Canadian Journal of Kidney Health and Disease最新文献

Purpose of review: Sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 (SGLT-2) inhibitors are glucose lowering agents with protective effects on cardiovascular health and the ability to slow chronic kidney disease (CKD) progression. The benefits of SGLT-2 inhibitors have not been studied in patients with advanced CKD or on maintenance dialysis. Ultrafiltration failure is a common reason for failure of peritoneal dialysis (PD). Glucose transporters, such as SGLT-2, are involved in the progression to ultrafiltration failure, and hence, SGLT-2 inhibitors might be beneficial in patients on PD to prevent ultrafiltration failure.

Source of information: Here, we review data from animal models and ongoing clinical trials of SGLT-2 inhibitors in advanced CKD, as well as considerations for a phase III trial in patients on PD.

Methods: A literature search was conducted and information on clinical trials was obtained from clinicaltrials.gov.

Key findings: Animal models of PD have shown upregulation of glucose transporters in the peritoneal membrane and a potential effect of SGLT-2 inhibitors on glucose absorption and ultrafiltration. Several clinical trials are currently ongoing with SGLT-2 inhibitors in patients on PD. We discuss their study designs and propose a mixed-methods, patient-centered approach to studying SGLT-2 inhibitors in PD patients. We also discuss the potential implications of SGLT-2 inhibitors on people living with kidney failure, especially in remote communities.

Purpose of review: Diabetes is the most common cause of kidney disease in individuals that receive a kidney transplant, and those without pre-existing diabetes are at greater risk of developing diabetes following kidney transplant. A class of diabetes treatment medications called glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RA) has seen recent widespread use for people with diabetes or obesity, with efficacy for improved glycemic control, weight loss, and reduced risk of cardiovascular events. Given these benefits, and indications for use that often co-occur in kidney transplant recipients, use of GLP-1RAs warrants consideration in this population. Therefore, we sought to review the current literature to better understand the mechanisms of action, clinical application, and person-centred considerations of GLP-1RAs in kidney transplant recipients.

Sources of information: Original articles were identified between December 2023 and July 2024 from electronic databases including the Ovid MEDLINE database, PubMed, and Google Scholar using terms "kidney transplant," "GLP-1," "glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist," and "diabetes."

Methods: A comprehensive review of the literature was conducted to explore the relationship between GLP-1RAs and kidney transplant recipients. We reviewed the current state of evidence across the research disciplines of basic or fundamental science, clinical and health services research, and person-centred equity science, and highlighted important knowledge gaps that offer opportunities for future research.

Key findings: Numerous clinical studies have demonstrated the benefit of GLP-1RAs in people with and without diabetic kidney disease, including decreased risk of cardiovascular events. However, there is a paucity of high-quality randomized controlled trials and observational studies analyzing use of GLP-1RAs in kidney transplant recipients. Evidence of benefit in this population is therefore limited to small studies or inferred from research conducted in nontransplant populations. Growing evidence from preclinical and clinical studies may elucidate renoprotective mechanisms of GLP-1RAs and remove barriers to application of these drugs in the transplant recipient population. Individuals who are female, non-white, have lower socioeconomic status, and live in rural communities are at greater risk of diabetes and have lower uptake of GLP-1RAs. There is a need for clinical trials across diverse kidney transplant populations to estimate the efficacy of GLP-1RAs on important health outcomes.

Limitations: The search strategy for this narrative review may not have been sensitive to identify all relevant articles. Our search was limited to English language articles.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic notably disrupted care for patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) care, necessitating a rapid shift to telemedicine. Despite the growing use of telemedicine, the impact of this transition on patients' experiences, particularly in Canada and considering sociocultural factors, remains underexplored. This study aims to investigate patients with CKD perspectives on telemedicine versus in-person care and to offer recommendations for enhancing telemedicine services.

Objective: The objective was to understand patients with CKD views on telemedicine clinics during the pandemic compared to traditional in-person clinics.

Design: This was a qualitative descriptive study employing semi-structured interviews.

Setting: This study was conducted in general nephrology and multidisciplinary kidney care clinics in London, Canada.

Population: The study population was English-speaking patients with CKD with at least one in-person nephrology visit before March 15, 2020, and one telemedicine appointment after March 30, 2020.

Methods: Interviews were conducted using a structured guide, with transcripts analyzed line-by-line by 3 independent reviewers through directed content analysis. Themes were identified and agreed upon through group consensus.

Results: Interviews with 12 participants revealed 5 key themes: (1) convenience; (2) building connection and trust; (3) necessity of in-person care; (4) role of family or caregivers; and (5) preferences for clinic types. Most participants (11/12) valued the convenience of telemedicine, noting similar levels of care compared to in-person visits. However, they found it easier to establish personal connections in face-to-face appointments. Most (8/12) preferred in-person visits if their condition worsened. Overall, a combination of in-person and telemedicine was favored, with a preference for video over telephone.

Limitations: The study's focus on one academic nephrology center in Ontario and predominantly white participants limits broader applicability. Additionally, recall bias may affect the findings due to the interview-based design.

Conclusions: Telemedicine will remain integral to CKD care, with a hybrid model combining in-person and telemedicine preferred. Integrating patient feedback into future telemedicine practices is essential to enhance flexibility, access, and patient satisfaction.

Background: Exercise prehabilitation is an evidence-based, safe, and effective method to increase quality of life, physical fitness and function, and post-surgical outcomes in solid organ transplant (SOT) patients. However, few prehabilitation programs for SOT patients exist in practice. Furthermore, there is a lack of multimodal prehabilitation programs that include behavior change support. To address this need, the Transplant Wellness Program (TWP) was designed.

Objectives: The objective of the TWP is to assess both the effectiveness and implementation of a comprehensive and multimodal exercise and wellness behavior change intervention for patients undergoing kidney or liver transplant.

Design: The TWP is a hybrid effectiveness-implementation trial consisting of exercise and wellness behavior change support.

Patients: Individuals who are in evaluation or listed for kidney or liver transplant in Southern Alberta, Canada.

Measurements: The primary outcomes of self-reported exercise and quality of life are assessed at intake, post-exercise intervention, 6 months post-intake, 12 weeks post-transplant, and annually for 5 years after program completion. Functional fitness measures will be assessed at intake, post-exercise intervention, 12 weeks post-transplant, 6 months post-intake, and 1-year post-intake. The reach, effectiveness, adoption, implementation, and maintenance (RE-AIM) framework is used to determine the impact of TWP at the individual and health care system level.

Methods: Recruitment began in November 2023 and will continue until November 2028. Participants take part in a 12-week exercise intervention and are offered individualized and group behavior change support. Continued exercise support is offered through maintenance classes after the completion of the 12-week intervention.

Limitations: The design of the hybrid effectiveness-implementation trial with a single experimental group will not allow for comparisons to a control or usual care group, potentially impacting internal validity. Differences in number of participants between organ groups (kidney vs liver) and cohorts (pre-transplant vs post-transplant) will likely be uneven, requiring consideration when running and interpreting analyses.

Conclusions: The TWP aims to support patients throughout the transplant journey through a multimodal and comprehensive exercise and wellness behavior change program. Results from this study will determine the effectiveness of the program and inform future scale-up and sustainability.

Trial registry number: NCT06367244.

Rationale: Kidney transplant (KT) recipients have an increased risk of malignancy due to chronic immunosuppression. The emerging use of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) has been a promising development for the treatment of malignancy, but their use adds to the complexity of immunosuppression management for KT recipients. This case report describes 2 cases of acute rejection in KT recipients following ICI initiation and discusses the balance of malignancy treatment with adequate immunosuppression.

Presenting concerns of patients: The first patient is a 44-year-old male KT recipient with a diagnosis of metastatic renal cell carcinoma presenting with acute kidney injury 6 days following initiation of an ICI. The second patient is a 73-year-old male KT recipient with a diagnosis of squamous cell carcinoma presenting with acute kidney injury 2 weeks following initiation of an ICI.

Diagnoses: Both patients were diagnosed with acute rejection in the setting of reduced immunosuppression and initiation of an ICI.

Interventions: Both cases received an increased dose of steroid without improvement of graft function. The first patient subsequently underwent a delayed graft nephrectomy due to complications of acute rejection, whereas the second patient did not undergo nephrectomy.

Outcomes: The first patient experienced complications including perioperative bleeding requiring multiple operations, but ultimately stabilized on hemodialysis and showed a durable response to ICI. The second patient remained dialysis-dependent post-ICI treatment and was readmitted with allograft complications leading to his eventual death.

Teaching points: This study underscores the complexity of managing KT recipients diagnosed with malignancy and receiving ICIs. The balance between immunosuppression reduction to treat malignancy and preventing allograft rejection presents a significant challenge. Key considerations include the risk of acute allograft rejection and patient-centered decision-making. These cases highlight the need for further research to develop evidence-based guidelines for managing this patient population. In addition, the patient perspective in this study highlights the importance of careful risk-benefit analysis and the impact of treatment decisions on patient-focused outcomes.

Background: Climate change impacts health and threatens the stability of care delivery systems, while healthcare is mobilizing to reduce its significant environmental impact.

Objective: This study aimed to assess knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) about climate change among Canadian kidney care providers.

Design setting participants measurements and methods: An electronic KAP survey, created by the Canadian Society of Nephrology-Sustainable Nephrology Action Planning committee, was distributed to kidney care providers across Canada, from March to April 2023.

Results: A total of 516 people responded to the survey. Most respondents (79%) identified as women; 83% were aged 30 to 59 years. Nurses and nephrologists made up 44% and 23% of respondents, respectively. About half of the participants felt informed about climate change to an average degree. Most respondents (71%; 349/495 and 62%; 300/489) were either extremely or very concerned about climate change and waste generated in their kidney care program, respectively. The vast majority of respondents (89%; 441/495) reported taking steps to lower their personal carbon footprint. People who felt more informed about climate change presented higher degrees of concern. Similarly, both those who felt more informed and those who reported higher degrees of concern about climate change were more likely to take steps to reduce their carbon footprint. Over 80% of respondents (314/386) were at least moderately interested in learning sessions about environmentally sustainable initiatives in care.

Limitations: This survey is at risk of social acceptability, representative, and subjective bias. Overrepresentation from Quebec and British Columbia, as well as the majority of respondents identifying as women and working in academic centers, may affect generalizability of the findings.

Conclusions: Most kidney care providers who responded to this survey are informed and concerned about climate change, and their knowledge is directly associated with attitude and practices. This indicates that educational initiatives to increase awareness and knowledge on climate change will likely lead to practice changes.

Background: The efficacy and safety of bisphosphonate therapy for the treatment of osteoporosis and osteopenia in the setting of chronic kidney disease (CKD) is unclear.

Objective: To determine the effect of bisphosphonate therapy on fractures, bone mineral density (BMD), and adverse events in adults across the spectrum of CKD and dialysis.

Design: Systematic review and individual patient-level meta-analysis.

Setting: Searches of Ageline, CINAHL, the Cochrane Library, EMBASE, and Medline from inception to August 25, 2016, supplemented with manual screening and clinicalstudydatarequest.com. Authors were contacted for individual patient-level data.

Patients: Randomized, placebo-controlled trials with 100 or more participants that evaluated the treatment of primary osteoporosis/osteopenia in adult men and women with bisphosphonate therapy.

Measurements: Study characteristics, quality, and data were assessed independently by 2 reviewers. Outcome measures were fractures, BMD, and adverse events including decline in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and hypocalcemia (calcium <2.00 mmol/L).

Methods: Single-stage individual patient-level meta-analysis.

Results: Of 39 eligible studies, individual patient-level data was available for 7 studies, all of which were studies of ibandronate. Of 7428 participants (5010 ibandronate, 2418 placebo), 100% were female, 98.6% were white, the mean body mass index was 25.7 kg/m² (SD 3.9), 18.9% were smokers and there were 740 fracture events. The mean eGFR was 69.1 mL/min/1.73 m² (SD 15.9) including 14.5%, 54.9%, 27.5%, 3.0%, and 0.2% stages G1, G2, G3A, G3B, and G4 CKD. Ibandronate increased hip and lumbar spine BMD and decreased the risk of fracture in the overall population (hazard ratio (HR) 0.871, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.746, 1.018) but in patients with stage G3B CKD, it increased the risk of fracture (HR 3.862, 95% CI 1.156, 12.903). Ibandronate did not impact eGFR over 12 months but increased the risk of hypocalcemia (HR 1.324, 95% CI 1.056, 1.660) with no evidence of any effect modification by CKD stage (all tests of interaction p > 0.05).

Limitations: Clinically significant heterogeneity among studies, lack of long-term follow-up and bone biopsy results, limited representation of stage G4 and G5 CKD patients.

Conclusions: Chronic kidney disease potentially modifies the efficacy but not the safety of bisphosphonate therapy in osteopenia and osteoporosis.

Registration: PROSPERO CRD42020145613.