Study on the Clinical Implications of NLR and PLR for Diagnosing Frailty in Maintenance Hemodialysis Patients and Their Correlations with Patient Prognosis

Objective. To explore the clinical implications of neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) for diagnosing frailty in patients with maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) and their correlations with patient prognosis. Methods. A total of 185 patients with MHD admitted to the hemodialysis center of our hospital were selected, 72 of whom were diagnosed with frailty according to the Chinese version of Tilburg Frailty Indicator (TFI). The relevant data were collected, and the influencing factors of frailty in MHD patients were analyzed by one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and multivariate logistic regression. The value of NLR and PLR in diagnosing frailty in MHD patients was observed, and patients’ all-cause mortality was compared during the 3-year follow-up. The influences of different levels of NLR and PLR on the survival of MHD patients were investigated. Results. Multivariate regression analysis identified that serum albumin, dialysis adequacy, NLR, and PLR are independent risk factors for frailty in MHD patients ( P < 0.05 ). The area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve of NLR and PLR in diagnosing frailty in MHD patients was 0.859 and 0.799, respectively. Compared with the nonfrailty group, the 3-year mortality was higher, and the 3-year survival rate assessed by survival analysis was lower in the frailty group ( P < 0.05 ). Patients with high NLR and PLR levels showed a lower 3-year survival rate. Conclusions. Dialysis adequacy, serum albumin, NLR, and PLR are independently associated with frailty in MHD patients. NLR and PLR are of a certain diagnostic value for frailty in MHD patients. MHD patients with frailty have an unfavorable prognosis, as of those with high NLR and PLR levels.

A single-centre, retrospective analysis of mortality over 80 months comparing paclitaxel-coated balloon versus standard balloon angioplasty in the treatment of dysfunctional arteriovenous access

Aim: Percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) is a standard treatment for arteriovenous fistula (AVF) stenosis to preserve haemodialysis vascular access, promoting improved dialysis adequacy and better outcomes for those dependent on renal replacement therapy. Drug coated balloons (DCB) may help reduce the rate of neointimal hyperplasia and recurrent stenosis, but their use in femoropopliteal angioplasty has been associated with increased mortality at 2 and 5 year follow-up. This study aims to address the long-term safety of PTA for AVF stenosis with clinical correlation to participant co-morbidity and mortality. Methods: All patients undergoing PTA for AVF stenosis at a single centre between 2013 and 2017 were identified and grouped according to the use of DCB versus standard balloon angioplasty. All data was anonymised and correlated to verify independent predictors of mortality. Results: 481 (400 standard balloon; 81 DCB) procedures were performed in 313 patients (250 standard balloon; 63 DCB). Follow-up at 80 months did not show any difference in mortality ( p = 0.546). Multivariate analysis identified time on dialysis ( p < 0.001), age ( p = 0.001) and Charlson comorbidity index ( p = 0.02) as independent predictors of mortality. Conclusions: In this study, mortality was not associated with the use of DCBs, but was related to established factors of dialysis longevity, age and comorbidity.

Dialysis Adequacy among Haemodialysis Patients in Eastern Mediterranean Region: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Introduction: Dialysis adequacy is one of the most important indicators for measuring the quality of care provided in hemodialysis (HD) wards. Despite individual studies, there is still no comprehensive study about dialysis adequacy in the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMRO). This study was conducted to evaluate the dialysis adequacy in HD patients in the EMRO. Methods: In the present systematic review and meta-analysis international (EMBASE, Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science) and national (SID, MAGIRAN) databases were searched for related articles using keywords “dialysis adequacy” and “EMRO” from 1 January 2000 to April 30, 2020. The quality of studies was studied using Hoy et al instrument. Results: Out of 966 retrieved studies, 63 studies conducted on 15462 HD patients were included. The pooled mean of KT/V and URR were 1.24 (95% CI: 1.19, 1.30) and 63.03% (95% CI: 61.31, 64.75), respectively. The pooled prevalence of Kt/V>1.2 and URR>65.0% were 42.73% (95% CI: 31.58, 53.88) and 42.52% (95% CI: 25.3, 59.7), respectively. Conclusion: The results of the present study indicate the poor dialysis adequacy in the EMRO region and the need to improve the physical infrastructure, workforce, and pieces of equipment in hemodialysis wards.

Vascular Access Flow during Dialysis: Does Needle Orientation Matter?

Background: Monitoring of vascular access outflow (VAO) in dialysis is based on the indicator dilution method by ultrasound (UD). The role of arterial needle orientation in VAO measurement is not clear. We compared the impact of the retrograde (RET) versus the antegrade orientation (ANT) in terms of (a) VAO (UD) and (b) dialysis adequacy. Moreover, we compared VAO (UD ANT and RET orientation) with VAO measured by Doppler ultrasound. Methods: 22 patients participated in the study. Inclusion criteria: Dialysis > 6 months with a functioning AVF, no stenosis, no active infection, EF > 45% and informed consent. 4 flow measurements were taken on the same dialysis day (4 consecutive weeks). To account for blood pressure variation, we “corrected” VAO for a mean arterial pressure of 100 mmHg. Doppler VAO was measured just before dialysis. Means were compared by the paired t-test. For correlation and agreement, linear regression and Bland-Altman analysis were performed respectively. Results: Mean VAO (UD) was higher in the (ANT) versus the (RET) orientation: 1286.17 mL/min (SD = 455.78, 95%CI = 1084–1488) versus 1189.96 mL/min (SD = 401.05, 95%CI = 1012–1368) (p = 0.013) with a mean difference of 96.21 mL/min (5.66%). Mean Kt/V (RET orientation) was 1.57 (SD = 0.10, 95%CI = 1.52–1.61) versus 1,55 (SD = 0.10, 95%CI = 1.50–1.60) (ANT) orientation (p = 0.062). Recirculation was always 0%. The mean VAO (Doppler) was 1079.54 mL/min (SD = 356.04, 95%CI = 922–1237), 16% lower than VAO measured by UD with (ANT) orientation (p = 0.009) and 9.3% lower than the VAO in the (RET) orientation (p = 0.113). Linear regression analysis showed that VA flows (ANT versus RET) orientation of the needle correlates well between them (r = 0.93, p < 0.001) but show poor agreement (Bland–Altman analysis). Conclusion: VAO (UD) in the RET orientation was significantly lower than VAO in the ANT orientation and more consistent with VAO assessed by Doppler without influencing dialysis adequacy. Therefore, when using UD for VAO surveillance, the RET orientation should be used.

Dialysis Adequacy and Risk of Dementia in Elderly Hemodialysis Patients

Objective: Dementia is prevalent among elderly patients undergoing hemodialysis. However, the association between dialysis adequacy and the risk of dementia is uncertain.Methods: A total of 10,567 patients aged &gt;65 years undergoing maintenance hemodialysis who participated in a national hemodialysis quality assessment program were analyzed. The patients were classified into quartile groups based on single-pool Kt/V levels. The associations between single-pool Kt/V and the development of dementia, Alzheimer's disease (AD), and vascular dementia (VD) were examined.Results: The mean age of the patients was 72.9 years, and 43.4% were female. The mean baseline single-pool Kt/V level was 1.6 ± 0.3. During a median follow-up of 45.6 (45.6–69.9) months, there were 27.6, 23.9, and 2.8 events/1,000 person-years of overall dementia, AD, and VD, respectively. The incidences of overall dementia, AD, and VD were lowest in the highest single-pool Kt/V quartile group. Compared with the lowest single-pool Kt/V quartile, the risks of incident overall dementia and AD were significantly lower in the highest quartile [sub-distribution hazard ratio (sHR): 0.69, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.58–0.82 for overall dementia; sHR: 0.69, 95% CI: 0.57–0.84 for AD]. Inverse relationships were found between the risks of developing overall dementia and AD, and single-pool Kt/V. However, no significant relationship was observed between single-pool Kt/V levels and VD development.Conclusions: Increased dialysis clearance was associated with a lower risk of developing dementia in elderly hemodialysis patients.

Ensuring hemodialysis adequacy by dialysis dose monitoring with UV spectroscopy analysis of spent dialyzate

Introduction: Patients’ session-to-session variation has been shown to influence outcomes, making critical the monitoring of dialysis dose in each session. The aim of this study was to detect the intra-patient variability of blood single pool Kt/V as measured from pre-post dialysis blood urea and from the online tool Adimea®, which measures the ultraviolet absorbance of spent dialyzate. Methods: This open, one-armed, prospective non-interventional study, evaluates patients on bicarbonate hemodialysis or/and on hemodiafiltration. Dialysis was performed with B. Braun Dialog+ machines equipped with Adimea®. In the course of the prospective observation, online monitoring with Adimea® in each session was established without the target warning function being activated. A sample size of 97 patients was estimated. Results: A total of 120 patients were enrolled in six centers in China (mean age 51.5 ± 12.2 years, 86.7% males, 24.2% diabetics). All had an AV-fistula. The proportion of patients with blood Kt/V < 1.20 at baseline was 48.3%. During follow-up with Adimea®, the subgroup with Kt/V > 1.20 at baseline remains at the same adequacy level for more than 90% of the patients. Those with a Kt/V < 1.20 at baseline, showed a significant increase of Kt/V to 60% of the patients reaching the adequacy level >1.20. The coefficient of variation for spKt/V as evaluated by Adimea® was 9.6 ± 3.4%, not significantly different from the 9.6 ± 8.6% as blood Kt/V taken at the same time. Conclusion: Online monitoring of dialysis dose by Adimea® improves and maintains dialysis adequacy. Implementing online monitoring by Adimea into daily practice moves the quality of dialysis patient care a significant step forward.

Prognosis and Long-Term Overall Survival in Hypertensive Patients Undergoing Chronic Hemodialysis: A Multicenter Parametric Mixture Split-Population Analysis

Background: Hemodialysis (HD) patients face long-term complications which require ongoing dialysis and follow-up. The management of hypertension among HD populations has often been neglected. This study aimed at identifying the determinants of death in hypertensive HD (HTN-HD) patients. Methods: In a multicenter retrospective cohort study (conducted from 2005 to 2018 in thirty-four HD centers affiliated with Shiraz University of Medical Sciences), the data of 725 HTN-HD patients who had at least 3 months of regular dialysis and follow-up were analyzed. Accelerated failure time mixture split-population (AFTMSP) regression was utilized to identify the factors with significant effects on long- and short-term overall survival (OS) separately. Results: Among the different AFTMSP models, the extended generalized gamma (EGG) model outperformed the others. Sex (male: event time ratio [ETR]=1.30), initial vascular access type (arteriovenous fistula: ETR=1.50), and the type of membrane flux used for HD (high-flux: ETR=1.27) had important impacts on short-term OS. Moreover, age (OR=1.06), dialysis adequacy (Kt/ Vurea≤1.2: OR=2.30), initial vascular access type (central venous catheter: OR=2.08), serum sodium (OR=0.90) concentration, and potassium (OR=0.66) concentration had significant effects on long-term OS. Conclusion: The split-population analyses were able to demonstrate that the predictors of long-term OS were different from those of short-term OS. Although the superiority of the parametric EGG model was proved in this study, further research with different databases is suggested. Moreover, these findings can be considered by health policy decision-makers to create a new guideline to enhance the long-term OS of HTN-HD patients.

Evaluation of Dialysis Adequacy, Interdialytic Weight Gain and Quality of Life of Hemodialysis Patients within Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic

BACKGROUND: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic harmed the world community including hemodialysis patients. It has affected the physical and psychological status of hemodialysis patients. AIM: This study aimed to evaluate the dialysis adequacy, interdialytic weight gain, and quality of life in patients undergoing hemodialysis during the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: A quantitative study with a cross-sectional approach was conducted on 105 regular hemodialysis patients from three hemodialysis centers in Riau Province, Indonesia. The patients were purposively recruited. Data on hemodialysis adequacy and interdialytic weight gain were collected in April–May 2020 using an observation sheet, while the quality of life was measured using SF 36. To analyze the data, Pearson’s correlation test and linear regression were performed. RESULTS: Within the sample of 53 male patients was 50.5% and 52 female patients was 49.5%. The mean score of dialysis adequacy during April–May was 1.75, while the mean IDWG was 2.2 kg, and the mean quality of life was 91.51. There was a relationship between adequacy and IDWG (p = 0.002), and between IDWG and quality of life (p =0.015). There was no relationship between adequacy and quality of life (p = 0.360). CONCLUSION: IDWG influenced the quality of life of hemodialysis patients. Health-care professionals need to help patients to keep their IDWG in the normal range to survive within COVID-19 pandemic.

On the Relationship Between Depression and Its Severity with Dialysis Adequacy in Hemodialysis Patients in Ahvaz Teaching Hospitals

Background: Depression is a prevalent psychological disorder among hemodialysis patients and is associated with a variety of adverse outcomes. Dialysis adequacy also affects hemodialysis patients' survival rates. Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of depression in hemodialysis patients and its association with dialysis adequacy. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 205 individuals undergoing hemodialysis at Ahvaz teaching hospitals in 2019 were included. The depression level was determined using the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II) for the participants aged below 65 years and Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) for the patients aged above 65 years. Dialysis adequacy measures, including the Kt/V and urea reduction rate (URR), were calculated using standard formulas. Results: IN this study, 60.5% of the participants suffered from depression, and the overall prevalence of depression was 54.6% in individuals aged below 65 and 67% in those aged above 65 years. Among the patients with age below 65 years, 19 persons (17.6%) were suffering from mild depression, 22 individuals (20.4%) were suffering from moderate depression, and 18 individuals (16.7%) had severe depression. Among the patients aged above 65 years, moderate depression was found to affect 45 persons (46.4%), and 20 individuals (20.6%) had severe depression. The mean values of Kt/V and URR were not significantly correlated with depression scores (P > 0.05). Conclusions: Depression is a common disorder among hemodialysis patients in Iran; however, it is not significantly associated with dialysis adequacy. However, the results of studies on the relationship between depression and dialysis adequacy cannot be analyzed simply.