Cost-Utility of Real-Time Potassium Monitoring in United States Patients Receiving Hemodialysis.

Introduction: Patients with kidney failure requiring hemodialysis are at high risk for hyperkalemia between treatments, which is associated with increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Early detection of hyperkalemic events may be useful to prevent adverse outcomes and their associated costs. We performed a cost-utility analysis comparing an intervention where a real-time potassium monitoring device is administered in patients on hemodialysis in comparison to usual care.

Machine learning for prediction of chronic kidney disease progression: Validation of the Klinrisk model in the CANVAS Program and CREDENCE trial.

Aim: To validate the Klinrisk machine learning model for prediction of chronic kidney disease (CKD) progression in patients with type 2 diabetes in the pooled CANVAS/CREDENCE trials.

Materials And Methods: We externally validated the Klinrisk model for prediction of CKD progression, defined as 40% or higher decline in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) or kidney failure. Model performance was assessed for prediction up to 3 years with the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC), Brier scores and calibration plots of observed and predicted risks.

Association of body mass index with the development of metabolic acidosis in patients with chronic kidney disease.

Aims: Higher body mass index (BMI) is associated with higher bone mass and bone serves as a buffer during the development of metabolic acidosis. The authors sought to examine the relationship between BMI and metabolic acidosis in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD).

Materials And Methods: The study utilized a large US longitudinal data repository including over 103 million patients from healthcare provider organizations to evaluate the relationship between the exposure variable (BMI) and the prevalence and incidence of metabolic acidosis among patients with estimated glomerular filtration rate <60 ml/min/1.

A Predictive Model for Kidney Failure After Nephrectomy for Localized Kidney Cancer: The Kidney Cancer Risk Equation.

Rationale & Objective: Nephrectomy is the mainstay of treatment for individuals with localized kidney cancer. However, surgery can potentially result in the loss of kidney function or in kidney failure requiring dialysis/kidney transplantation. There are currently no clinical tools available to preoperatively identify which patients are at risk of kidney failure over the long term.

Practical Utilization of Prediction Equations in Chronic Kidney Disease.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is common and can lead to kidney failure, cardiovascular complications, and early mortality. While nephrologists can provide valuable insights for patients at all stages of CKD, these scarce resources should be targeted at patients with the highest risk of progression and adverse outcomes. Prediction models are tools that can help providers risk stratify patients if they are effectively implemented into the clinical workflow.

Association of the Kidney Failure Risk Equation With High Health Care Costs.

Introduction: The Kidney Failure Risk Equations (KFRE) are accurate and validated to predict the risk of kidney failure in individuals with chronic kidney disease (CKD), but their potential to predict health care costs in the US health care system is unknown. We assessed the association of kidney failure risk from the 4-variable and 8-variable 2-year KFRE models with monthly health care costs in US patients with CKD stages G3 and G4.

Methods: This was an ancillary study to a larger observational, retrospective cohort study examining the association between serum bicarbonate and adverse kidney outcomes.

Increasing Serum Bicarbonate is Associated With Reduced Risk of Adverse Kidney Outcomes in Patients with CKD and Metabolic Acidosis.

Introduction: Low serum bicarbonate at a single point in time is associated with accelerated kidney decline in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). We modeled how changes in serum bicarbonate over time affect incidence of adverse kidney outcomes.

Methods: We analyzed data from Optum's deidentified Integrated Claims-Clinical data set of US patients (2007-2019) with ≥1 year of prior medical record data, CKD stages G3 to G5, and metabolic acidosis (i.

A Machine Learning Model to Predict Diuretic Resistance.

Background: Volume overload is a common complication encountered in hospitalized patients, and the mainstay of therapy is diuresis. Unfortunately, the diuretic response in some individuals is inadequate despite a typical dose of loop diuretics, a phenomenon called diuretic resistance. An accurate prediction model that predicts diuretic resistance using predosing variables could inform the right diuretic dose for a prospective patient.

Metabolic acidosis is undertreated and underdiagnosed: a retrospective cohort study.

Background: Guidelines recommend treatment of metabolic acidosis (MA) in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), but the diagnosis and treatment rates in real-world settings are unknown. We investigated the frequency of MA treatment and diagnosis in patients with CKD.

Methods: In this retrospective cohort study, we examined administrative health data from two US databases [Optum's de-identified Integrated Claims + Clinical Electronic Health Record Database (US EMR cohort; 1 January 2007 to 30 June 2019) and Symphony Health Solutions IDV® (US claims cohort; 1 May 2016 to 30 April 2019)] and population-level databases from Manitoba, Canada (1 April 2006 to 31 March 2018).

Metabolic Acidosis is Associated With Acute Kidney Injury in Patients With CKD.

Introduction: Metabolic acidosis in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) results from a loss of kidney function. It has been associated with CKD progression, all-cause mortality, and other adverse outcomes. We aimed to determine whether metabolic acidosis is associated with a higher risk of acute kidney injury (AKI).

Association of metabolic acidosis with fractures, falls, protein-calorie malnutrition and failure to thrive in patients with chronic kidney disease.

Background: The risk of adverse geriatric outcomes such as falls and fractures is high among patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Metabolic acidosis is associated with protein catabolism and bone loss in experimental animal and human studies. We sought to quantify the independent association of metabolic acidosis with adverse muscle, bone and functional outcomes in a large US community-based cohort.

Role of artificial intelligence in the diagnosis and management of kidney disease: applications to chronic kidney disease and acute kidney injury.

Purpose Of Review: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) and acute kidney injury (AKI) are global public health problems associated with a significant burden of morbidity, healthcare resource use, and all-cause mortality. This review explores recently published studies that take a machine learning approach to the diagnosis, management, and prognostication in patients with AKI or CKD.

Recent Findings: The release of novel therapeutics for CKD has highlighted the importance of accurately identifying patients at the highest risk of progression.

Cost of the quanta SC+ hemodialysis system for self-care in the United Kingdom.

Introduction: New personal hemodialysis systems, such as the quanta SC+, are being developed; these systems are smaller and simpler to use while providing the clearances of conventional systems. Increasing the uptake of lower-intensity assistance and full self-care dialysis may provide economic benefits to the public health payer. In the United Kingdom, most hemodialysis patients currently receive facility-based dialysis costing more than £36,350 per year including patient transport.

Kidney Failure Risk Equation and Cost of Care in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease.

Background And Objectives: Patients with CKD exhibit heterogeneity in their rates of progression to kidney failure. The kidney failure risk equation (KFRE) has been shown to accurately estimate progression to kidney failure in adults with CKD. Our objective was to determine health care utilization patterns of patients on the basis of their risk of progression.

Costs of Assisted Home Dialysis: A Single-Payer Canadian Model From Manitoba.

Rationale & Objective: The prevalence of kidney failure is increasing globally. Most of these patients will require life-sustaining dialysis at a substantial cost to the health care system. Assisted peritoneal dialysis (PD) and assisted home hemodialysis (HD) are potential alternatives to in-center HD and have demonstrated equivalent outcomes with respect to mortality and morbidity.

Percutaneous Versus Surgical Insertion of Peritoneal Dialysis Catheters: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: Home-based peritoneal dialysis (PD) is an alternative to facility-based hemodialysis and has lower costs and greater freedom for patients with kidney failure. For a patient to undergo PD, a safe and reliable method of accessing the peritoneum is needed. However, different catheter insertion techniques may affect patient health outcomes.

Metabolic Acidosis and Cardiovascular Disease in CKD.

Rationale & Objective: Metabolic acidosis related to chronic kidney disease (CKD) is associated with an accelerated decline in glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and the development of end-stage kidney disease. Whether metabolic acidosis is associated with cardiovascular (CV) events in patients with CKD is unclear.

Study Design: Retrospective cohort study.

Impact of a screen, triage and treat program for identifying chronic disease risk in Indigenous children.

Background: The First Nations Community Based Screening to Improve Kidney Health and Prevent Dialysis project was a point-of-care screening program in rural and remote First Nations communities in Manitoba that aimed to identify and treat hypertension, diabetes and chronic kidney disease. The program identified chronic disease in 20% of children screened. We aimed to characterize clinical screening practices before and after intervention in children aged 10-17 years old and compare outcomes with those who did not receive the intervention.

The Association between Income Status and Treatment Selection for Prostate Cancer in a Universal Health Care System: A Population-Based Analysis.

Purpose: Treatment selection for localized prostate cancer is guided by risk stratification and patient preferences. While socioeconomic status (SES) disparities exist for access to care, less is known about the effect of SES on treatment decision-making. We sought to evaluate whether income status was associated with the treatment selected (radical prostatectomy [RP] vs radiation therapy [RT]) for nonmetastatic prostate cancer in a universal health care system.

Metabolic acidosis is associated with increased risk of adverse kidney outcomes and mortality in patients with non-dialysis dependent chronic kidney disease: an observational cohort study.

Background: Management of chronic kidney disease (CKD) requires the management of risk factors, such as hypertension and albuminuria, that affect CKD progression. Identification of additional modifiable risk factors is necessary to develop new treatment strategies for CKD. We sought to quantify the association of metabolic acidosis with CKD progression and mortality in a large U.

Strategies to prevent hospital readmission and death in patients with chronic heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and chronic kidney disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Background: Readmission following hospital discharge is common and is a major financial burden on healthcare systems.

Objectives: Our objectives were to 1) identify studies describing post-discharge interventions and their efficacy with respect to reducing risk of mortality and rate of hospital readmission; and 2) identify intervention characteristics associated with efficacy.

Methods: A systematic review of the literature was performed.

Effects of a Knowledge-Translation Intervention on Early Dialysis Initiation: A Cluster Randomized Trial.

Background: The Initiating Dialysis Early and Late (IDEAL) trial, published in 2009, found no clinically measurable benefit with respect to risk of mortality or early complications with early dialysis initiation versus deferred dialysis start. After these findings, guidelines recommended an intent-to-defer approach to dialysis initiation, with the goal of deferring it until clinical symptoms arise.

Methods: To evaluate a four-component knowledge translation intervention aimed at promoting an intent-to-defer strategy for dialysis initiation, we conducted a cluster randomized trial in Canada between October 2014 and November 2015.