Extended Treatment With Recombinant Human Parathyroid Hormone (1-84) in Adult Patients With Chronic Hypoparathyroidism

OBJECTIVE

Recombinant human parathyroid hormone (1-84) (rhPTH[1-84]) is efficacious in patients with hypoparathyroidism but additional data supporting its prolonged use are needed. We evaluated whether efficacy, safety, and tolerability are maintained during long-term rhPTH(1-84) treatment of patients with chronic hypoparathyroidism.

METHODS

This was a phase 4, single-center, open-label, single-arm, 3-year extension (NCT02910466) of the phase 3 Hypo Extended (HEXT) study (NCT01199614). Patients self-administered rhPTH(1-84) once daily by subcutaneous injection, with doses individualized based on clinical parameters. Albumin-adjusted serum calcium levels (primary outcome measure), other disease biomarkers, health-related quality of life, and safety of rhPTH(1-84) were assessed using descriptive statistics.

RESULTS

All patients (n = 39) had been exposed to rhPTH(1-84) (mean exposure [SD] 8.5 [3.5] years) before the start of the study, resulting in a mean exposure of 10.8 years including the present study. Mean patient age was 51.9 years, 79.5% were female, and 97.4% were White. Mean albumin-adjusted serum calcium concentrations were within the target range, and mean serum phosphate, serum calcium-phosphate product, and 24-hour urinary calcium excretion levels were within reference ranges at end of treatment. Mean doses of supplemental calcium and active vitamin D were maintained throughout the study. Bone turnover marker levels were maintained from baseline to end of treatment. No clinically relevant changes in bone mineral density were observed. Patient-reported health-related quality-of-life scores were generally maintained throughout the study. Four adverse events were considered treatment related and no new safety signals were identified.

CONCLUSION

The effects of rhPTH(1-84) on biochemical, skeletal, and health-related quality-of-life parameters did not wane with extended use.

Psychometric Analysis of the Patient-Reported Hypoparathyroidism Symptom Diary Symptom Subscale Using Data from Two Clinical Trials

Purpose

The hypoparathyroidism symptom diary (HypoPT-SD) is a disease-specific patient-reported outcome (PRO) tool comprising a 7-item symptom subscale, a 4-item impact subscale and 1-item anxiety, and sadness or depression components. This analysis assessed the psychometric properties of the HypoPT-SD symptom subscale scores using data from two open-label, single arm, Phase 4 studies (Study 402 and Study 404).

Patients and Methods

Eligible patients were aged 18 years or older with a confirmed diagnosis of hypoparathyroidism. All patients received recombinant human parathyroid hormone (1-84) during the analysis period. Scores were recorded at baseline, and at months 6, 30 and 36 (end of treatment [EOT]) in Study 402, and at baseline and week 52 (EOT) in Study 404. The structure of the HypoPT-SD Symptom subscale was analyzed by measuring correlations between pairs of item scores; internal consistency and reliability were evaluated using Cronbach's coefficient α; test-retest reliability was assessed using intraclass correlation; and construct validity was determined by performing correlational analyses between scores recorded using the HypoPT-SD and those for other conceptually similar PRO tools.

Results

A total of 60 patients were included in the analysis. Inter-item pairwise correlations were strong for all but 5 of the item pairs analysed. Cronbach's α values for the HypoPT-SD Symptom subscale were 0.88 using data from Study 402 and 0.92 using data from Study 404. In general, the HypoPT-SD Symptom subscale scores had moderate or strong correlations with scores recorded using PRO tools. Intraclass correlation coefficients exceeded 0.70 using test-retest data from all patients in Study 402 and from a subgroup of patients with stable disease from Study 404.

Conclusion

This analysis demonstrated the test-retest reliability, internal consistency and construct validity of the HypoPT-SD using data from longitudinal prospective studies and supports the use of the HypoPT-SD in future clinical studies.

Estimation of Health State Utility Values in Fabry Disease Using Vignette Development and Valuation

Background: Health state utilities are measures of health-related quality of life that reflect the value placed on improvements in patients' health status and are necessary for estimation of quality-adjusted life-years. Health state utility data on Fabry disease (FD) are limited. In this study we used vignette (scenario) construction and valuation to develop health state utilities. Objectives: The aim of this study was to use vignette construction and valuation to estimate health state utility values suitable for inclusion in economic models of FD treatments. Methods: Health state vignettes were developed from semistructured qualitative telephone interviews with patients with FD and informed by published literature and input from an expert. Each vignette was valued in an online survey by members of the United Kingdom (UK) general population using the composite time trade-off (TTO) method, which aims to determine the time the respondent would trade to live in full health compared with each impaired health state. Results: Eight adults (50% women) with FD from the UK were interviewed. They were recruited via various approaches, including patient organizations and social media. The interviewees' responses, evidence from published literature, and input from a clinical expert informed the development of 6 health state vignettes (pain, moderate clinically evident FD [CEFD], severe CEFD, end-stage renal disease [ESRD], stroke, and cardiovascular disease [CVD]) and 3 combined health states (severe CEFD + ESRD, severe CEFD + CVD, and severe CEFD + stroke). A vignette valuation survey was administered to 1222 participants from the UK general population who were members of an external surveying organization and agreed to participate in this study; 1175 surveys were successfully completed and included in the analysis. Responses to TTO questions were converted into utility values for each health state. Pain was the highest valued health state (0.465), and severe CEFD + ESRD was the lowest (0.033). Discussion: Overall, mean utility values declined as the severity of the vignettes increased, indicating that respondents were more willing to trade life-years to avoid a severe health state. Conclusions: Health state vignettes reflect the effects of FD on all major health-related quality-of-life domains and may help to support economic modeling for treatment of FD.

The risk of chronic kidney disease development in adult patients with chronic hypoparathyroidism treated with rhPTH(1-84): A retrospective cohort study

OBJECTIVE

This study assessed the risk of developing chronic kidney disease (CKD) and decline in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) over a period of up to 5 years in adult patients with chronic hypoparathyroidism treated with recombinant human parathyroid hormone (1-84) (rhPTH[1-84]) compared with a historical control cohort of patients not treated with rhPTH(1-84).

DESIGN

Retrospective cohort study of patients with chronic hypoparathyroidism treated with rhPTH(1-84) derived from the REPLACE (NCT00732615), RELAY (NCT01268098), RACE (NCT01297309) and HEXT (NCT01199614, and its continuation study NCT02910466) clinical trials and a historical control cohort who did not receive PTH selected from an electronic medical record database.

PATIENTS

One hundred and eighteen patients treated with rhPTH(1-84) and 497 patient controls.

MEASUREMENTS

Incident CKD was defined as ≥2 eGFR measurements <60 ml/min/1.73 m² ≥3 months apart during the study and a sustained eGFR decline of ≥30% from baseline.

RESULTS

Over the 5-year period, Kaplan-Meier analyses showed that rhPTH(1-84)-treated patients had a significantly lower risk of developing CKD (log-rank p = .002) and a lower risk for a sustained eGFR decline ≥30% from baseline (log-rank p < .001) compared with patients in the control cohort. In adjusted analyses, patients in the rhPTH(1-84)-treated cohort had a 53% lower risk of developing CKD (hazard ratio [HR], 0.47; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.25-0.87) and a 65% lower risk for sustained eGFR decline ≥30% from baseline (HR, 0.35; 95% CI, 0.13-0.89) compared with controls.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with chronic hypoparathyroidism treated with rhPTH(1-84) in long-term clinical trials had a significantly lower risk of developing CKD compared with patients in a historical control cohort not treated with rhPTH(1-84).

Association of Serum Calcium and Phosphate With Incident Cardiovascular Disease in Patients With Hypoparathyroidism

The pathophysiological basis for the increased incidence of cardiovascular disease in patients with chronic hypoparathyroidism is poorly understood. To evaluate associations between levels of albumin-corrected serum calcium, serum phosphate, and calcium-phosphate product with the odds of developing cardiovascular events in patients with chronic hypoparathyroidism with ≥1 calcitriol prescription, we conducted a retrospective nested case-control study of patients who developed a cardiovascular event and matched controls without an event. The primary outcome was the instance of cardiovascular events. An electronic medical record database was used to identify 528 patients for the albumin-corrected serum calcium analysis and 200 patients for the serum phosphate and calcium-phosphate product analyses. Patients with ≥67% of albumin-corrected serum calcium measurements outside the study-defined 2.00 to 2.25 mmol/L (8.0 to 9.0 mg/100 ml) range had 1.9-fold higher odds of a cardiovascular event (adjusted odds ratio, 95% confidence interval 1.89, 1.10 to 3.25) compared with patients with <33% of calcium measurements outside the range. Likewise, patients with any serum phosphate measurements above 0.81 to 1.45 mmol/L (2.5 to 4.5 mg/100 ml) had 3.3-fold higher odds (3.26; 1.24 to 8.58), and those with any calcium-phosphate product measurements above 4.40 mmol²/L² (55 mg²/dL²) had 4.8-fold higher odds of a cardiovascular event (95% confidence interval 1.36 to 16.81) compared with patients with no measurements above these ranges. In adult patients with chronic hypoparathyroidism, a cardiovascular event was more likely in those with a higher proportion of albumin-corrected serum calcium measurements outside 2.00 to 2.25 mmol/L (8.0 to 9.0 mg/100 ml) or any serum phosphate and any calcium-phosphate product measurements above the normal population range.

Recent Trends in Hypoparathyroidism-Related Inpatient and Emergency Department Admissions and Costs in the United States

Hypoparathyroidism (HypoPT) is a rare disease associated with high morbidity. Its economic impact is not well understood. This retrospective, cross-sectional study used data from the United States-based National Inpatient Sample and the Nationwide Emergency Department Sample from 2010 to 2018 to quantify overall trends in number, cost, charges, and length of stay (LOS) for inpatient hospitalizations and number and charges for emergency department (ED) visits for HypoPT-related and for non-HypoPT-related causes. Additionally, the study estimated the marginal effect of HypoPT on total inpatient hospitalization costs and LOS as well as ED visit charges. Over the observed period, a mean of 56.8-66.6 HypoPT-related hospitalizations and 14.6-19.5 HypoPT-related ED visits were recorded per 100 000 visits per year. Over this period, the rate of HypoPT-related inpatient hospitalizations and ED visits increased by 13.5% and 33.6%, respectively. The mean LOS for HypoPT-related hospitalizations was consistently higher than for non-HypoPT-related causes. Total annual HypoPT-related inpatient hospitalization costs increased by 33.6%, and ED visit charges increased by 96.3%. During the same period, the annual costs for non-HypoPT-related hospitalizations and charges for ED visits increased by 5.2% and 80.3%, respectively. In all years, HypoPT-related hospital encounters resulted in higher charges and costs per individual visit than non-HypoPT-related encounters. The marginal effect of HypoPT on inpatient hospitalization costs and LOS, and on ED charges, increased over the period of observation. This study demonstrated that HypoPT was associated with substantial and increasing healthcare utilization in the United States between 2010 and 2018.

Impact of the Timing of Enzyme Replacement Therapy Initiation and Cognitive Impairment Status on Outcomes for Patients with Mucopolysaccharidosis II (MPS II) in the United States: A Retrospective Chart Review

Background: Mucopolysaccharidosis II (MPS II; Hunter syndrome; OMIM 309900) is a rare, X-linked, lysosomal storage disease caused by deficient iduronate-2-sulfatase activity. Accumulation of glycosaminoglycans results in multisystemic disease manifestations, which may include central nervous system involvement and cognitive impairment (CI). Patients with MPS II experience a high disease burden, leading to extensive healthcare resource utilization (HRU) and reduced quality of life. Objectives: This study aimed to assess the impact of timing of enzyme replacement therapy (ERT) initiation and CI status on the clinical characteristics and HRU of patients with MPS II. Methods: A retrospective medical chart review of 140 male patients who received a diagnosis of MPS II between 1997 and 2017 was performed at 19 US sites; data on disease manifestations and HRU stratified by age at ERT initiation or CI status were analyzed for the full study population and a subgroup of patients who received a diagnosis of MPS II before the age of 6 years. Results: In patients initiating ERT before 3 years of age, there was a trend toward lower symptom burden and HRU compared with patients who initiated ERT at an older age. Evaluation of developmental and behavioral signs and symptoms in the full study population showed that communication delay (70.0% of patients), cognitive delay (62.1%), behavioral problems (52.9%), and toileting delay (50.0%) were particularly common; earliest documented signs and symptoms were motor delay (median [range] age at first documentation: 4.2 [0.9-18.7] years) and behavioral problems (4.4 [0.6-13.7] years). Patients with CI generally experienced greater symptom burden and higher HRU than those without CI, with the most notable differences documented for communication and toileting delays. Formal cognitive testing was documented in <30% of cognitively impaired patients diagnosed with MPS II before the age of 6 years. Conclusions: Our findings reinforce previous recommendations for ERT to be initiated early to maximally benefit patients with MPS II, especially those younger than 3 years old. Cognitively impaired patients experience a particularly high disease burden and HRU. Patient care could be improved with early cognitive assessments and the development of treatments that address cognitive decline.

Lower Risk of Cardiovascular Events in Adult Patients with Chronic Hypoparathyroidism Treated with rhPTH(1-84): A Retrospective Cohort Study

Introduction

Patients with chronic hypoparathyroidism are at increased risk of cardiovascular disease. This study evaluated the risk of developing cardiovascular conditions over a period of 5 years in adult patients with chronic hypoparathyroidism treated with recombinant human parathyroid hormone (1–84), rhPTH(1–84), compared with a historical control cohort of patients not treated with rhPTH(1–84).

Methods

This retrospective cohort study comprised patients with chronic hypoparathyroidism treated with rhPTH(1–84) in the REPLACE (NCT00732615), RELAY (NCT01268098), and RACE (NCT01297309) clinical trials, and controls selected from the IBM^® Explorys electronic medical record database (January 2007–August 2019) who did not receive parathyroid hormone but who had enrollment criteria similar to those for the clinical trials. Cardiovascular outcomes were the first diagnosis of cerebrovascular, coronary artery, peripheral vascular disease, or heart failure during the study period.

Results

We evaluated 113 adult patients with chronic hypoparathyroidism treated with rhPTH(1–84) and 618 control patients who did not receive rhPTH(1–84). Over the 5-year follow-up period, 3.5% of patients (n = 4) in the rhPTH(1–84) cohort had a cardiovascular event compared with 16.3% (n = 101) in the control cohort. Kaplan–Meier analysis demonstrated that patients in the rhPTH(1–84) cohort had lower risk of experiencing a cardiovascular event compared with patients in the control cohort (P = 0.005). Multivariable analyses adjusted for baseline variables showed that patients in the rhPTH(1–84) cohort had 75% lower risk for a cardiovascular event compared with patients in the control cohort (adjusted hazard ratio, 0.25 [95% CI 0.08–0.81]; P = 0.020).

Conclusion

Long-term treatment with rhPTH(1–84) was associated with a lower risk of incident cardiovascular conditions compared with conventional therapy in patients with chronic hypoparathyroidism. Previous studies demonstrated that mineral homeostasis was maintained with lower use of calcium and active vitamin D when rhPTH(1–84) was added to conventional therapy. Future studies are needed to understand whether improved regulation of mineral homeostasis conferred by rhPTH(1–84) may provide long-term cardiovascular benefits to patients with chronic hypoparathyroidism.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12325-022-02198-y.

Clinical Characteristics and Healthcare Resource Utilization for Patients with Mucopolysaccharidosis II (MPS II) in the United States: A Retrospective Chart Review

Background: Mucopolysaccharidosis II (MPS II; Hunter syndrome) is a rare, X-linked, life-limiting lysosomal storage disease characterized by a deficiency in the activity of the enzyme iduronate-2-sulfatase. Accumulation of glycosaminoglycans in tissues and organs throughout the body causes cellular damage, leading to multisystemic disease manifestations. Patients generally require multidisciplinary care across a wide range of specialties. Objectives: The aims of this study were to assess the healthcare needs of patients with MPS II and to explore the impact of treatment on disease burden and healthcare resource utilization. Methods: A retrospective review of medical charts from 19 US sites was performed. Data were analyzed from 140 male patients diagnosed with MPS II (defined as a documented deficiency in iduronate-2-sulfatase) between 1997 and 2017. The prevalence and age at onset of clinical manifestations and extent and frequency of healthcare resource use were evaluated. Results: Of the patients in this study, 77.1% had received enzyme replacement therapy with intravenous idursulfase and 62.1% had cognitive impairment. The clinical burden among patients was substantial: almost all patients had ear, nose, and throat abnormalities (95.7%); musculoskeletal abnormalities (95.0%); and joint stiffness or abnormalities (90.7%). Of the most prevalent disease manifestations, facial dysmorphism and hepatosplenomegaly were documented the earliest (median age at first documentation of 3.8 years in both cases). Hospitalizations, emergency department visits, and outpatient visits were reported for 51.2%, 58.5%, and 93.5% of patients, respectively, with a frequency of 0.1, 0.2, and 3.0 per patient per year, respectively. Surgery was also common, with 91.1% of patients having undergone at least 1 surgical procedure. The clinical burden and prevalence and frequency of resource use were generally similar in patients who had received enzyme replacement therapy and in those who had not. Conclusions: These results add to our understanding of the natural history of MPS II and indicate that the disease burden and healthcare needs of patients with this progressive disease are extensive. Increased understanding of disease burden and resource use may enable the development of models of healthcare resource utilization in patients with MPS II and contribute to improvements in disease management and patient care.

Trends in characteristics and outcomes among US adults hospitalised with COVID-19 throughout 2020: an observational cohort study

OBJECTIVES

To examine the temporal patterns of patient characteristics, treatments used and outcomes associated with COVID-19 in patients who were hospitalised for the disease between January and 15 November 2020.

DESIGN

Observational cohort study.

SETTING

COVID-19 subset of the Optum deidentified electronic health records, including more than 1.8 million patients from across the USA.

PARTICIPANTS

There were 51 510 hospitalised patients who met the COVID-19 definition, with 37 617 in the laboratory positive cohort and 13 893 in the clinical cohort.

PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES

Incident acute clinical outcomes, including in-hospital all-cause mortality.

RESULTS

Respectively, 48% and 49% of the laboratory positive and clinical cohorts were women. The 50- 65 age group was the median age group for both cohorts. The use of antivirals and dexamethasone increased over time, fivefold and twofold, respectively, while the use of hydroxychloroquine declined by 98%. Among adult patients in the laboratory positive cohort, absolute age/sex standardised incidence proportion for in-hospital death changed by -0.036 per month (95% CI -0.042 to -0.031) from March to June 2020, but remained fairly flat from June to November, 2020 (0.001 (95% CI -0.001 to 0.003), 17.5% (660 deaths /3986 persons) in March and 10.2% (580/5137) in October); in the clinical cohort, the corresponding changes were -0.024 (95% CI -0.032 to -0.015) and 0.011 (95% CI 0.007 0.014), respectively (14.8% (175/1252) in March, 15.3% (189/1203) in October). Declines in the cumulative incidence of most acute clinical outcomes were observed in the laboratory positive cohort, but not for the clinical cohort.

CONCLUSION

The incidence of adverse clinical outcomes remains high among COVID-19 patients with clinical diagnosis only. Patients with COVID-19 entering the hospital are at elevated risk of adverse outcomes.

Association of Calcium and Phosphate Levels with Incident Chronic Kidney Disease in Patients with Hypoparathyroidism: A Retrospective Case-Control Study

OBJECTIVE

Reasons for the increased incidence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in patients with chronic hypoparathyroidism are poorly understood. This study evaluated associations between levels of albumin-corrected serum calcium, serum phosphate, and calcium-phosphate product and the odds of CKD development in patients with chronic hypoparathyroidism.

DESIGN

A retrospective nested case-control study of adult patients with chronic hypoparathyroidism who had ≥1 prescription for calcitriol who developed CKD and matched controls who did not develop CKD were selected from the IBM® Explorys electronic medical record database. Patients. The study included a cohort of 300 patients for the albumin-corrected serum calcium analysis and 80 patients for the serum phosphate and calcium-phosphate product analyses. Measurements. We examined associations between albumin-corrected serum calcium, serum phosphate and calcium-phosphate product levels, and the risk of devloping CKD (defined as ≥2 outpatient estimated glomerular filtration values <60 mL/min/1.73 m² occuring ≥3 months apart or ≥1 diagnostic code for CKD stages 3-5).

RESULTS

Individuals who had ≥67% of albumin-corrected serum calcium measurements outside, above, or below the study-defined range (2.00-2.25 mmol/L [8.0-9.0 mg/dL]) had 3.5-, 2.9-, and 2.7-fold higher odds of developing CKD (adjusted odds ratios [95% CI]: 3.46 [1.82-6.56], 2.85 [1.30-6.28], and 2.68 [1.16-6.15]), respectively, compared with patients who had <33% of albumin-corrected calcium measurements in those ranges. There was no association between developing CKD and having any serum phosphate measurements or any calcium-phosphate product measurements above normal population ranges.

CONCLUSION

In adult patients with chronic hypoparathyroidism, a higher proportion of albumin-corrected calcium measurements outside of the 2.00-2.25 mmol/L (8.0-9.0 mg/dL) range was associated with higher odds of developing CKD.

Five-Year Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate in Adults with Chronic Hypoparathyroidism Treated with rhPTH(1-84): A Retrospective Cohort Study

INTRODUCTION

Chronic hypoparathyroidism is associated with higher risk of developing chronic kidney disease compared with the general population. This study evaluated changes in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) over a 5-year period in adult patients with chronic hypoparathyroidism treated with recombinant parathyroid hormone (1-84), rhPTH(1-84), compared with a historical control cohort of patients who did not receive rhPTH(1-84).

METHODS

This retrospective cohort study included patients with chronic hypoparathyroidism treated with rhPTH(1-84) in the REPLACE (NCT00732615), RELAY (NCT01268098), RACE (NCT01297309), and HEXT (NCT01199614 and continuation study NCT02910466) clinical trials. A historical control cohort who did not receive parathyroid hormone but who had enrollment criteria similar to those for the clinical trials was selected from the IBM® Explorys electronic medical record database (January 2007-August 2019). Outcomes of interest were the annual rate of change in eGFR from baseline (i.e., eGFR slope) and the predicted eGFR change from baseline at years 1 through 5.

RESULTS

The study comprised 72 adult patients with chronic hypoparathyroidism treated with rhPTH(1-84) and 176 control patients who did not receive rhPTH(1-84). Over 5 years, eGFR remained stable in the rhPTH(1-84) cohort, whereas eGFR declined at a rate of 1.67 mL/min/1.73 m² per year in the control cohort (P < 0.001 for eGFR slope in the control cohort). At 5 years, predicted eGFR in the rhPTH(1-84) cohort increased from baseline by 1.21 mL/min/1.73 m², whereas eGFR in the control cohort declined by 10.36 mL/min/1.73 m², after adjusting for baseline variables. The difference in eGFR slopes between the cohorts over 5 years was 1.37 mL/min/1.73 m² per year (95% CI 0.62-2.13; P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

Long-term treatment with rhPTH(1-84) was associated with stable eGFR compared with eGFR decline in the controls not treated with rhPTH(1-84). Preservation of renal function conferred by rhPTH(1-84) may benefit patients with chronic hypoparathyroidism by reducing risk of long-term renal complications.

Real-world treatment patterns and clinical outcomes for inpatients with COVID-19 in the US from September 2020 to February 2021

The objective of this retrospective cohort study was to describe pre-treatment characteristics, treatment patterns, health resource use, and clinical outcomes among adults hospitalized with COVID-19 in the United States (US) who initiated common treatments for COVID-19. The Optum^® COVID-19 electronic health records database was used to identify patients >18 years, diagnosed with COVID-19, who were admitted to an inpatient setting and received treatments of interest for COVID-19 between September 2020 and January 2021. Patients were stratified into cohorts based on index treatment use. Patient demographics, medical history, care setting, medical procedures, subsequent treatment use, patient disposition, clinical improvement, and outcomes were summarized descriptively. Among a total of 26,192 patients identified, the most prevalent treatments initiated were dexamethasone (35.4%) and dexamethasone + remdesivir (14.9%), and dexamethasone was the most common subsequent treatment. At day 14 post-index, <10% of patients received any treatments of interest. Mean (standard deviation [SD]) patient age was 65.6 (15.6) years, and the most prevalent comorbidities included hypertension (44.8%), obesity (35.4%), and diabetes (25.7%). At the end of follow-up, patients had a mean (SD) 8.1 (6.6) inpatient days and 1.4 (4.1) days with ICU care. Oxygen supplementation, non-invasive, or invasive ventilation was required by 4.5%, 3.0%, and 3.1% of patients, respectively. At the end of follow-up, 84.2% of patients had evidence of clinical improvement, 3.1% remained hospitalized, 83.8% were discharged, 4% died in hospital, and 9.1% died after discharge. Although the majority of patients were discharged alive, no treatments appeared to alleviate the inpatient morbidity and mortality associated with COVID-19. This highlights an unmet need for effective treatment options for patients hospitalized with COVID-19.

Characteristics and outcomes of hospitalised adults with COVID-19 in a Global Health Research Network: a cohort study

OBJECTIVE

To examine age, gender, and temporal differences in baseline characteristics and clinical outcomes of adult patients hospitalised with COVID-19.

DESIGN

A cohort study using deidentified electronic medical records from a Global Research Network.

SETTING/PARTICIPANTS

67 456 adult patients hospitalised with COVID-19 from the USA; 7306 from Europe, Latin America and Asia-Pacific between February 2020 and January 2021.

RESULTS

In the US cohort, compared with patients 18-34 years old, patients ≥65 had a greater risk of intensive care unit (ICU) admission (adjusted HR (aHR) 1.73, 95% CI 1.58 to 1.90), acute respiratory distress syndrome(ARDS)/respiratory failure (aHR 1.86, 95% CI 1.76 to 1.96), invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV, aHR 1.93, 95% CI, 1.73 to 2.15), and all-cause mortality (aHR 5.6, 95% CI 4.36 to 7.18). Men appeared to be at a greater risk for ICU admission (aHR 1.34, 95% CI 1.29 to 1.39), ARDS/respiratory failure (aHR 1.24, 95% CI1.21 to 1.27), IMV (aHR 1.38, 95% CI 1.32 to 1.45), and all-cause mortality (aHR 1.16, 95% CI 1.08 to 1.24) compared with women. Moreover, we observed a greater risk of adverse outcomes during the early pandemic (ie, February-April 2020) compared with later periods. In the ex-US cohort, the age and gender trends were similar; for the temporal trend, the highest proportion of patients with all-cause mortality were also in February-April 2020; however, the highest percentages of patients with IMV and ARDS/respiratory failure were in August-October 2020 followed by February-April 2020.

CONCLUSIONS

This study provided valuable information on the temporal trends of characteristics and outcomes of hospitalised adult COVID-19 patients in both USA and ex-USA. It also described the population at a potentially greater risk for worse clinical outcomes by identifying the age and gender differences. Together, the information could inform the prevention and treatment strategies of COVID-19. Furthermore, it can be used to raise public awareness of COVID-19's impact on vulnerable populations.

The Risk of Venous Thromboembolism (VTE) in Men with Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia Treated with 5-Alpha Reductase Inhibitors (5ARIs)

Background

Many men receive 5-alpha reductase inhibitors (5ARIs) for ongoing treatment of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). The increased risk of cardiovascular complications with 5ARIs has been documented in BPH studies and the occurrence of cerebral venous thrombosis, presumably due to increased estrogen level following 5ARI use, was described in multiple case reports. The objective of this study was to determine if 5ARIs with or without alpha blockers (AB) were associated with an increased risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in males with BPH.

Methods

We conducted a nested case–control study among a population of men ages 40–79 who received at least one 5ARI or AB prescription for treatment of BPH between 1995 and 2015 in the UK-based Clinical Practice Research Datalink GOLD. Cases of incident VTE (pulmonary embolism [PE] or deep venous thrombosis [DVT]) and matched controls were identified from this population. We used descriptive analyses and conditional logistic regression to evaluate the risk of VTE in users of 5ARIs compared to users of ABs.

Results

For 5ARI only users, the adjusted odds ratios (aORs), (95% CI) for VTE were 1.51 (0.98–2.32) in current 5ARI users and 1.23 (0.70–2.17) in recent/distant past, compared to AB only users. However, the aOR (95% CI) in men who had 50 or more current 5ARI prescriptions compared to users of ABs only was higher: 2.29 (1.14–4.63). For 5ARI with AB use, the aORs, (95% CI) for VTE were 1.16 (0.64–2.10) in current 5ARI+AB users and 1.93 (0.71–5.25) in recent/distant past, compared to AB only users. The aOR (95% CI) in men who had 50 or more current 5ARI+AB prescriptions compared to users of ABs only was 1.65 (0.64–4.26).

Conclusion

Current use of 5ARI, particularly long-term use, is associated with an increased risk of incident idiopathic VTE compared to patients treated with AB use only.

Serum Calcium Levels in Adult Patients With Chronic Hypoparathyroidism Treated With rhPTH(1–84) Compared With a Historical Control Cohort

Adult patients (pts) with chronic hypoparathyroidism (HypoPT) have wide fluctuations in albumin-corrected serum calcium (Ca) measurements.1 This study assessed Ca levels over a 5-yr period in adult pts with chronic HypoPT treated with or without recombinant human parathyroid hormone (1–84), rhPTH(1–84). The rhPTH(1–84)-treated pt cohort was from NCT01297309 (RACE) and NCT01199614 (HEXT) clinical trials. A historical control pt cohort with chronic HypoPT who did not receive rhPTH(1–84) or rhPTH(1–34) came from the US Explorys electronic medical record database (Jan 2007−Aug 2019); selection criteria were similar to those used for the rhPTH(1–84)-treated cohort. The index date was the day after initiation of treatment for the rhPTH(1–84) cohort and the day after the first calcitriol prescription for the control cohort. Pts were required to have ≥1 pair of serum albumin and Ca values occurring on the same date during the 6 months before index and 5 yrs (±6 months) after index. For pts from RACE, baseline and study visit data after rhPTH(1–84) initiation were collected from the antecedent trials. Specified ranges for albumin-corrected serum Ca values were: &lt;7.5 mg/dL (&lt;1.875 mmol/L); ≥7.5−&lt;8.0 mg/dL (≥1.875−&lt;2.0 mmol/L); ≥8.0−&lt;9.0 mg/dL (≥2.0−&lt;2.25 mmol/L); ≥9.0−&lt;10.2 mg/dL (≥2.25−&lt;2.55 mmol/L); and ≥10.2 mg/dL (≥2.55 mmol/L). Changes in Ca levels were assessed using multivariable regression models. There were 71 pts in the rhPTH(1–84) cohort and 119 pts in the control. Before the index date, rhPTH(1–84)-treated pts, compared with the control, were younger (mean±SD, 47.8±10.8 vs 54.9±15.5 years; P&lt;0.001) and a lower proportion had acute manifestations of HypoPT (22.5% vs 64.7%; P&lt;0.001). Over a 5-yr period, in adjusted analyses rhPTH(1–84)-treated pts, compared with the control, had a similar mean proportion of &lt;7.5 mg/dL Ca measurements per pt (13.1% vs 13.1%; P=0.41), a higher proportion of ≥7.5−&lt;8.0 mg/dL Ca measurements per pt (18.8% vs 10.6%; P&lt;0.001), a similar proportion of ≥8.0−&lt;9.0 mg/dL Ca measurements per pt (50.7% vs 48.5%; P=0.68), a lower proportion of ≥9.0−&lt;10.2 mg/dL Ca measurements per pt (15.6% vs 24.1%; P&lt;0.001), and a lower proportion of ≥10.2 mg/dL Ca measurements per pt (1.9% vs 3.7%; P=0.27). The rhPTH(1–84) cohort, compared with the control, had a higher proportion of pts with target range Ca measurements ≥7.5−&lt;9.0 mg/dL (≥1.875−&lt;2.25 mmol/L) for at least 50% of their values (88.7% vs 62.2%; P&lt;0.001). Data interpretation is limited by the differing pt management (ie, trial protocols for the rhPTH[1–84] cohort and clinical practice for the control cohort). Over a 5-yr period, per pt serum Ca levels fluctuated in pts with chronic HypoPT, but levels were more stable in pts treated with rhPTH(1–84) and a lower proportion had hypercalcemia, compared with controls. 1. Ayodele O, et al. ASBMR 2020, 11−15 Sep 2020.

Risk of Chronic Kidney Disease in Adult Patients With Chronic Hypoparathyroidism Treated With rhPTH(1–84) Compared With a Historical Control Cohort

Patients (pts) with chronic hypoparathyroidism are at increased risk of renal complications. This study evaluated chronic kidney disease (CKD) outcomes over a period of up to 5 years in adult pts with chronic hypoparathyroidism treated with recombinant human parathyroid hormone (1–84), rhPTH(1–84), compared with a historical control cohort of pts who did not receive rhPTH(1–84). The cohort of pts with chronic hypoparathyroidism treated with rhPTH(1–84) was derived from the NCT00732615 (REPLACE), NCT01268098 (RELAY), NCT01297309 (RACE) and NCT01199614 (HEXT) clinical trials. The control cohort of adult pts who did not receive rhPTH(1–84) or rhPTH(1–34) was selected from the US Explorys electronic medical record database (Jan 2007−Aug 2019), using criteria similar to the enrollment criteria used in the trials. Index date was the day after treatment initiation for the rhPTH(1–84) cohort, and the day after the first calcitriol prescription for the control cohort. Pts with CKD at baseline (defined as estimated glomerular filtration rate [eGFR] <60 mL/min/1.73 m² at the closest eGFR measurement before the index date) were excluded. All included pts had ≥1 eGFR measurement within 6 months before the index date and ≥2 eGFR measurements ≥3 months apart during the 5 years on or after the index date. The CKD outcome was defined as first occurrence of eGFR <60 mL/min/1.73 m² confirmed by a second measurement ≥3 months after. Risk of CKD was assessed in a Kaplan-Meier analysis and a Cox proportional hazards model adjusted for demographic characteristics, baseline clinical conditions (including acute manifestations of hypoparathyroidism), and baseline laboratory measurements. The analysis included 118 pts in the rhPTH(1–84) cohort and 478 pts in the control cohort. Pts in the rhPTH(1–84) cohort, compared with pts in the control cohort, were younger (mean ± SD age, 45.3±11.4 vs 51.5±16.2 years; P<0.001), a higher proportion were White (97.5% vs 81.6%; P<0.001), and a lower proportion had acute manifestations of hypoparathyroidism before the index date (15.3% vs 73.2%; P<0.001). In a Kaplan-Meier analysis, rhPTH(1–84)-treated pts had a significantly reduced risk of developing CKD compared with pts in the control cohort, with 11.0% and 27.0% of pts in each cohort, respectively, developing CKD during follow-up (P<0.01). The adjusted hazard ratio of developing CKD associated with rhPTH(1–84) treatment vs no rhPTH(1–84) treatment was 0.47 (95% CI, 0.25−0.88; P<0.05). Pts with chronic hypoparathyroidism treated with rhPTH(1–84) in long-term clinical trials had a significantly reduced risk of developing CKD compared with pts in a control cohort who did not receive rhPTH(1–84). These results should be viewed in light of possible treatment differences in the studied cohorts (ie, predefined trial protocols vs real-word practice for the control cohort).

Change in Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate in Adult Patients With Chronic Hypoparathyroidism Treated With rhPTH(1–84) Compared With a Historical Control Cohort

Chronic hypoparathyroidism (HypoPT) is associated with impaired renal function.1 This study evaluated change in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) over a 5-yr period in adult patients (pts) with chronic HypoPT treated with or without recombinant human parathyroid hormone (1–84), rhPTH(1–84). The rhPTH(1–84)-treated pt cohort was derived from NCT01297309 (RACE) and NCT01199614 (HEXT) clinical trials. A historical control pt cohort with HypoPT who did not receive rhPTH(1–84) or rhPTH(1–34) were from the large national US Explorys electronic medical record database (Jan 2007−Aug 2019) using criteria similar to the trial enrollment criteria. The index date was the day after treatment initiation for the rhPTH(1–84) cohort and the day after the first calcitriol prescription for the control. The analysis included pts with eGFR ≥60 mL/min/1.73 m2 at the closest eGFR measurement during the 6 months before index date, ≥2 eGFR measurements ≥3 months apart during the 5 yrs on or after the index date and ≥1 eGFR measurement at 5 yrs (±6 months). For pts from RACE, baseline and study visit data after rhPTH(1–84) initiation were collected from the antecedent trials. Changes in eGFR were assessed in linear mixed and multivariable models (adjusted for age/sex/race, baseline eGFR value, history of hypercalciuria/hypertension/type 2 diabetes (T2D)/acute HypoPT manifestations/cardiovascular condition). There were 72 pts in the rhPTH(1–84) cohort and 174 in the control cohort. Before the index date, pts in the rhPTH(1–84) cohort, compared with the control, were younger (mean±SD, 47.5±11.0 vs 53.9±15.5 yrs; P&lt;0.01), and a lower proportion had acute manifestations of HypoPT (22.2% vs 69.0%; P&lt;0.001) and T2D (2.8% vs 17.8%; P&lt;0.001). Over the 5-yr period, the difference in the rate of eGFR change between the 2 cohorts was 1.45 mL/min/1.73 m2 per yr and 1.33 mL/min/1.73m2 per yr, in the unadjusted and adjusted linear mixed models respectively (both P&lt;0.001); eGFR remained higher in the rhPTH(1–84) cohort at all times. Over 5 yrs, eGFR was relatively stable in the rhPTH(1–84) cohort, but eGFR declined in the control at a rate of −1.58 mL/min/1.73 m2 per yr (unadjusted model, P&lt;0.001), and by −1.57 mL/min/1.73 m2 per yr (adjusted model, P&lt;0.001). By yr 5, pts in the rhPTH(1–84) and control cohort were predicted to have eGFR changes from baseline of +1.51 mL/min/1.73 m2 and −10.48 mL/min/1.73 m2, respectively. Data interpretation is limited by the differing pt management (ie, predefined trial protocols and clinical practice for the control). In pts with chronic HypoPT, the annual rate of eGFR decline over a 5-yr period was significantly lower in pts treated with rhPTH(1–84) compared with controls not treated with rhPTH(1–84). These results support the Chen et al1 analysis of data from the same trials and a regional US health record database. 1. Chen KS, et al. JCEM 2020;105(10)dgaa490

Cardiovascular Events in Adult Patients With Chronic Hypoparathyroidism Treated With rhPTH(1–84) Compared With a Historical Control Cohort

Chronic hypoparathyroidism is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular (CV) complications. This study investigated CV events over a period of up to 5 years in adult patients with chronic hypoparathyroidism treated with recombinant human parathyroid hormone (1–84), rhPTH(1–84), compared with a historical control cohort of patients who did not receive rhPTH(1–84). The rhPTH(1–84)-treated patient cohort was derived from the NCT00732615 (REPLACE), NCT01268098 (RELAY), and NCT01297309 (RACE) clinical trials. A control cohort of adult patients who did not receive rhPTH(1–84) or rhPTH(1–34) was selected from the US Explorys electronic medical record database (Jan 2007−Aug 2019) using selection criteria similar to the enrollment criteria used in the trials. Index date was the day after initiation of treatment for the rhPTH(1–84) cohort and the day after the first calcitriol prescription for the control cohort. The primary outcome was the risk of a composite CV event (defined as any event of cerebrovascular disease, coronary artery disease, heart failure, or peripheral vascular disease) in the rhPTH(1–84) cohort compared with the control cohort through 5 years post-index. Patients with a CV event at baseline were excluded from the analysis. Risk of a CV event was assessed in a Kaplan-Meier analysis and a Cox proportional hazards model adjusted for demographic characteristics, baseline clinical conditions, and baseline serum calcium levels. The analysis included 113 patients in the rhPTH(1–84) cohort and 618 patients in the control cohort. Patients in the rhPTH(1–84) cohort, compared with the control cohort, were younger (mean ± SD age, 47.8±12.0 vs 51.0±16.8 years; P&lt;0.05), a higher proportion were White (94.7% vs 81.9%; P&lt;0.01), and fewer had acute manifestations of hypoparathyroidism before the index date (22.1% vs 69.6%; P&lt;0.001). In a Kaplan-Meier analysis, rhPTH(1–84)-treated patients had a significantly reduced risk of developing a CV event compared with patients in the control cohort (P&lt;0.01); 3.5% of rhPTH(1–84)-treated patients and 16.3% of control cohort patients developed a CV event over the 5-year follow-up period. The adjusted hazard ratio for developing a CV event associated with rhPTH(1–84) treatment vs no rhPTH(1–84) treatment was 0.23 (95% CI, 0.07−0.74; P&lt;0.05). This analysis is limited by differences in patient management under predefined clinical trial protocols for the rhPTH(1–84) cohort vs real-world clinical practice for the control cohort. Over 5 years, patients with chronic hypoparathyroidism treated with rhPTH(1–84) in clinical trials had a significantly reduced risk of CV events compared with a control cohort of patients who did not receive rhPTH(1–84). Further research is needed to better understand the mechanism underlying the association between chronic hypoparathyroidism and risk of developing a CV event.

Risk of Chronic Kidney Disease and Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate Decline in Patients with Chronic Hypoparathyroidism: A Retrospective Cohort Study

INTRODUCTION

Chronic hypoparathyroidism, treated with conventional therapy of oral calcium supplements and active vitamin D, may increase the risk of kidney complications. This study examined risks of development and progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) decline in patients with chronic hypoparathyroidism.

METHODS

A retrospective cohort study using a managed care claims database in the United States from January 2007 to June 2017 included patients with chronic hypoparathyroidism (excluding those receiving parathyroid hormone) and randomly selected patients without hypoparathyroidism followed for up to 5 years. Main outcome measures were (1) development of CKD, defined as new diagnosis of CKD stage 3 and higher or ≥ 2 eGFR measurements < 60 ml/min/1.73 m² ≥ 3 months apart, (2) progression of CKD, defined as increase in baseline CKD stage, (3) progression to end-stage kidney disease (ESKD), and (4) eGFR decline ≥ 30% from baseline. Time-to-event analyses included Kaplan-Meier analyses with log-rank tests, and both unadjusted and adjusted Cox proportional hazards models were used to compare outcomes between cohorts.

RESULTS

The study included 8097 adults with and 40,485 without chronic hypoparathyroidism. In Kaplan-Meier analyses, patients with chronic hypoparathyroidism had higher risk of developing CKD and CKD progression and higher rates of eGFR decline (all P < 0.001). In multivariable Cox models adjusted for baseline characteristics, hazard ratios (95% confidence intervals [CIs]) were 2.91 (2.61-3.25) for developing CKD, 1.58 (1.23-2.01) for CKD stage progression, 2.14 (1.51-3.04) for progression to ESKD, and 2.56 (1.62-4.03) for eGFR decline (all P < 0.001) among patients with chronic hypoparathyroidism compared with those without hypoparathyroidism.

CONCLUSION

Patients with chronic hypoparathyroidism have increased risk of development and progression of CKD and eGFR decline compared with those without hypoparathyroidism. Further studies are warranted to understand underlying mechanisms for the associations between chronic hypoparathyroidism and kidney disease.

Navigating the Diagnostics of COVID-19

Introduction/Objective

The recent outbreak of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) began in Hubei province, China in December 2019 and has spread worldwide at an alarming rate. With millions of individuals infected and over two hundred thousand deaths, the necessity to develop fast and efficient diagnostic methods is of high importance. Diagnostic modalities rely on a combination of epidemiology, clinical presentation, laboratory examination, and appropriate imaging to diagnose and distinguish SARS-CoV-2 from other pulmonary infections. The purpose of this paper is to report on currently available diagnostic screening methods for patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 to guide frontline healthcare workers involved with COVID-19 patient care.

Methods

An electronic literature search was performed for peer-reviewed articles published from January 1, 2020, until April 26, 2020. Articles were then reviewed and included based on the applicability to the topic.

Results

The preferred diagnostic approach is reverse transcription of the virus’ RNA followed by PCR amplification (RT-PCR). This method recognizes the gene-specific primers to target various viral protein genes, such as the envelope protein gene or the nucleocapsid protein gene, which enables this test to be both sensitive and specific toward SARS-CoV-2. However, this method has been proven to be time-consuming taking hours-to-days for the results. In order to improve the speed and efficiency of diagnostics, newer rapid diagnostic serological tests are being developed for testing SARS-CoV-2, each with its own unique advantages and disadvantages. They could potentially be used as triage tests to rapidly identify patients who are very likely to have COVID-19 in combination with other accurate diagnostic methods.

Conclusion

Therefore, a combination of diagnostic testing used in a timely manner may be beneficial for the rapid and accurate detection of SARS-CoV-2. This was evident in cases where despite initial negative RT-PCR tests for various patients, who later demonstrate chest CT scans with various degrees of consolidation and ground-glass opacity. Thus establishing the need for radiology diagnosis to be complementary to RT-PCR for COVID-19 patients. Hopefully, the continuous development and use of rapid diagnostic tests and the implementation of public health measures will help control the spread of the disease.

Immunotherapy in soft-tissue sarcoma

Soft-tissue sarcoma (STS) is a rare mesenchymal malignancy that accounts for less than 1% of all adult tumours. Despite the successful advancement of localized therapies such as surgery and radiotherapy, these tumours can, for many, recur—often with metastatic disease. In the advanced setting, the role of systemic therapies is modest and is associated with poor survival. With the discovery of immunotherapies in other tumour types such as melanoma and lung cancer, interest has been renewed in exploring immunotherapy in STS. The biology of some STSs makes them ripe for immunotherapy intervention; for example, some STSs might have chromosomal translocations resulting in pathognomonic fusion products that have been shown to express cancer/testis antigens. Here, we present a targeted review of the published data and ongoing clinical trials for immunotherapies in patients with sarcoma, which comprise immune checkpoint inhibitors, adoptive cell therapies, and cancer vaccines.

Immunotherapy in soft-tissue sarcoma

Soft-tissue sarcoma (sts) is a rare mesenchymal malignancy that accounts for less than 1% of all adult tumours. Despite the successful advancement of localized therapies such as surgery and radiotherapy, these tumours can, for many, recur-often with metastatic disease. In the advanced setting, the role of systemic therapies is modest and is associated with poor survival. With the discovery of immunotherapies in other tumour types such as melanoma and lung cancer, interest has been renewed in exploring immunotherapy in sts. The biology of some stss makes them ripe for immunotherapy intervention; for example, some stss might have chromosomal translocations resulting in pathognomonic fusion products that have been shown to express cancer/testis antigens. Here, we present a targeted review of the published data and ongoing clinical trials for immunotherapies in patients with sarcoma, which comprise immune checkpoint inhibitors, adoptive cell therapies, and cancer vaccines.

The prevalence of metabolic syndrome in persons with type 2 diabetes at the Lagos University Tteaching Hospital, Lagos, Nigeria

BACKGROUND

Over the past decade, Lagos state has witnessed greater industrialization and increased economic prosperity. Lifestyle has become increasingly westernized, characterised by intake of excesscalories and physical inactivity. It is possible that these changes would lead to increases in the prevalence of metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes which are known cardiovascular risk factors. It became important therefore to study the prevalence of metabolic syndrome in type 2 diabetes in Lagos, Nigeria as at the present time and compare it with previous prevalence rates as well as rates from other centres as a way of assessing current cardiovascular risk burden in this population.

OBJECTIVES

This study is to determine the prevalence of metabolic syndrome in type 2 diabetes and to correlate the presence of microalbuminuria with glycaemic control.

METHODS

One hundred subjects with type 2 diabetes were selected by simple random sampling from patients attending The Diabetic Clinic at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Lagos, Nigeria.Age and sex matched controls were recruited from members of staff of the hospital.Clinical data was obtained by interviewing the participants. Anthropometric measurements were made and blood and urine specimens were collected for analysis. The World Health Organisation (WHO) criteria which is specified for the diagnosis of metabolic syndrome in the setting of type 2 diabetes was used to determine the prevalence of metabolic syndrome in this population.

RESULTS

Central obesity had the highest prevalence (79%) among persons with diabetes,followed by hypertension (69%), low HDL (50%), general obesity (40%), microalbuminuria (24%) and hypertriglyceridemia (10%). The prevalence of metabolic syndrome was 86%in this group. The commonest occurring metabolic syndrome component among patients with type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome was obesity (91.9%). There was a moderate positive correlation(r=0.52; p=0.01) between HbA1c values and microalbuminuria in persons with diabetes and the metabolic syndrome.

CONCLUSION

The prevalence of metabolic syndrome is very high among patients with type 2 diabetes in The Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Lagos, Nigeria.

Haemodialysis practice in a resource-limited setting in the tropics

BACKGROUND

OBJECTIVE

To provide information on the challenges of haemodialysis in a resource limited setting in South-Western Nigeria.

METHODS

This is a 5 year audit of all haemodialysis sessions carried out at the renal unit of the Ladoke Akintola University Teaching Hospital (LAUTECH), Osogbo, Nigeria.

RESULTS

A total of 225 patients were offered haemodialysis (HD) during this period with age range of 10 to 85 years (mean age of 49 years±16.25). There were 155 males and 70 females (male to female ratio of 2.2:1). Chronic kidney failure accounted for 180 (80%) of the cases while acute kidney injury (AKI) constituted 45 (20%) of the cases offered haemodialysis. The sessions of HD in both cases ranged from 1 to 27 with an average of 3 sessions. Hypotension is still the commonest intradialytic complication at our setting while diabetic nephropathy is rapidly emerging as a major cause of end stage renal disease at our setting requiring HD. As seen in other parts of the tropics sepsis, nephrotoxins and pregnancy related cases still accounted for a large percentage of AKI cases requiring haemodialysis. Only three patients were able to afford haemodialysis support for more than three months.

CONCLUSION

Haemodialysis still remains a veritable option in renal replacement therapy. Problems encountered were similar to many other settings in the tropics. Intensive efforts should still be geared at preventing the risk factors for both acute kidney injury and chronic kidney disease in our environment.

How disease prevention fails without good communication

Even where resources are plentiful, efforts to achieve full immunization coverage fail if staff and users are misinformed and unmotivated. A highly practical study in Lagos pinpoints some of these failures and suggests ways of overcoming them.