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Abstract Background To investigate whether high blood pressure accelerates renal function decline in patients with advanced chronic kidney disease (CKD), we studied the association of systolic (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) with decline in renal function and time until the start of renal replacement therapy (RRT) in patients with CKD stages IV-V on pre-dialysis care. Methods In the PREPARE-1 cohort 547 incident pre-dialysis patients, referred as part of the usual care to outpatient clinics of eight Dutch hospitals, were included between 1999 and 2001 and followed until the start of RRT, mortality, or end of follow-up (January 1st 2008). Main outcomes were rate of decline in renal function, estimated as the slope of available eGFR measurements, and time until the start of RRT. Results A total of 508 patients, 57% men and median (IQR) age of 63 (50-73) years, were available for analyses. Mean (SD) decline in renal function was 0.35 (0.75) ml/min/1.73 m2/month. Every 10 mmHg increase in SBP or DBP resulted in an accelerated decline in renal function (adjusted additional decline 0.04 (0.02;0.07) and 0.05 (0.00;0.11) ml/min/1.73 m2/month respectively) and an earlier start of RRT (adjusted HR 1.09 (1.04;1.14) and 1.16 (1.05;1.28) respectively). Furthermore, patients with SBP and DBP above the BP target goal of < 130/80 mmHg experienced a faster decline in renal function (adjusted additional decline 0.31 (0.08;0.53) ml/min/1.73 m2/month) and an earlier start of RRT (adjusted HR 2.08 (1.25;3.44)), compared to patients who achieved the target goal (11%). Comparing the decline in renal function and risk of starting RRT between patients with only SBP above the target (≥ 130 mmHg) and patients with both SBP and DBP below the target (< 130/80 mmHg), showed that the results were almost similar as compared to patients with both SBP and DBP above the target (adjusted additional decline 0.31 (0.04;0.58) ml/min/1.73 m2/month and adjusted HR 2.24 (1.26;3.97)). Therefore, it seems that especially having SBP above the target is harmful. Conclusions In pre-dialysis patients with CKD stages IV-V, having blood pressure (especially SBP) above the target goal for CKD patients (< 130/80 mmHg) was associated with a faster decline in renal function and a later start of RRT.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate differences in healthcare seeking behaviour and barriers between students living in the parental home and those living on their own. Participants: Five hundred and six second year students of the University of Amsterdam (UvA), interviewed in March and April 2015. Methods: In a paper-and-pencil survey, questions were asked about the students' healthcare seeking behaviour and barriers. Differences according to residency were analysed with χ2-tests and regression models. Results: The frequency of healthcare seeking behaviour varied according to residency, but none of the differences were statistically significant. Yet, a proportion of students living on their own visited primary healthcare providers less often after they changed residency (23.7% for general practitioner and 41.8% for dentist). Travel distance and lack of time were most often mentioned as barriers to students living on their own. Conclusion: The barriers implicate the importance of encouraging students living on their own to switch to a new general practitioner or dentist. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Little is known about the effect of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, triglyceride (TG), and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels on renal function decline in patients receiving specialized pre-dialysis care. Methods: In the prospective PREPARE-2 study, incident patients starting pre-dialysis care were included when referred to one of the 25 participating Dutch specialized pre-dialysis outpatient clinics (2004-2011). Clinical and laboratory data were collected every 6 months. A linear mixed model was used to compare renal function decline between patients with LDL cholesterol, TG, or HDL cholesterol levels above and below the target goals (LDL cholesterol: <2.50 mmol/l, TG: <2.25 mmol/l, and HDL cholesterol: ≥1.00 mmol/l). Additionally the HDL/LDL cholesterol ratio was investigated (≥0.4). Results: In our study population (n = 306), the median age was 69 years and 70% were male. Patients with LDL cholesterol levels above the target of 2.50 mmol/l experienced an accelerated renal function decline compared to patients with levels below the target (crude additional decline: 0.10 ml/min/1.73 m2/month, 95% CI 0.00-0.20; p < 0.05). A similar trend was found for TG levels above the target of 2.25 mmol/l (0.05 ml/min/1.73 m2/month, 95% CI -0.06 to 0.16) and for a HDL/LDL cholesterol ratio below 0.4 (0.06 ml/min/1.73 m2/month, 95% CI -0.05 to 0.18). Adjustment for potential confounders resulted in similar results, and the exclusion of patients who were prescribed lipid-lowering medication (statin, fibrate, or cholesterol absorption inhibitor) resulted in a slightly larger estimated effect. Conclusion: High levels of LDL cholesterol were associated with an accelerated renal function decline, independent of the prescription of lipid-lowering medication. © 2015 S. Karger AG, Basel [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background In patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) hyperuricemia is common. Evidence that hyperuricemia might also play a causal role in vascular disease, hypertension and progression of CKD is accumulating. Therefore, we studied the association between baseline uric acid (UA) levels and the rate of decline in renal function and time until start of dialysis in predialysis patients. Methods Data from the PREPARE-2 study were used. The PREPARE-2 study is an observational prospective cohort study including incident pre-dialysis patients with CKD stages IV-V in the years between 2004 and 2011. Patients were followed for a median of 14.9 months until start of dialysis, kidney transplantation, death, or censoring. Main outcomes were the change in the rate of decline in renal function (measured as estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR)) estimated using linear mixed models, and time until start of dialysis estimated using Cox proportional hazards models. Results In this analysis 131 patients were included with a baseline UA level (mean (standard deviation (SD)) of 8.0 (1.79) mg/dl) and a mean decline in renal function of -1.61 (95% confidence interval (CI), -2.01; -1.22) ml/min/1.73 m²/year. The change in decline in GFR associated with a unit increase in UA at baseline was -0.14 (95% CI -0.61;0.33, p = 0.55) ml/min/1.73 m²/year . Adjusted for demography, comorbidities, diet, body mass index (BMI), blood pressure, lipids, proteinuria, diuretic and/or allopurinol usage the change in decline in eGFR did not change. The hazard ratio (HR) for starting dialysis for each mg/dl increase in UA at baseline was 1.08 (95% CI, 0.94;1.24, p = 0.27). After adjustment for the same confounders the HR became significant at 1.26 (95% CI, 1.06;1.49, p = 0.01), indicating an earlier start of dialysis with higher levels of UA. Conclusion Although high UA levels are not associated with an accelerated decline in renal function, a high serum UA level in incident pre-dialysis patient is a risk factor for an earlier start of dialysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Aims: Proteinuria is a risk marker for progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and treatment with an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor/angiotensin II receptor blocker (ACEi/ARB) is beneficial in these patients. However, little is known about proteinuria and ACEi/ARB treatment in patients on specialized predialysis care. Therefore, we investigated the association of urinary protein excretion (UPE) and ACEi/ARB treatment with renal function decline (RFD) and/or the start of renal replacement therapy (RRT) in patients on predialysis care. Methods: In the PREPARE-1 cohort, 547 incident predialysis patients (CKD stages IV-V), referred as part of the usual care to outpatient clinics of eight Dutch hospitals, were included (1999-2001) and followed until the start of RRT, mortality, or January 1, 2008. The main outcomes were rate of RFD, estimated as the slope of available eGFR measurements, and the start of RRT. Results: Patients with mild proteinuria (>0.3 to ≤1.0 g/24 h) had an adjusted additional RFD of 0.35 ml/min/1.73 m2/month (95% CI: 0.01; 0.68) and a higher rate of starting RRT [adjusted HR: 1.70 (1.05; 2.77)] compared with patients without proteinuria (≤0.3 g/24 h). With every consecutive UPE category (>1.0 to ≤3.0, >3.0 to ≤6.0, and >6.0 g/24 h), RFD accelerated and the start of RRT was earlier. Furthermore, patients starting (n = 16) or continuing (n = 133) treatment with ACEi/ARBs during predialysis care had a lower rate of starting RRT compared with patients not using treatment [n = 152, adjusted HR: 0.56 (0.29; 1.08) and 0.90 (0.68; 1.20), respectively]. Conclusion: In patients on predialysis care, we confirmed that proteinuria is a risk marker for the progression of CKD. Furthermore, no evidence was present that the use of ACEi/ARBs is deleterious. Copyright © 2012 S. Karger AG, Basel [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BackgroundIn the growing elderly predialysis population, little is known about the effect of identified risk factors on the progression to end-stage renal disease. Therefore, we investigated the association of systolic (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) with the start of renal replacement therapy (RRT), in elderly (≥65 years) compared with young (<65 years) predialysis patients.MethodsIn the PREPARE-1 cohort, 547 incident predialysis patients, referred as part of the usual care to eight Dutch predialysis care outpatient clinics, were included (1999-2001) and followed until the start of dialysis, transplantation, death, or until 1 January 2008. The outcome was the start of RRT. All analyses were stratified for age; <65 years (young) and ≥65 years (elderly).ResultsIn young predialysis patients (n = 268) higher SBP (every 20 mm Hg increase) and high DBP (DBP ≥100 mm Hg compared with 80-89 mm Hg) were associated with a higher rate of starting RRT (adjusted hazard ratio (HR) (95% confidence interval) 1.21 (1.09;1.34) and 1.74 (1.16;2.62), respectively). However, in elderly predialysis patients (n = 240) only patients with SBP ≥180 mm Hg had an increased rate compared with patients with 140-159 mm Hg (adjusted HR 2.33 (1.41;3.87)). Furthermore, patients with DBP <70 or ≥100 mm Hg had an increased rate of starting RRT, independent of SBP, compared with patients with 80-89 mm Hg (fully adjusted HR 1.72 (1.01;2.94) and 2.05 (1.13;3.73), respectively).ConclusionsThe association of SBP and DBP with the start of RRT is different between elderly and young predialysis patients.American Journal of Hypertension 2012; doi:10.1038/ajh.2012.100 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: To investigate whether high blood pressure accelerates renal function decline in patients with advanced chronic kidney disease (CKD), we studied the association of systolic (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) with decline in renal function and time until the start of renal replacement therapy (RRT) in patients with CKD stages IV-V on pre-dialysis care.Methods: In the PREPARE-1 cohort 547 incident pre-dialysis patients, referred as part of the usual care to outpatient clinics of eight Dutch hospitals, were included between 1999 and 2001 and followed until the start of RRT, mortality, or end of follow-up (January 1st 2008). Main outcomes were rate of decline in renal function, estimated as the slope of available eGFR measurements, and time until the start of RRT.Results: A total of 508 patients, 57% men and median (IQR) age of 63 (50-73) years, were available for analyses. Mean (SD) decline in renal function was 0.35 (0.75) ml/min/1.73 m2/month. Every 10 mmHg increase in SBP or DBP resulted in an accelerated decline in renal function (adjusted additional decline 0.04 (0.02;0.07) and 0.05 (0.00;0.11) ml/min/1.73 m2/month respectively) and an earlier start of RRT (adjusted HR 1.09 (1.04;1.14) and 1.16 (1.05;1.28) respectively). Furthermore, patients with SBP and DBP above the BP target goal of < 130/80 mmHg experienced a faster decline in renal function (adjusted additional decline 0.31 (0.08;0.53) ml/min/1.73 m2/month) and an earlier start of RRT (adjusted HR 2.08 (1.25;3.44)), compared to patients who achieved the target goal (11%). Comparing the decline in renal function and risk of starting RRT between patients with only SBP above the target (≥ 130 mmHg) and patients with both SBP and DBP below the target (< 130/80 mmHg), showed that the results were almost similar as compared to patients with both SBP and DBP above the target (adjusted additional decline 0.31 (0.04;0.58) ml/min/1.73 m2/month and adjusted HR 2.24 (1.26;3.97)). Therefore, it seems that especially having SBP above the target is harmful.Conclusions: In pre-dialysis patients with CKD stages IV-V, having blood pressure (especially SBP) above the target goal for CKD patients (< 130/80 mmHg) was associated with a faster decline in renal function and a later start of RRT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pain is one of the main factors influencing quality of life; its incidence is higher than is generally assumed. Pain is not spontaneously reported in all cases; it should be asked about more often. Not measuring pain is one of the main reasons for inadequate pain treatment. Pain should be assessed and recorded more routinely in both primary and secondary healthcare. This can be done in simple and quick ways. Self-reporting using a visual-analogue scale or numeric rating scale is the preferred method. This can be done even by patients with a mild cognitive disorder. Several simple and reliable observational scales exist for patients who cannot report well, e.g. elderly patients with a cognitive disorder or young children. For chronic pain, the low-threshold use of a multi-dimensional scale will increase the likelihood of successful treatment.