Hemoglobin and Clinical Outcomes in Hemodialysis: An Analysis of US Medicare Data From 2018 to 2020.

Rationale & Objective: Anemia management in patients treated with maintenance dialysis remains a challenge. We sought to update information in this area by evaluating the association between hemoglobin and various outcome and utilization measures using data-rich Medicare sources.

Study Design: Observational cohort study using data from the Consolidated Renal Operations in a Web-enabled Network and Medicare claims.

Excess death estimates in patients with end-stage renal disease - United States, February-August 2020.

This article describes an estimated 6953–10 316 excess deaths among individuals with end-stage renal disease during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic in February 2020–August 2020 (compared to death rates prior to the pandemic). Notably, the estimated number of excess deaths was reported as 10.8–16.

Excess Death Estimates in Patients with End-Stage Renal Disease - United States, February-August 2020.

End-stage renal disease (ESRD) is a condition in which kidney function has permanently declined such that renal replacement therapy* is required to sustain life (1). The mortality rate for patients with ESRD in the United States has been declining since 2001 (2). However, during the COVID-19 pandemic, ESRD patients are at high risk for COVID-19-associated morbidity and mortality, which is due, in part, to weakened immune systems and presence of multiple comorbidities (3-5).

A Peer-to-Peer Mentoring Program for In-Center Hemodialysis: A Patient-Centered Quality Improvement Program.

A patient-centered quality improvement program implemented in one Virginia hemodialysis facility sought to determine if peer-to-peer (P2P) programs can assist patients on in-center hemodialysis with self-management and improve outcomes. Using a single-arm, repeatedmeasurement, quasi-experimental design, 46 patients participated in a four-month P2P intervention. Outcomes include knowledge, self-management behaviors, and psychosocial health indicators: self-efficacy, perceived social support, hemodialysis social support, and healthrelated quality of life (HRQoL).

Pre-ESRD Care and Mortality in Incident ESRD Patients With Multiple Myeloma.

Objectives: The relationship between mortality and pre-ESRD (end-stage renal disease) nephrology care in incident ESRD patients with multiple myeloma (MM) as the primary cause of renal failure has not been examined.

Materials And Methods: Among 439,206 incident US hemodialysis patients with MM as the primary cause of ESRD (June 1, 2005 to May 31, 2009) identified using the US Renal Data System, adjusted odds ratios (OR) for reported pre-ESRD nephrology care for ESRD due to MM (n=4561) versus other causes (n=434,645) were calculated. The association of pre-ESRD nephrology care with subsequent mortality in MM-ESRD patients was examined.

High one year mortality in adults with sickle cell disease and end-stage renal disease.

Adequate pre-dialysis care reduces mortality among end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients. We tested the hypothesis that individuals with ESRD due to sickle cell disease (SCD-ESRD) receiving pre-ESRD care have lower mortality compared to individuals without pre-ESRD care. We examined the association between mortality and pre-ESRD care in incident SCD-ESRD patients who started haemodialysis between 1 June, 2005 and 31 May, 2009 using data provided by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).

Prevalence of arteriovenous fistulas in incident hemodialysis patients: correlation with patient factors that may be associated with maturation failure.

Background: Lok et al previously reported a risk equation for arteriovenous fistula (AVF) maturation failure. It is unclear whether this model or a more comprehensive model correlates with incident AVF use in the US hemodialysis population.

Study Design: Cross-sectional study.

Quality of care for myocardial infarction in rural and urban hospitals.

Background: In the mid-1990s, significant gaps existed in the quality of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) care between rural and urban hospitals. Since then, overall AMI care quality has improved. This study uses more recent data to determine whether rural-urban AMI quality gaps have persisted.

Assessment of the Medicare quality improvement organization program.

Background: Studies have shown improvement in quality of health care in the United States. However, the factors responsible for this improvement are largely unknown.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of the Medicare Quality Improvement Organization (QIO) Program in 4 clinical settings by using performance data for 41 quality measures during the 7th Scope of Work.

Change in the quality of care delivered to Medicare beneficiaries, 1998-1999 to 2000-2001.

Context: Despite widespread concern regarding the quality and safety of health care, and a Medicare Quality Improvement Organization (QIO) program intended to improve that care in the United States, there is only limited information on whether quality is improving.

Objective: To track national and state-level changes in performance on 22 quality indicators for care of Medicare beneficiaries.

Design, Patients, And Setting: National observational cross-sectional studies of national and state-level fee-for-service data for Medicare beneficiaries during 1998-1999 (baseline) and 2000-2001 (follow-up).