying of solid tumours. However, being an immigrant was negatively associated with home death (adj-OR 0.6 (95% CI 0.4-0.9)). Moreover, a tendency was also found that being older, male, living outside the capital and in more urban areas were notable in relation to home death, however, not statistically significant.Conclusions: The fact that household income was not associated with dying at home may be explained by the Danish tax-financed healthcare system. However, having haematological cancers, non-cancerous conditions or being an immigrant were associated with lower odds for home death. Cultural differences along with heterogeneous trajectories may partly explain these differences, which should be considered prospectively. What is Known: • Prior studies have shown disparities in place-of-death of terminally ill children with diagnosis, ethnicity and socio-economic position as key factors. • Danish healthcare is tax-financed and in principle access to healthcare is equal; however, disparities have been found in the intensity of treatment of terminally ill children. What is New: • In a tax-financed, equal-access healthcare system, children died just as frequently at home in families with low as high household income. • Disparities in home death were related to diagnosis and immigrant status.

Effect of Intravenous or Intraosseous Calcium vs Saline on Return of Spontaneous Circulation in Adults With Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest: A Randomized Clinical Trial

IMPORTANCE

It is unclear whether administration of calcium has a beneficial effect in patients with cardiac arrest.

OBJECTIVE

To determine whether administration of calcium during out-of-hospital cardiac arrest improves return of spontaneous circulation in adults.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS

This double-blind, placebo-controlled randomized clinical trial included 397 adult patients with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest and was conducted in the Central Denmark Region between January 20, 2020, and April 15, 2021. The last 90-day follow-up was on July 15, 2021.

INTERVENTIONS

The intervention consisted of up to 2 intravenous or intraosseous doses with 5 mmol of calcium chloride (n = 197) or saline (n = 200). The first dose was administered immediately after the first dose of epinephrine.

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES

The primary outcome was sustained return of spontaneous circulation. The secondary outcomes included survival and a favorable neurological outcome (modified Rankin Scale score of 0-3) at 30 days and 90 days.

RESULTS

Based on a planned interim analysis of 383 patients, the steering committee stopped the trial early due to concerns about harm in the calcium group. Of 397 adult patients randomized, 391 were included in the analyses (193 in the calcium group and 198 in the saline group; mean age, 68 [SD, 14] years; 114 [29%] were female). There was no loss to follow-up. There were 37 patients (19%) in the calcium group who had sustained return of spontaneous circulation compared with 53 patients (27%) in the saline group (risk ratio, 0.72 [95% CI, 0.49 to 1.03]; risk difference, -7.6% [95% CI, -16% to 0.8%]; P = .09). At 30 days, 10 patients (5.2%) in the calcium group and 18 patients (9.1%) in the saline group were alive (risk ratio, 0.57 [95% CI, 0.27 to 1.18]; risk difference, -3.9% [95% CI, -9.4% to 1.3%]; P = .17). A favorable neurological outcome at 30 days was observed in 7 patients (3.6%) in the calcium group and in 15 patients (7.6%) in the saline group (risk ratio, 0.48 [95% CI, 0.20 to 1.12]; risk difference, -4.0% [95% CI, -8.9% to 0.7%]; P = .12). Among the patients with calcium values measured who had return of spontaneous circulation, 26 (74%) in the calcium group and 1 (2%) in the saline group had hypercalcemia.

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

Among adults with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, treatment with intravenous or intraosseous calcium compared with saline did not significantly improve sustained return of spontaneous circulation. These results do not support the administration of calcium during out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in adults.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04153435.

Temporal trends in patient characteristics, presumed causes, and outcomes following cardiogenic shock between 2005 and 2017: a Danish registry-based cohort study

AIMS

Most cardiogenic shock (CS) studies focus on acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Contemporary data on temporal trends in patient characteristics, presumed causes, treatments, and outcomes of ACS- and in particular non-ACS-related CS patients are sparse.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Using nationwide medical registries, we identified patients with first-time CS between 2005 and 2017. Cochrane-Armitage trend tests were used to examine temporal changes in presumed causes of CS, treatments, and outcomes. Among 14 363 CS patients, characteristics remained largely stable over time. As presumed causes of CS, ACS (37.1% in 2005 to 21.4% in 2017), heart failure (16.3% in 2005 to 12.0% in 2017), and arrhythmias (13.0% in 2005 to 10.9% in 2017) decreased significantly over time; cardiac arrest increased significantly (11.3% in 2005 to 24.5% in 2017); and changes in valvular heart disease were insignificant (11.5% in 2005 and 11.6% in 2017). Temporary left ventricular assist device, non-invasive ventilation, and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation use increased significantly over time; intra-aortic balloon pump and mechanical ventilation use decreased significantly. Over time, 30-day and 1-year mortality were relatively stable. Significant decreases in 30-day and 1-year mortality for patients presenting with ACS and arrhythmias and a significant increase in 1-year mortality in patients presenting with heart failure were seen.

CONCLUSION

Between 2005 and 2017, we observed significant temporal decreases in ACS, heart failure, and arrhythmias as presumed causes of first-time CS, whereas cardiac arrest significantly increased. Although overall 30-day and 1-year mortality were stable, significant decreases in mortality for ACS and arrhythmias as presumed causes of CS were seen.

Breaking Point Toward Decreasing Prevalence of Myocardial Infarction Owing to Relative Stronger Decrease in Incidence Than Increase in Survival Rate (A Danish Cohort Study [1994-2016])

The aim of this study was to examine whether myocardial infarction (MI) incidence rate continues to decrease and to determine whether the relative magnitude of a potentially decreasing incidence rate has surpassed increasing survival, demasking a breaking point in trends of MI prevalence proportion. This was a nationwide population-based cohort study using medical registries covering all hospitals in Denmark (1994 to 2016). We identified 193,870 persons with a first-time hospitalization for MI. Age-standardized incidence rates (per 100,000 persons) decreased from 154 (95% confidence interval [CI] 149 to 159) in 1994 to 90 (95% CI 86 to 93) in 2016 for females, and from 335 (95% CI 326 to 344) in 1994 to 205 (95% CI 199 to 211) in 2016 for males. Age-standardized prevalence proportion increased overall from 1994 to 2004 with a subsequent plateau. From 2006 to 2016, age-standardized prevalence proportion decreased by 0.09% (95% CI 0.07% to 0.11%) for females (from 1.07% to 0.98%) and by 0.20% (95% CI 0.17% to 0.23%) for males (from 2.85% to 2.65%). The age-standardized prevalence proportion decreased solely among persons aged 55 to 84 years. It remained stable among persons aged <55 years and increased among persons aged ≥85 years until 2012 with subsequent stable trends. We conclude that the continuous decreasing age-standardized incidence rate of MI over decades has, although with increasing survival, led to an overall breaking point toward a decreasing age-standardized prevalence proportion of MI since 2006.

Healthcare utilisation trajectories in patients dying from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, heart failure or cancer: a nationwide register-based cohort study

OBJECTIVES

To investigate illness trajectories as reflected by healthcare utilisation, including hospital and intensive care unit admissions, consultations in general practice and home care provision, before death comparing people dying from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), heart failure and cancer.

DESIGN

Nationwide register-based cohort study.

SETTING

Data on all hospital admissions, including intensive care unit admissions, consultations in general practice and home care provision were obtained from nationwide Danish registries.

PARTICIPANTS

All adult decedents in Denmark dying from COPD, heart failure or cancer between 2006 and 2016.

OUTCOME MEASURES

For each day within 5 years before death, we computed a daily prevalence proportion (PP) of being admitted to hospital or consulting a general practitioner. For each day within 6 months before death, we computed PPs of being admitted to intensive care or receiving home care. The PPs were plotted and compared by regression analyses adjusting for age, gender, comorbidity level, marital/cohabitation status, municipality and income level.

RESULTS

Among 1 74 086 patients dying from COPD (n=22 648), heart failure (n=11 498) or cancer (n=139 940), the PPs of being admitted to hospital or consulting a general practitioner showed similar steady progression and steep increase in the last year of life for all patient populations. The PP of being admitted to intensive care showed modest increase during the last 6 months of life, accelerating in the last month, for all patient populations. For patients with COPD and heart failure, the PP of receiving home care remained stable during the last 6 months of life but increased steadily for patients with cancer.

CONCLUSION

We found limited differences in healthcare resource utilisation at the end of life for people with COPD, heart failure or cancer, indicating comparable illness trajectories.This supports the need to reconsider efforts in achieving equal access to palliative care interventions, which is still mainly offered to patients with cancer.

Impact of the Look-Back Period on Identifying Recurrent Myocardial Infarctions in the Danish National Patient Registry

Purpose

Studies examining myocardial infarction (MI) often seek to include only incident MIs by excluding recurrent MIs. When based on historical data, identification of previous MI depends on the length of the look-back period. However, international registries often cover a short time period, consequently containing left-censored data, making it impossible to determine if a first MI in a period is truly an incident MI. We evaluated whether the proportion of MIs identified as recurrent MIs depends on the look-back period, and how including recurrent MIs in a planned incident MI cohort impacts survival estimates.

Patients and Methods

We used the Danish National Patient Registry, covering all Danish hospitals since 1977 to identify first MIs during 2010–2016 (index events). The hospital registry history preceding the index event was then searched for previous MIs. We plotted the proportion of index events identified as recurrent MIs as a function of the look-back period. Moreover, we calculated 5-year all-cause mortality and confidence intervals (CIs) using the 1-Kaplan–Meier method for five cohorts based on the index events and defined by look-back periods of 0, 5, 10, 20, and up to 39 years.

Results

Among 63,885 index events, 3.4% were identified as recurrent MIs with 5 years of look-back, 7.9% with 10 years, 14% with 24 years, and 15% with up to 39 years. All-cause mortality risk was 36% (95% CI: 36–37%) with 0 years of look-back, 35% (95% CI: 35–36%) with 5 years, 35% (95% CI: 35–36%) with 10 years, 34% (95% CI: 34–35%) with 20 years, and 34% (95% CI: 33–34%) with up to 39 years.

Conclusion

Most recurrent MIs were identified with a look-back period of 24 years. Including recurrent MIs in a planned incident MI cohort, due to shorter look-back periods, overestimated the mortality risk.

Prognostic and discriminative accuracy of the quick Sepsis-related Organ Failure Assessment compared with an early warning score: a Danish cohort study

BACKGROUND

The clinical benefit of implementing the quick Sepsis-related Organ Failure Assessment (qSOFA) instead of early warning scores (EWS) to screen all hospitalised patients for critical illness has yet to be investigated in a large, multicentre study.

METHODS

We conducted a cohort study including all hospitalised patients ≥18 years with EWS recorded at hospitals in the Central Denmark Region during the year 2016. The primary outcome was intensive care unit (ICU) admission and/or death within 2 days following an initial EWS. Prognostic accuracy was examined using sensitivity, specificity, negative predictive value (NPV) and positive predictive value (PPV). Discriminative accuracy was examined by the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC).

RESULTS

Among 97 332 evaluated patients, 1714 (1.8%) experienced the primary outcome. The qSOFA ≥2 was less sensitive (11.7% (95% CI: 10.2% to 13.3%) vs 25.1% (95% CI: 23.1% to 27.3%)) and more specific (99.3% (95% CI: 99.2% to 99.3%) vs 97.5% (95% CI: 97.4% to 97.6%)) than EWS ≥5. The NPV was similar for the two scores (EWS ≥5, 98.6% (95% CI: 98.6% to 98.7%) and qSOFA ≥2, 98.4% (95% CI: 98.3% to 98.5%)), while the PPV was 15.1% (95% CI: 13.8% to 16.5%) for EWS ≥5 and 22.4% (95% CI: 19.7% to 25.3%) for qSOFA ≥2. The AUROC was 0.72 (95% CI: 0.70 to 0.73) for EWS and 0.66 (95% CI: 0.65 to 0.67) for qSOFA.

CONCLUSION

The qSOFA was less sensitive (qSOFA ≥2 vs EWS ≥5) and discriminatively accurate than the EWS for predicting ICU admission and/or death within 2 days after an initial EWS. This study did not support replacing EWS with qSOFA in all hospitalised patients.

Adverse outcomes after partner bereavement in people with reduced kidney function: Parallel cohort studies in England and Denmark

OBJECTIVES

To investigate whether partner bereavement is associated with adverse cardiovascular and kidney-related events in people with reduced kidney function.

DESIGN

Two parallel matched cohort studies using linked routinely collected health data.

SETTING

England (general practices and hospitals using linked Clinical Practice Research Datalink, Hospital Episode Statistics, and Office of National Statistics) and Denmark (hospitals and community pharmacies using the Danish National Patient, Prescription and Education Registries and the Civil Registration System).

PARTICIPANTS

Bereaved people with reduced kidney function (estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) <60mL/min/1.73m2 (England) or hospital-coded chronic kidney disease (Denmark)) and non-bereaved people with reduced kidney function similarly defined, matched on age, sex, general practice (England), and county of residence (Denmark) and followed-up from the bereavement date of the exposed person.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) or acute kidney injury (AKI) hospitalization, or death.

RESULTS

In people with reduced kidney function, we identified 19,820 (England) and 5,408 (Denmark) bereaved individuals and matched them with 134,828 (England) and 35,741 (Denmark) non-bereaved individuals. Among the bereaved, the rates of hospitalizations (per 1000 person-years) with CVD were 31.7 (95%-CI: 30.5-32.9) in England and 78.8 (95%-CI: 74.9-82.9) in Denmark; the rates of hospitalizations with AKI were 13.2 (95%-CI: 12.5-14.0) in England and 11.2 (95%-CI: 9.9-12.7) in Denmark; and the rates of death were 70.2 (95%-CI: 68.5-72.0) in England and 126.4 (95%-CI: 121.8-131.1) in Denmark. After adjusting for confounders, we found increased rates of CVD (England, HR 1.06 [95%-CI: 1.01-1.12]; Denmark, HR 1.10 [95%-CI: 1.04-1.17]), of AKI (England, HR 1.20 [95%-CI: 1.10-1.31]; Denmark HR 1.36 [95%-CI: 1.17-1.58]), and of death (England, HR 1.10 [95%-CI: 1.05-1.14]; Denmark HR 1.20 [95%-CI: 1.15-1.25]) in bereaved compared with non-bereaved people.

CONCLUSIONS

Partner bereavement is associated with an increased rate of CVD and AKI hospitalization, and death in people with reduced kidney function. Additional supportive care for this at-risk population may help prevent serious adverse events.

The effect of immunosuppressants on the prognosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection

Background

Immunosuppression may worsen severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. We conducted a nationwide cohort study of the effect of exposure to immunosuppressants on the prognosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection in Denmark.

Methods

We identified all SARS-CoV-2 test-positive patients from February 2020 to October 2020 and linked healthcare data from nationwide registers, including prescriptions for the exposure (immunosuppressant drugs). We estimated relative risks of hospital admission, intensive care unit (ICU) admission and death (each studied independently up to 30 days from testing) with a log-linear binomial regression adjusted for confounders using a propensity score-based matching weights model.

Results

A composite immunosuppressant exposure was associated with a significantly increased risk of death (adjusted relative risk 1.56 (95% CI 1.10–2.22)). The increased risk of death was mainly driven by exposure to systemic glucocorticoids (adjusted relative risk 2.38 (95% CI 1.72–3.30)), which were also associated with an increased risk of hospital admission (adjusted relative risk 1.34 (95% CI 1.10–1.62)), but not of ICU admission (adjusted relative risk 1.76 (95% CI 0.93–3.35)); these risks were greater for high cumulative doses of glucocorticoids than for moderate doses. Exposure to selective immunosuppressants, tumour necrosis factor inhibitors or interleukin inhibitors was not associated with an increased risk of hospitalisation, ICU admission or death, nor was exposure to calcineurin inhibitors, other immunosuppressants, hydroxychloroquine or chloroquine.

Conclusions

Exposure to glucocorticoids was associated with increased risks of hospital admission and death. Further investigation is needed to determine the optimal management of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in patients with pre-morbid glucocorticoid usage, specifically whether these patients require altered doses of glucocorticoids.

In a nationwide cohort study of SARS-CoV-2 infections in Denmark, pre-morbid exposure to systemic glucocorticoids was associated with an increased risk of hospital admission and death, whereas other immunosuppressants were nothttps://bit.ly/3xRp7ZL

Mortality of older acutely admitted medical patients after early discharge from emergency departments: a nationwide cohort study

Background

The mortality of older patients after early discharge from hospitals is sparsely described. Information on factors associated with mortality can help identify high-risk patients who may benefit from preventive interventions. The aim of this study was to examine whether demographic factors, comorbidity and admission diagnoses are predictors of 30-day mortality among acutely admitted older patients discharged within 24 h after admission.

Methods

All medical patients aged ≥65 years admitted acutely to Danish hospitals between 1 January 2013 and 30 June 2014 surviving a hospital stay of ≤24 h were included. Demographic factors, comorbidity, discharge diagnoses and mortality within 30 days were described using data from the Danish National Patient Registry and the Civil Registration System. Cox regression was used to estimate adjusted hazard ratios (aHR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) for all-cause mortality.

Results

A total of 93,295 patients (49.4% men) with a median age of 75 years (interquartile range: 69–82 years), were included. Out of these, 2775 patients (3.0%; 95% CI 2.9–3.1%) died within 30 days after discharge. The 30-day mortality was increased in patients with age 76–85 years (aHR 1.59; 1.45–1.75) and 86+ years (aHR 3.35; 3.04–3.70), male gender (aHR 1.22; 1.11–1.33), a Charlson Comorbidity Index of 1–2 (aHR 2.15; 1.92–2.40) and 3+ (aHR 4.07; 3.65–4.54), and unmarried status (aHR 1.17; 1.08–1.27). Discharge diagnoses associated with 30-day mortality were heart failure (aHR 1.52; 1.17–1.95), respiratory failure (aHR 3.18; 2.46–4.11), dehydration (aHR 2.87; 2.51–3.29), constipation (aHR 1.31; 1.02–1.67), anemia (aHR 1.45; 1.27–1.66), pneumonia (aHR 2.24; 1.94–2.59), urinary tract infection (aHR 1.33; 1.14–1.55), dyspnea (aHR 1.57; 1.32–1.87) and suspicion of malignancy (aHR 2.06; 1.64–2.59).

Conclusions

Three percent had died within 30 days. High age, male gender, the comorbidity burden, unmarried status and several primary discharge diagnoses were identified as independent prognostic factors of 30-day all-cause mortality.

Acute kidney injury promotes development of papillary renal cell adenoma and carcinoma from renal progenitor cells

Acute tissue injury causes DNA damage and repair processes involving increased cell mitosis and polyploidization, leading to cell function alterations that may potentially drive cancer development. Here, we show that acute kidney injury (AKI) increased the risk for papillary renal cell carcinoma (pRCC) development and tumor relapse in humans as confirmed by data collected from several single-center and multicentric studies. Lineage tracing of tubular epithelial cells (TECs) after AKI induction and long-term follow-up in mice showed time-dependent onset of clonal papillary tumors in an adenoma-carcinoma sequence. Among AKI-related pathways, NOTCH1 overexpression in human pRCC associated with worse outcome and was specific for type 2 pRCC. Mice overexpressing NOTCH1 in TECs developed papillary adenomas and type 2 pRCCs, and AKI accelerated this process. Lineage tracing in mice identified single renal progenitors as the cell of origin of papillary tumors. Single-cell RNA sequencing showed that human renal progenitor transcriptome showed similarities to PT1, the putative cell of origin of human pRCC. Furthermore, NOTCH1 overexpression in cultured human renal progenitor cells induced tumor-like 3D growth. Thus, AKI can drive tumorigenesis from local tissue progenitor cells. In particular, we find that AKI promotes the development of pRCC from single progenitors through a classical adenoma-carcinoma sequence.

Comparison of Patients with Hospital-Recorded Nephrotic Syndrome and Patients with Nephrotic Proteinuria and Hypoalbuminemia: A Nationwide Study in Denmark

Background

Registry-based studies of nephrotic syndrome (NS) may only include a subset of patients with biochemical features of NS. To address this, we compared patients with laboratory-recorded nephrotic proteinuria and hypoalbuminemia to patients with hospital-recorded NS.

Methods

We identified adult patients with first-time hospital-recorded NS (inpatients, outpatients, or emergency-room visitors) in the Danish National Patient Registry and compared them with adults with first-time recorded nephrotic proteinuria and hypoalbuminemia in Danish laboratory databases during 2004-2018, defining the date of admission or laboratory findings as the index date. We characterized these cohorts by demographics, comorbidity, medication use, and laboratory and histopathologic findings.

Results

We identified 1139 patients with hospital-recorded NS and 5268 patients with nephrotic proteinuria and hypoalbuminemia; of these, 760 patients were identified in both cohorts. Within 1 year of the first record of nephrotic proteinuria and hypoalbuminemia, 18% had recorded hospital diagnoses indicating the presence of NS, and 87% had diagnoses reflecting any kind of nephropathy. Among patients identified with nephrotic proteinuria and hypoalbuminemia, their most recent eGFR was substantially lower (median of 35 versus 61 ml/min per 1.73 m²), fewer underwent kidney biopsies around the index date (34% versus 61%), and the prevalence of thromboembolic disease (25% versus 17%) and diabetes (39% versus 18%) was higher when compared with patients with hospital-recorded NS.

Conclusions

Patients with nephrotic proteinuria and hypoalbuminemia are five-fold more common than patients with hospital-recorded NS, and they have a lower eGFR and more comorbidities. Selective and incomplete recording of NS may be an important issue when designing and interpreting studies of risks and prognosis of NS.

Post-acute effects of SARS-CoV-2 infection in individuals not requiring hospital admission: a Danish population-based cohort study

Background

Individuals admitted to hospital for COVID-19 might have persisting symptoms (so-called long COVID) and delayed complications after discharge. However, little is known regarding the risk for those not admitted to hospital. We therefore examined prescription drug and health-care use after SARS-CoV-2 infection not requiring hospital admission.

Methods

This was a population-based cohort study using the Danish prescription, patient, and health insurance registries. All individuals with a positive or negative RT-PCR test for SARS-CoV-2 in Denmark between Feb 27 and May 31, 2020, were eligible for inclusion. Outcomes of interest were delayed acute complications, chronic disease, hospital visits due to persisting symptoms, and prescription drug use. We used data from non-hospitalised SARS-CoV-2-positive and matched SARS-CoV-2-negative individuals from 2 weeks to 6 months after a SARS-CoV-2 test to obtain propensity score-weighted risk differences (RDs) and risk ratios (RRs) for initiation of 14 drug groups and 27 hospital diagnoses indicative of potential post-acute effects. We also calculated prior event rate ratio-adjusted rate ratios of overall health-care use. This study is registered in the EU Electronic Register of Post-Authorisation Studies (EUPAS37658).

Findings

10 498 eligible individuals tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 in Denmark from Feb 27 to May 31, 2020, of whom 8983 (85·6%) were alive and not admitted to hospital 2 weeks after their positive test. The matched SARS-CoV-2-negative reference population not admitted to hospital consisted of 80 894 individuals. Compared with SARS-CoV-2-negative individuals, SARS-CoV-2-positive individuals were not at an increased risk of initiating new drugs (RD <0·1%) except bronchodilating agents, specifically short-acting β2-agonists (117 [1·7%] of 6935 positive individuals vs 743 [1·3%] of 57 206 negative individuals; RD +0·4% [95% CI 0·1–0·7]; RR 1·32 [1·09–1·60]) and triptans (33 [0·4%] of 8292 vs 198 [0·3%] of 72 828; RD +0·1% [0·0–0·3]; RR 1·55 [1·07–2·25]). There was an increased risk of receiving hospital diagnoses of dyspnoea (103 [1·2%] of 8676 vs 499 [0·7%] of 76 728; RD +0·6% [0·4–0·8]; RR 2·00 [1·62–2·48]) and venous thromboembolism (20 [0·2%] of 8785 vs 110 [0·1%] of 78 872; RD +0·1% [0·0–0·2]; RR 1·77 [1·09–2·86]) for SARS-CoV-2-positive individuals compared with negative individuals, but no increased risk of other diagnoses. Prior event rate ratio-adjusted rate ratios of overall general practitioner visits (1·18 [95% CI 1·15–1·22]) and outpatient hospital visits (1·10 [1·05–1·16]), but not hospital admission, showed increases among SARS-CoV-2-positive individuals compared with SARS-CoV-2-negative individuals.

Interpretation

The absolute risk of severe post-acute complications after SARS-CoV-2 infection not requiring hospital admission is low. However, increases in visits to general practitioners and outpatient hospital visits could indicate COVID-19 sequelae.

Funding

None.

Is the risk of cardiovascular disease increased in living kidney donors? A Danish population-based cohort study

Reduced renal function is associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD); however, how living donor nephrectomy affects the risk of CVD remains controversial. We conducted a nationwide cohort study including living kidney donors in Denmark from 1996 to 2018 to assess the risk of hypertension, atrial fibrillation/flutter (AF), major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE; composite of myocardial infarction, ischemic stroke, and death) and death after living kidney donation. As comparisons we identified: a cohort of healthy individuals from the general population and an external blood donor cohort. We followed kidney donors (1,103 when compared with the general population cohort; 1,007 when compared with blood donors) for a median of 8 years. Kidney donors had an increased risk of initiating treatment for hypertension when compared with blood donors (standardized incidence ratio [SIR], 1.40; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.17-1.66) but they did not have increased risk of MACE neither when compared with the general population cohort (hazard ratio, 0.68; 95% CI, 0.52-0.89) nor with blood donors (SIR, 1.17; 95% CI, 0.88-1.55). Neither did they have increased risks of AF and death. Thus, living kidney donation may be associated with increased risk of hypertension; however, we did not identify increased risks of CVD or death.

Disparities in intensity of treatment at end-of-life among children according to the underlying cause of death

AIM

To compare indicators of high-intensity treatment at end-of-life (HI-EOL) among children according to causes of death.

METHODS

We conducted a nationwide registry study in Denmark among 938 children of 1-17 years of age who died from natural causes from 2006 to 2016. We identified and compared indicators of HI-EOL within the last month of life across diagnoses. Indicators were hospital admissions, days in hospital, intensive care unit admission, mechanical ventilation, and hospital death.

RESULTS

Proportions of each indicator of HI-EOL ranged from 27% to 75%. The most common indicators were hospital death (75%) and ICU admission (39%). Compared to children with solid tumours, children with non-cancerous conditions had an adjusted odds ratio of 3.5 (95% CI 2.1-5.9) of having ≥3 indicators of HI-EOL within the last month of life and children with haematological cancer had an odds ratio of 11.8 (95% CI 6.1-23.0).

CONCLUSION

The underlying diagnosis was strongly associated with HI-EOL. Children who died from solid tumours experienced substantially less intensive treatment than both children with haematological cancer and non-cancerous conditions did. Across non-cancerous diagnoses, the intensity of treatment appeared consistent, which may indicate, that the awareness of palliative care is higher among oncologists than within other paediatric fields.

Predictors for and outcomes after bone marrow biopsy in Scandinavian patients with chronic immune thrombocytopenia

OBJECTIVES

To examine predictors for bone marrow biopsy (BMB) and the outcome following BMB in patients with chronic immune thrombocytopenia (cITP).

METHODS

We identified patients diagnosed with cITP during 2009-2017 and obtained information on BMB, cITP treatment and subsequent thrombotic events, hospitalized bleeding, hematological cancer, and death using data from population-based healthcare databases and medical records in Denmark, Norway, and Sweden.

RESULTS

Among 4471 adults (≥18 years) with cITP, 1683 (37.6%) underwent BMB before cITP diagnosis, while cumulative BMB incidence after cITP diagnosis date was 3.1% at 1 year and 7.5% at 5 years. Predictors of having a BMB after cITP diagnosis included older age, male sex, low baseline platelet count, splenectomy, and number of cITP treatments. Compared with patients without BMB, patients with BMB had higher rates of thrombotic events (1 year adjusted hazard ratio [HR] 1.53 [95% CI, 0.92-2.54]), hospitalized bleeding episodes (1 year adjusted HR 1.72 [95% CI, 1.15-2.58]), hematological cancer (1 year adjusted HR 35.26 [95% CI 17.67-70.34]), and all-cause mortality (1 year adjusted HR 1.97 [95% CI, 1.44-2.68]).

CONCLUSION

Patients who undergo BMB after cITP diagnosis represent a subset of patients with more severe disease and increased rates of complications as well as hematological malignancies.

Identification of Patients with CKD in Medical Databases: A Comparison of Different Algorithms

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Despite CKD consensus definitions, epidemiologic studies use multiple different algorithms to identify CKD. We aimed to elucidate if this affects the patient characteristics and the estimated prevalence and prognosis of CKD by applying six different algorithms to identify CKD in population-based medical databases and compare the cohorts.

DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS, & MEASUREMENTS

Patients with CKD in Northern Denmark (2009-2016) were identified using six different algorithms: five were laboratory based defined by (1) one measured outpatient eGFR <60 ml/min per 1.73 m² (single test, n=103,435), (2) two such findings ≥90 days apart (Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes, n=84,688), (3) two such findings ≥90 days apart with no eGFR >60 ml/min per 1.73 m² observed in-between (Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes, persistent, n=68,994), (4) two such findings ≥90 and <365 days apart (Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes, time limited, n=75,031), and (5) two eGFRs <60 ml/min per 1.73 m² or two urine albumin-creatinine ratios >30 mg/g ≥90 days apart (Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes, eGFR/albuminuria, n=100,957). The sixth included patients identified by reported in- and outpatient hospital International Classification of Diseases diagnoses of CKD (hospital-diagnosed, n=27,947). For each cohort, we estimated baseline eGFR, CKD prevalence, and 1-year mortality using the Kaplan-Meier method.

RESULTS

The five different laboratory-based algorithms resulted in large differences in the estimated prevalence of CKD from 4637-8327 per 100,000 population. In contrast, 1-year mortality varied only slightly (7%-9%). Baseline eGFR levels at diagnosis were comparable (53-56 ml/min per 1.73 m²), whereas median time since first recorded eGFR <60 ml/min per 1.73 m² varied from 0 months (single-test) to 17 months (Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes, persistent). The hospital-diagnosed algorithm yielded markedly lower CKD prevalence (775 per 100,000 population), a lower baseline eGFR (47 ml/min per 1.73 m²), longer time since first eGFR <60 ml/min per 1.73 m² (median 70 months), and much higher 1-year mortality (22%).

CONCLUSIONS

Population prevalence of CKD identified in medical databases greatly depends on the applied algorithm to define CKD. Despite these differences, laboratory-based algorithms produce cohorts with similar prognosis.

PODCAST

This article contains a podcast at https://www.asn-online.org/media/podcast/CJASN/2021_03_11_CJN15691020_final.mp3.

SARS-CoV-2 infection and adverse outcomes in users of ACE inhibitors and angiotensin-receptor blockers: a nationwide case-control and cohort analysis

OBJECTIVE

To examine the impact of ACE inhibitor (ACE-I)/angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) use on rate of SARS-CoV-2 infection and adverse outcomes.

METHODS

This nationwide case-control and cohort study included all individuals in Denmark tested for SARS-CoV-2 RNA with PCR from 27 February 2020 to 26 July 2020. We estimated confounder-adjusted ORs for a positive test among all SARS-CoV-2 tested, and inverse probability of treatment weighted 30-day risk and risk ratios (RRs) of hospitalisation, intensive care unit (ICU) admission and mortality comparing current ACE-I/ARB use with calcium channel blocker (CCB) use and with non-use.

RESULTS

The study included 13 501 SARS-CoV-2 PCR-positive and 1 088 695 PCR-negative individuals. Users of ACE-I/ARB had a marginally increased rate of a positive PCR when compared with CCB users (aOR 1.17, 95% CI 1.00 to 1.37), but not when compared with non-users (aOR 1.00 95% CI 0.92 to 1.09).Among PCR-positive individuals, 1466 (11%) were ACE-I/ARB users. The weighted risk of hospitalisation was 36.5% in ACE-I/ARB users and 43.3% in CCB users (RR 0.84, 95% CI 0.70 to 1.02). The risk of ICU admission was 6.3% in ACE-I/ARB users and 5.4% in CCB users (RR 1.17, 95% CI 0.64 to 2.16), while the 30-day mortality was 12.3% in ACE-I/ARB users and 13.9% in CCB users (RR 0.89, 95% CI 0.61 to 1.30). The associations were similar when ACE-I/ARB users were compared with non-users.

CONCLUSIONS

ACE-I/ARB use was associated neither with a consistently increased rate nor with adverse outcomes of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Our findings support the current recommendation of continuing use of ACE-Is/ARBs during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

EUPAS34887.

Risk factors for new chronic opioid use after hip fracture surgery: a Danish nationwide cohort study from 2005 to 2016 using the Danish multidisciplinary hip fracture registry

OBJECTIVE

To examine the risk factors for new chronic opioid use in elderly patients who underwent hip fracture surgery.

DESIGN

Prospective population-based cohort study.

SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS

Using Danish nationwide health registries, we identified all opioid non-user patients aged ≥65 years who had undergone hip fracture surgery from 2005 to 2016 and were alive within the first year following surgery.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

New chronic opioid use defined by the dispensing of at least two prescription opioids within two of the last three quarters during the first year following surgery.

RESULTS

We identified 37 202 opioid non-user patients who underwent hip fracture surgery. Of these, 5497 (15%) developed new chronic opioid user within 1 year of surgery. Risk factors for new chronic opioid use were Body Mass Index (BMI) of <18.5 (adjusted OR (aOR) 1.22, 95% CI 1.09 to 1.36), BMI of 25.0-29.9 (aOR 1.12, 95% CI 1.04 to 1.21) and BMI of ≥30 (aOR 1.57, 95% CI 1.40 to 1.76) with BMI 18.6-24.9 as reference, a pertrochanteric/subtrochanteric fracture (aOR 1.27, 95% CI 1.20 to 1.34) with femoral neck fracture as reference, preoperative use (vs no-use) of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (aOR 1.68, 95% CI 1.55 to 1.83), selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (aOR 1.42, 95% CI 1.32 to 1.53), antidepressants (aOR 1.36, 95% CI 1.24 to 1.49), antipsychotics (aOR 1.21, 95% CI 1.07 to 1.35), corticosteroids (aOR 1.54, 95% CI 1.35 to 1.76), statins (aOR 1.09, 95% CI 1.02 to 1.18), antibiotics (aOR 1.32, 95% CI 1.22 to 1.42), antiosteoporosis drugs (aOR 1.33, 95% CI 1.19 to 1.49) and anticoagulatives (aOR 1.24, 95% CI 1.17 to 1.32). Presence of cardiovascular comorbidities, diabetes, gastrointestinal diseases, dementia, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or renal diseases was further identified as a risk factor.

CONCLUSION

In this large nationwide cohort study, we identified several risk factors associated with new chronic opioid use after hip fracture surgery among patients who were alive within the first year following surgery. Although not all factors are modifiable preoperative, this will allow clinicians to appropriately counsel patients preoperatively and tailor postoperative treatment.