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Introduction: The importance of dietitians in dialysis units is indisputable and mandatory in Brazil, but little is known about the practices adopted by these professionals., Objective: To know practices adopted in routine nutritional care, focusing on nutritional assessment tools and treatment strategies for people at risk or diagnosed with malnutrition., Methodology: Electronic questionnaire disseminated on social media and messaging applications. It included questions that covered dietitians' demographic and occupational profile characteristics and of the dialysis unit, use and frequency of nutritional assessment tools, nutritional intervention strategies in cases of risk or diagnosis of malnutrition, prescription and access to oral supplements., Results: Twenty four percent of the Brazilian dialysis units (n = 207) responded electronically. The most used nutritional assessment tools with or without a pre-established frequency were dietary surveys (96%) and Subjective Global Assessment (83%). The strategies in cases of risk or presence of malnutrition used most frequently (almost always/always) were instructions to increase energy and protein intake from foods (97%), and increasing the frequency of visits (88%). The frequency of prescribing commercial supplements with standard and specialized formulas was quite similar. The availability of dietary supplements by the public healthcare system to patients varied between regions., Conclusion: Most dietitians use various nutritional assessment tools and intervention strategies in cases of risk or malnutrition; however, the frequency of use of such tools and strategies varied substantially.

In the past decades, an epidemic of chronic kidney disease (CKD) has been associated with environmental and occupational factors (heat stress from high workloads in hot temperatures and exposure to chemicals, such as pesticides and metals), which has been termed CKD of non-traditional origin (CKDnt). This descriptive review aims to present recent evidence about heat stress, pesticides, and metals as possible causes of CKDnt and provide an overview of the related Brazilian regulation, enforcement, and health surveillance strategies. Brazilian workers are commonly exposed to extreme heat conditions and other CKDnt risk factors, including increasing exposure to pesticides and metals. Furthermore, there is a lack of adequate regulation (and enforcement), public policies, and strategies to protect the kidney health of workers, considering the main risk factors. CKDnt is likely to be a significant cause of CKD in Brazil, since CKD's etiology is unknown in many patients and several conditions for its development are present in the country. Further epidemiological studies may be conducted to explore causal associations and estimate the impact of heat, pesticides, and metals on CKDnt in Brazil. Moreover, public policies should prioritize reducing workers´ exposure and promoting their health and safety.

Introduction: The Brazilian Dialysis Survey (BDS) is an annual national survey about patients on chronic dialysis that contributes to health policies., Objective: To report the 2022 epidemiological data from the BDS of the Brazilian Society of Nephrology (BSN)., Methods: A survey was carried out in Brazilian chronic dialysis centers using an online questionnaire that included clinical and epidemiological aspects of patients on chronic dialysis, dialysis therapy data, and dialysis center characteristics., Results: Overall, 28% (n = 243) of the centers answered the questionnaire. In July 2022, the estimated total number of patients on dialysis was 153,831. The estimated prevalence and incidence rates of patients per million population (pmp) were 758 and 214, respectively. Of the prevalent patients, 95.3% were on hemodialysis (HD, 4.6% of these on hemodiafiltration) and 4.7% on peritoneal dialysis (PD). Only 1.3% of patients were not vaccinated against COVID-19. The prevalence of anemia (Hb < 10g/dL) was 27% and hyperphosphatemia (P > 5.5mg/dL) reached 30%. The estimated overall crude annual mortality rate was 17.1%., Conclusions: The absolute number and prevalence rate of patients on chronic dialysis continue to increase. A growing number of patients were receiving hemodiafiltration. The mortality rate decreased, probably due to the end of COVID-19 pandemic. The conclusions were drawn in the context of relatively low voluntary participation, which imposed methodological limitations on our estimates.

Introduction: In 2004, the Ministry of Health stipulated that dialysis centers were required to have at least one dietitian on their staff. However, the regulation did not include recommendations regarding the number of dietitians or the workload based on the number of patients assisted., Objective: To describe the demographic and occupational profiles of dietitians working in dialysis centers in Brazil., Methodology: An electronic questionnaire was disseminated in social media and messaging apps with questions about the demographic and occupational profile of dietitians working in dialysis centers and matters related to patient care., Results: A total of 207 questionnaires were answered, covering 24% of the dialysis centers in Brazil. More than half of the dietitians (58%) had worked for more than five years in dialysis centers, and 83% reported additional training in Nephrology. The median (interquartile range) number of patients per monthly working hour was 1.6 (1.0-2.3). Considering all dialysis centers, 64% of the patients were seen at least once a month. Differences in demographic/occupational profiles and patient care were associated with workload, the main source of dialysis funding, and Brazilian geographical region., Conclusion: Most dietitians were experienced and trained in Nephrology. Substantial variability was found in the number of patients per dietitian workload, and proportion of patients receiving monthly nutritional care. Further studies are needed to discuss the demands of dietitians, dialysis centers, and patients.

Introduction: Brazil has a vast territory divided into five geographic regions with important differences in sociodemographic indices. We aimed to present and compare socio-demographic characteristics, biochemical results, and drug prescription of patients on chronic hemodialysis (HD) treatment in the five geographic regions., Methods: We evaluated data from the Brazilian Dialysis Registry of all adult patients undergoing chronic HD in 2021. Variables included sociodemographic characteristics, serum levels of phosphate, calcium, and albumin, hemoglobin, urea reduction rate, and prescription of phosphate binders, erythropoietin, and intravenous iron. Data from the North and Northeast regions were combined into one group., Results: A total of 13,792 patients (57.9 ± 16.0 years old, 58.5% male, median HD vintage of 31 (11-66) months) from 73 dialysis centers were analyzed. Regional distribution was 59.5% in the Southeast; 21.7% in the South; 5.9% in the Midwest; and 12.9% in the North/Northeast. Sociodemographic features, biochemical results, and medication prescriptions differed across regions. The prevalence of elderly patients was lower in the Midwest and North/Northeast. The South region had the highest prevalence of hyperphosphatemia (41.2%) and urea reduction rate <65% (24.8%), while anemia and hypoalbuminemia were more prevalent in the Southeast, 32.7% and 11.6%, respectively., Conclusion: We found differences in socio-demographics, clinical features, and drug prescriptions across Brazilian geographic regions. Some findings reflect the socio-demographic diversity of the country, while others deserve further elucidation.

Introduction: The Brazilian Dialysis Survey (BDS) is an important source of national data about people on chronic dialysis that contributes to the formulation of health policies regarding kidney failure., Objective: To report the 2021 epidemiological data from the BDS of the Brazilian Society of Nephrology (BSN)., Methods: A survey was carried out in Brazilian chronic dialysis centers using an online questionnaire covering clinical and epidemiological aspects of patients in chronic dialysis, data on dialysis therapy, characteristics of dialysis centers, and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic of 2021., Results: Thirty percent (n = 252) of the centers answered the questionnaire. In July 2021, the estimated total number of patients on dialysis was 148,363. The estimated prevalence and incidence rates of patients per million population (pmp) were 696 and 224, respectively. Of the prevalent patients, 94.2% were on hemodialysis (HD) (1.8% of these on hemodiafiltration), and 5.8% on peritoneal dialysis (PD); 21% were on the transplant waiting list. The incidence rate of confirmed COVID-19 between January and July 2021 was 1,236/10,000 dialysis patients, and the case-fatality rate reached 25.5%. Up to July 2021, 88.6% of patients had received at least one dose of the anti-SARS-CoV-2 vaccine. The estimated overall and COVID-19 crude annual mortality rates were 22.3% and 5.3%, respectively., Conclusion: The absolute number and the prevalence rate of patients on chronic dialysis continue to increase. Most dialysis patients were vaccinated against COVID-19 during the year. The COVID-19 pandemic was associated to the overall mortality rate.

Introduction: Hyperkalemia is a common multifactorial condition of people on chronic dialysis and is associated with mortality. We aimed to inform and discuss the prevalence of hyperkalemia in a large population of chronic dialysis patients in Brazil and its geographic regions., Methods: Prevalence of hyperkalemia (serum potassium ≥6.0 mEq/L) was assessed in the Brazilian Dialysis Survey (BDS) in July 2019, an online survey of voluntary participation in which all dialysis centers registered at the Brazilian Society of Nephrology were invited., Results: Approximately one-third (n=263 of 805) of the Brazilian dialysis clinics participated. The prevalence of hyperkalemia in the whole population was 16.1% (n=7,457 of 46,193; 95%CI=15.8-16.5%,), and varied from 12.1% in the North to 18.7% in the Northeast., Conclusion: We found a high prevalence of hyperkalemia in a large Brazilian chronic dialysis population. A nationwide investigation of risk factors, treatment options, and whether this high prevalence contributes to dialysis mortality is warranted.

Introduction: National data on chronic dialysis treatment are essential to support the development of health policies aimed at improving the treatment for thousands of people., Objective: To report epidemiological data from the 2020 Brazilian Dialysis Survey, sponsored by the Brazilian Society of Nephrology., Methods: A survey was carried out in Brazilian chronic dialysis centers using an online questionnaire for the year, covering clinical and epidemiological aspects of patients in a chronic dialysis program, data on dialysis therapy, characteristics of dialysis units and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic., Results: 235 (28%) of the centers responded to the questionnaire. In July 2020, the estimated total number of patients on dialysis was 144,779. The estimated prevalence and incidence rates of patients per million population (pmp) were 684 and 209, respectively. Of the prevalent patients, 92.6% were on hemodialysis (HD) and 7.4% were on peritoneal dialysis (PD); 23% were on the transplant waiting list. A central venous catheter was used by a quarter of patients on HD. The incidence rate of confirmed COVID-19 between February and July 2020 was 684/10,000 dialysis patients, and the lethality rate was 25.7%. The estimated overall mortality and COVID-19 crude annual mortality rates were 24.5 and 4.2%, respectively., Conclusion: The absolute number of patients on chronic dialysis and prevalence rate continued to increase. The low use of PD as dialysis therapy was maintained and the use of long-term catheters for HD increased. The COVID-19 pandemic contributed to the increase in the overall mortality rate.

Introduction: Urinary tract symptoms and infection have been associated with occupational factors that impact hydration habits particularly in women. We compared self-reported urinary symptoms and infection and hydration habits between nurses and other occupations in dialysis units., Methods: Cross-sectional study. Participants worked in five nephrology centers in Brazil and answered an online questionnaire comprising questions regarding urinary tract symptoms and infection episodes in the preceding year; data on usual daily beverage intake, urine frequency, and urine color according to a urine color chart were also collected, as well as perceptions of water access and toilet adequacy at work., Results: We included 133 women (age=36.9±9.5 years). The self-reported usual daily beverage intake was 6.6±2.9 cups/day (~1320 mL), daily urine frequency was 5.4±2.1, and urine color chart score: 3.0±1.2. Nurses (N=66/49.6%) reported higher prevalence of burning sensation (50 versus 27%; P<0.001), urinary urgency (42 versus 21%; P<0.001), and infection (42% versus 25%; P=0.04) as well as lower liquid intake (6.0±2.6 versus 7.3±3.0 cups/day; P=0.01) than controls. Forty four percent of nurses reported being able to drink when thirsty "always" and "most of the time" versus 93% of the control group., Conclusion: Dialysis female nurses reported lower beverage intake and higher prevalence of symptoms and infection than other occupations in the same environment. Interventions to improve hydration can potentially decrease urinary problems in this population.

The coronavirus (Sars-Cov-2) pandemic raised the need for social distance to reduce its spread. Chronic kidney disease patients on renal replacement therapy are especially susceptible to developing the most severe form of COVID-19, and, at the same time, require regular medical and multidisciplinary periodic follow-up. On an emergency basis, Brazil's professional regulatory bodies authorized telehealth assistance, which made possible to migrate from face-to-face to distance appointments in health services across the country, when necessary. This article's main objective is to describe the process of developing and implementing telehealth for monitoring renal transplant patients and patients on peritoneal dialysis during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Introduction: Urgent-start peritoneal dialysis (US-PD) has been used worldwide with very positive results. The prior assessment of candidates for this therapy by a nurse can favor the success of the therapy., Objectives: To identify the profile of patients who are candidates for US-PD, the causes of contraindication of the method by the nurse and their permanence in the method after 30 days, as well as the growth of the service after implementing the program., Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the forms used to assess candidates for US-PD applied by nurses between May 2017 and August 2019 in a clinic in Santa Catarina. We analyzed information on demographic profile, reasons for contraindication and permanence in the method after 30 days, as well as service growth after the program was implemented., Results: Of the 215 patients indicated for US-PD, 51% were male, 55% were under 60 years old, 51% had diabetes mellitus and 89% were hypertensive. Of these, 173 (80%) patients had the nurse's approval for PD. The only cause contraindicated was the inability to self-care associated with the lack of family support. In the first 30 days after the assessment, 89% of the patients who started PD remained on it. During the study period, the PD service grew by 91%., Conclusion: During the study period, a fifth of patients referred to US-PD received contraindication by nursing due to self-care inability associated with the lack of family support. After 30 days, 89% of the patients remained on it.

Introduction: Peritoneal dialysis (PD) has been considered a safe option of therapy in end-stage renal disease patients with urgent need of dialysis. Recently, it was proposed that Urgent-Start-PD (US-PD) be defined when PD starts within 72 hours after catheter placement and "early start" PD (ES-PD) when PD starts between 3 and 14 days after. We aimed to compare demographic and clinical characteristics between patients in US-PD and ES-PD as well as 30-day complications, 6-month hospitalization, and dropout rate., Methods: Adult patients starting PD within 14 days after catheter insertion (October/2016 - February/2019) were included and divided into US-PD group and ES-PD group based on the their PD initiation time. Clinical and demographic data, fill volume for the first PD session, 30-day complications, 6-month hospitalization, and dropout rate were assessed., Results: In our study, 72 patients were analyzed (US-PD=40, ES-PD=32) with mean age of 53.2±15.2 years old. No differences between US-PD and ES-PD regarding demographic characteristics, 30-day complications, 6-month hospitalization, and dropout events were found. The most frequent short-term complication in patients who started PD urgently was leakage. The most common cause of dropout was transfer to HD., Conclusion: Fifty five percent of our sample started PD less than 72 hours after catheter insertion. The lack of difference in the measured outcomes compared to patients that had therapy initiated after this period encourages the use of urgent PD when needed.

Introduction: Dietary regimen for hemodialysis (HD) patients is complicate and identifying characteristics and reasons of those most likely to experience difficulty in adhering to dietary restrictions is important., Objective: To quantify HD patient's perceptions about dietary and fluid restrictions, acknowledge individual reasons that facilitate or complicate their adherence, and also their relationship with demographic, nutritional and clinical characteristics., Methods: Multi-center cross-sectional study in five dialysis facilities. HD patients (n = 147; 48% male; age: 51,3 ± 13,6 years) were encouraged to score on a scale of 0 to 10 their perception of the degree of difficulty to adhere the nutritional advice regarding control of sodium, fluid, potassium and phosphorus intake., Results: Sodium score was 4(1-7), fluids 6(3-8), potassium 4(2-6) and phosphate 6(3-8). Percentage of patients who perceived a greater difficulty (score ≥ 6) to control fluids and phosphate intake was higher than for sodium and potassium. Participants with excessive % interdialytic weight gain (%IDWG) had a higher score for fluids; the ones with hypercalemia perceived more difficulty to control potassium intake than others as well as hyperphosphatemic patients compared to normophosphatemic to control phosphorus intake. Participants with a greater difficulty to control sodium intake also perceived a greater difficulty to control fluids, potassium and phosphate intake., Conclusion: Participants perceived a greater difficulty to control fluid and phosphate intake rather than sodium and potassium, higher perceptions scores were associated with subgroups and with worse control of clinical parameters. Moreover, patients with a greater difficulty to control some dietary item also found harder to control the other ones.

Introduction: Excessive sodium intake is related to adverse renal and cardiovascular outcomes in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and assessment of sodium intake is complex and not evaluated very often in clinical practice., Objective: To develop a new formula to estimate 24h sodium excretion from urine sample (second void) of patients with CKD., Methods: We included 51 participants with CKD who provided 24-hour urine collection and a sample of the second urine of the day to determine the sodium excretion. A formula to estimate the 24-hour sodium excretion was developed from a multivariate regression equation coefficients. The accuracy of the formula was tested by calculating the P30 (proportion of estimates within 30% of measured sodium exection) and the ability of the formula to discriminate sodium intake higher than 3.6 g/day was evaluated by ROC curve., Results: Correlation test between measured and estimated sodium was significant (r = 0.57; p < 0.001), but P30 test identified a low accuracy (61%) of the formula. Different cutoff points were tested by performance tests and a ROC curve was generated with the cutoff that showed better performance (3.6 g/day). An area under the curve of 0.69 with a sensitivity of 0.91 and specificity of 0.53 was obtained., Conclusion: A simple formula with high sensitivity in detecting patients with sodium consumption higher than 3.6 g/day from isolated urine sample was developed. Studies with a higher number of participants and with different populations are necessary to test formula´s validity.

Introduction: Salt intake increases fluid intake and, consequently, blood pressure (BP) and interdialytic weight gain (IDWG), known as morbi-mortality risk factors for hemodialysis (HD) patients., Objective: Evaluate salt intake and food sources, as well as its relationship with demographics, clinical and nutritional parameters., Methods: Cross-sectional study with 109 patients (66% women, age = 49.0 ± 12.6 years) from five dialysis centers. For total salt intake, a validated food frequency questionnaire (FFQ) and the use of discretionary salt were estimated. The relationship of salt intake with many factors was studied., Results: Salt intake was high (8.6 ± 5.4 g/day) and 72% came from discretionary salt. Only literacy was significantly correlated total salt intake (r = -0.29, p < 0.01) and discretionary salt (r = -0.30, p < 0.01). With FFQ food items, there was a positive correlation with the %IDWG (r = 0.26, p < 0.01) and negative with age (r = -0.35, p < 0.001). Direct relationship between salt intake with %IDWG was found in the anuric subgroup (r = 0.26, p < 0.05) and with medium BP in those with no prescription of hypotensive drugs (r = 0.35, p < 0.05)., Conclusion: Salt intake was high mainly due to discretionary salt. It was associated with education and adversely affected %IDWG in anuric patients and medium BP in those not taking hypotensive drugs.

Introduction: Studies have shown that interdialytic weight gain (IDWG) of hemodialysis (HD) patients is influenced by many factors, a high IDWG negatively affecting the blood pressure (BP) of this population., Objective: To evaluate the relation of clinical, demographic and nutritional factors and the IDWG of HD patients., Methods: Cross-sectional study of 278 HD (54% males; age=54.4 ± 14.4 years) from 6 dialysis centers in the State of Santa Catarina, Brazil. The means of percentage interdialytic weight gain (%IDWG) and BP during a four-week period were calculated. Body mass index (BMI) and the 7-point subjective global assessment (SGA) scale were used to assess nutritional status., Results: The means were: %IDWG 4.06 ± 1.55%, pre-HD BP 140 ± 50 / 99 ± 25 mmHg, and post-HD BP 110 ± 27 / 78 ± 10 mmHg. %IDWG inversely correlated with age and BMI and directly correlated with pre-HD systolic BP and time on HD. Women and patients without diabetes mellitus had higher %IDWG. Only the younger subgroup of patients with SGA-defined malnutrition had higher %IDWG than well-nourished ones. When malnutrition was BMI-defined, higher %IDWG was found in the whole study population and in the female and younger age subgroups. 24% of the patients had increased %IDWG (> 5%) and, when compared with those with adequate %IDWG, had inadequate and higher levels of systolic BP (144 ± 21 versus 138 ± 20 mmHg, p < 0.05), were younger and had lower BMI., Conclusion: These results showed that %IDWG of HD patients was influenced by gender, time on dialysis, age and nutritional status, and that high %IDWG adversely affected the BP of this population.

Introduction: Adequate dietary phosphorus intake and the use of phosphorus binders are the main tools for treating hyperphosphatemia. Thus, its success depends essentially on the patient's ability to understand and adhere to the dietary plan and the use of phosphate binders., Objective: To evaluate hyperphosphatemic patients adherence and knowledge about phosphate control treatment., Methods: This is a cross-sectional study. One hundred and twelve patients on hemodialysis (60 males; age = 49.3 ± 13.3 years), from five dialysis centers with mean serum phosphorus > 5.5 mg/dL between July and December of 2008 (mean = 6.57 ± 0.73 mg/dL) were included. A questionnaire with questions about the consequences of hyperphosphataemia, foods high in phosphorus, appropriate use of phosphate binders and patient's opinion about reasons for treatment failure was administered. Laboratory parameters assessed were serum urea, calcium, phosphorus and parathormony (PTH), and dialysis adequacy by means of urea Kt/V., Results: The average score of questionnaire was 78.5%. Regarding the reasons for the failure of the treatment of hyperphosphataemia, 87% indicated the response "because I eat more phosphorus than I should" and / or "because I do not take the phosphate binder as I should". Among those who said they did not use phosphate binder correctly, most (62%) justified to forget as the reason. The serum phosphorus correlated directly with serum urea (R = 0.33, p < 0.01) and inversely with Kt/V (R = -0.20, p < 0.05). There was no correlation between the phosphorus, the education level and the scores on questionnaire., Conclusion: Patients showed a good level of knowledge about the hyperphosphatemia treatment, but the vast majority were noncompliant to that. Strategies to improve compliance are necessary to decrease the incidence of hyperphosphatemia in hemodialysis patients.