Carotid plaque thickness predicts cardiovascular events and death in patients with chronic kidney disease.

Background: Classical risk scoring systems underestimate the risk of cardiovascular disease in chronic kidney disease (CKD). Coronary artery calcium score (CACS) has improved prediction of cardiovascular events in patients with CKD. The maximal carotid plaque thickness (cPTmax) measured in ultrasound scans of the carotid arteries has demonstrated similar predictive value as CACS in the general population.

Acute Myocardial Infarction and Chronic Kidney Disease: A Nationwide Cohort Study on Management and Outcomes from 2010 to 2022.

Key Points: Retrospective study of guideline-directed management of myocardial infarction in patients with and without CKD from 2010 to 2022. CKD was associated with lower rate of guideline-directed management and worse prognosis. Uptake of guideline-directed management increased and prognosis improved in both groups during the study period.

Health-Related Quality of Life during 26-Week Intervention with the New Nordic Renal Diet.

The New Nordic Renal Diet (NNRD) is a whole-food approach, tailored to meet recommended guidelines in patients with moderate chronic kidney disease (stage 3b-4). The NNRD improved various metabolic and physiological endpoints during a 26-week randomized controlled study. Here, we examined the effect of dietary intervention on health-related quality of life (HRQoL).

Managing cardiovascular risk factors in patients with chronic kidney disease: pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions in the Copenhagen CKD Cohort.

Background: Although cardiovascular morbidity and mortality are substantial in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), guideline-directed treatment of cardiovascular risk factors remains a challenge.

Methods: Observational, cross-sectional study including patients aged 30-75 years with CKD stage 1-5 without kidney replacement therapy from a tertiary hospital outpatient clinic. Data were obtained through patient interview, clinical examination, biochemical work-up, and evaluation of medical records and prescription redemptions.

Myocardial work in chronic kidney disease: insights from the CPH-CKD ECHO Study.

Background: Myocardial work is a novel echocardiographic measure that offers detailed insights into cardiac mechanics. We sought to characterize cardiac function by myocardial work in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD).

Methods: We prospectively enrolled 757 patients with non-dialysis-dependent CKD and 174 age- and sex-matched controls.

The role of aetiology in cardiac manifestations of chronic kidney disease: the CPH-CKD ECHO study.

Purpose: We investigated the associations between cardiac parameters and aetiologies of CKD in an exploratory study.

Methods: The study population consisted of 883 participants, 174 controls and 709 patients with aetiologies of CKD including diabetic nephropathy/renovascular KD in diabetes mellitus, hypertensive/renovascular nephropathy, tubulointerstitial nephritis, glomerulonephritis/vasculitis, polycystic KD (PKD), and CKD of unknown origin. Echocardiographic measures included left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction, global longitudinal, area, and radial strain, E/e' ratio, and LV mass index.

Oral anticoagulation for stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation and advanced kidney disease.

Background: The net benefit of oral anticoagulation (OAC) with vitamin K antagonists or direct oral anticoagulants in patients with advanced chronic kidney disease and atrial fibrillation remains uncertain.

Objectives: We examined the use, efficacy, and safety of OAC in patients with estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) of <30 mL/min/1.73 m (including dialysis-treated patients) and atrial fibrillation.

Post-intervention Adherence to the New Nordic Renal Diet among patients with chronic kidney disease, stages 3 and 4.

The New Nordic Renal Diet (NNRD) is a meal pattern reduced in phosphorus, protein, and sodium for patients with moderate chronic kidney disease. The NNRD showed improvements in metabolic, and physiological outcomes after 26-weeks intervention. In the original study, participants were randomized to NNRD (n = 30), or control (habitual diet) (n = 30).

Predicting type 2 diabetes risk before and after solid organ transplantation using polygenic scores in a Danish cohort.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) can be multifactorial where both genetics and environmental factors play a role. We aimed to investigate the use of polygenic risk scores (PRS) in the prediction of pre-transplant T2DM and post-transplant diabetes mellitus (PTDM) among solid organ transplant (SOT) patients. Using non-genetic risk scores alone; and the combination with PRS, separate logistic regression models were built and compared using receiver operator curves.

Plasma activin A rises with declining kidney function and is independently associated with mortality in patients with chronic kidney disease.

Background: Plasma (p-)activin A is elevated in chronic kidney disease-mineral and bone disorder (CKD-MBD). Activin A inhibition ameliorates CKD-MBD complications (vascular calcification and bone disease) in rodent CKD models. We examined whether p-activin A was associated with major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), all-cause mortality and CKD-MBD complications in CKD patients.

Non-adherence, medication beliefs and symptom burden among patients receiving hemodialysis -a cross-sectional study.

Background: Non-adherence to medication is a common and complex issue faced by individuals undergoing hemodialysis (HD). However, more knowledge is needed about modifiable factors influence on non-adherence. This study investigated the prevalence of non-adherence, medication beliefs and symptom burden and severity among patients receiving HD in Denmark.

Cardiac arrhythmia and hypoglycaemia in patients receiving haemodialysis with and without diabetes (the CADDY study): protocol for a Danish multicentre cohort study.

Introduction: Patients receiving haemodialysis are at increased risk of arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death, but data on arrhythmia burden and the pathophysiology remain limited. Among potential risk factors, hypoglycaemia is proposed as a possible trigger of lethal arrhythmias. The development of implantable loop recorders (ILR) and continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) enables long-term continuous ECG and glycaemic monitoring.

Health effects of the New Nordic Renal Diet in patients with stage 3 and 4 chronic kidney disease, compared with habitual diet: a randomized trial.

Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) leads to an accumulation of waste products and causes adverse cardiometabolic effects.

Objectives: We investigated the health effects of the New Nordic Renal Diet (NNRD), a novel meal pattern reduced in phosphorus, protein, and sodium.

Methods: A 26-wk randomized trial compared the NNRD with a habitual diet.

Hepatic Fibrosis Evaluated in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes with and without Chronic Kidney Disease.

Background: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), and particularly liver fibrosis, has been suggested as a risk factor of chronic kidney disease (CKD). Given that NAFLD affects every fourth person globally, better insight is needed. Our aim was to investigate the association between hepatic fibrosis and CKD in patients with type 2 diabetes and to compare different methods for diagnosing liver fibrosis in this study population.

Performance of Panel-Estimated GFR Among Hospitalized Older Adults.

Rationale & Objective: Older adults represent nearly half of all hospitalized patients and are vulnerable to inappropriate dosing of medications eliminated through the kidneys. However, few studies in this population have evaluated the performance of equations for estimating the glomerular filtration rate (GFR)-particularly those that incorporate multiple filtration markers.

Study Design: Cross-sectional diagnostic test substudy of a randomized clinical trial.

Cardiovascular mortality in patients with advanced chronic kidney disease with and without diabetes: a nationwide cohort study.

Background: Cardiovascular mortality and the impact of cardiac risk factors in advanced chronic kidney disease (CKD) remain poorly investigated. We examined the risk of cardiovascular mortality in patients with advanced CKD with and without diabetes as well as the impact of albuminuria, plasma hemoglobin, and plasma low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels.

Methods: In a Danish nationwide registry-based cohort study, we identified persons aged ≥ 18 years with an estimated glomerular filtration rate < 30 mL/min/1.

Glucose variability in maintenance hemodialysis patients with type 2 diabetes: Comparison of dialysis and nondialysis days.

Introduction: Hemodialysis (HD) induces several physiological changes that can affect plasma glucose levels in patients with diabetes and in turn their glycemic control. Studies using continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) to assess glucose variations on dialysis days compared with nondialysis days report conflicting results. Here, we used CGM to examine glucose variations induced by HD in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Effects of Dapagliflozin on EChOcardiographic Measures of CarDiac StructurE and Function in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease: The DECODE-CKD Trial.

Key Points: SGLT2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) exert cardioprotective effects in patients with CKD through unknown mechanisms. DECODE-CKD is the first randomized controlled trial (RCT) to evaluate the effects of SGLT2i on cardiac structure and function in patients with CKD.

Background: SGLT2 inhibitors, originally developed as glucose-lowering agents for treatment of type 2 diabetes, have been shown to have cardio- and kidney-protective effects among CKD patients with and without diabetes.

Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes and Chronic Kidney Disease.

Background: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is suggested as a risk factor for chronic kidney disease (CKD). The incidence of NAFLD is rising globally in parallel to the increasing incidences of obesity and type 2 diabetes. Diabetes remains the leading cause of CKD, but the co-existence of NAFLD, CKD, and type 2 diabetes is not well elucidated.

Glucose metabolism, gut-brain hormones, and acromegaly treatment: an explorative single centre descriptive analysis.

Purpose: Active acromegaly is associated with impaired glucose metabolism, which improves upon treatment. Treatment options include surgery, medical therapy with somatostatin analogues (SSA) and Pegvisomant (PEG), and irradiation. The objective of the study was to describe the differential effect of various treatment regimens on the secretion of glucose, insulin, glucagon, glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), and glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) in patients with acromegaly.

Circulating Levels of Endotrophin Are Prognostic for Long-Term Mortality after AKI.

Background: AKI involves a rapid decrease in kidney function that may be associated with structural damage. Early markers predicting AKI are emerging, but tools to assess patients' long-term health risks after AKI are still lacking. Endotrophin (ETP) is a bioactive molecule released during the formation of collagen type VI.