Dialysis Facility Profit Status and Early Steps in Kidney Transplantation in the Southeastern United States

2021 ◽  
pp. CJN.17691120
Author(s):  
Laura J. McPherson ◽  
Elizabeth R. Walker ◽  
Yi-Ting Hana Lee ◽  
Jennifer C. Gander ◽  
Zhensheng Wang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Cohort Study ◽  
Kidney Transplantation ◽  
Confidence Interval ◽  
Kidney Failure ◽  
The United States ◽  
For Profit ◽  
Transplant Center ◽  
Dialysis Facility ◽  
Profit Status

Background and objectivesDialysis facilities in the United States play a key role in access to kidney transplantation. Previous studies reported that patients treated at for-profit facilities are less likely to be waitlisted and receive a transplant, but their effect on early steps in the transplant process is unknown. The study’s objective was to determine the association between dialysis facility profit status and critical steps in the transplantation process in Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina.Design, setting, participants, & measurementsIn this retrospective cohort study, we linked referral and evaluation data from all nine transplant centers in the Southeast with United States Renal Data System surveillance data. The cohort study included 33,651 patients with kidney failure initiating dialysis from January 1, 2012 to August 31, 2016. Patients were censored for event (date of referral, evaluation, or waitlisting), death, or end of study (August 31, 2017 for referral and March 1, 2018 for evaluation and waitlisting). The primary exposure was dialysis facility profit status: for profit versus nonprofit. The primary outcome was referral for evaluation at a transplant center after dialysis initiation. Secondary outcomes were start of evaluation at a transplant center after referral and waitlisting.ResultsOf the 33,651 patients with incident kidney failure, most received dialysis treatment at a for-profit facility (85%). For-profit (versus nonprofit) facilities had a lower cumulative incidence difference for referral within 1 year of dialysis (−4.5%; 95% confidence interval, −6.0% to −3.2%). In adjusted analyses, for-profit versus nonprofit facilities had lower referral (hazard ratio, 0.84; 95% confidence interval, 0.80 to 0.88). Start of evaluation within 6 months of referral (−1.0%; 95% confidence interval, −3.1% to 1.3%) and waitlisting within 6 months of evaluation (1.0%; 95% confidence interval, −1.2 to 3.3) did not meaningfully differ between groups.ConclusionsFindings suggest lower access to referral among patients dialyzing in for-profit facilities in the Southeast United States, but no difference in starting the evaluation and waitlisting by facility profit status.

scholarly journals Distance to Kidney Transplant Center and Access to Early Steps in the Kidney Transplantation Process in the Southeastern United States

2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (4) ◽  
pp. 539-549 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura J. McPherson ◽  
Vaughn Barry ◽  
Jane Yackley ◽  
Jennifer C. Gander ◽  
Stephen O. Pastan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
South Carolina ◽  
Kidney Transplantation ◽  
Confidence Interval ◽  
Southeastern United States ◽  
Odds Ratios ◽  
Medical Evaluation ◽  
Transplant Center ◽  
Dialysis Facility ◽  
Adjusted Logistic Regression

Background and objectivesAccess to kidney transplantation requires a referral to a transplant center for medical evaluation. Prior research suggests that the distance that a person must travel to reach a center might be a barrier to referral. We examined whether a shorter distance from patients’ residence to a transplant center increased the likelihood of referral and initiating the transplant evaluation once referred.Design, setting, participants, & measurementsAdults who began treatment for ESKD at any Georgia, North Carolina, or South Carolina dialysis facility from 1/1/2012 to 12/31/2015 were identified from the US Renal Data System. Referral (within 1 year of dialysis initiation) and evaluation initiation (within 6 months of referral) data were collected from all nine transplant centers located in that region. Distance was categorized as <15, 15–30, 31–60, 61–90, and >90 miles from the center of a patient’s residential zip code to the nearest center. We used multilevel, multivariable-adjusted logistic regression to quantify the association between distance with referral and evaluation initiation.ResultsAmong 27,250 adult patients on incident dialysis, 9582 (35%) were referred. Among those referred, 58% initiated evaluation. Although patients who lived farther from a center were less likely to be referred, distance was not statistically significantly related to transplant referral: adjusted odds ratios of 1.08 (95% confidence interval, 0.96 to 1.22), 1.07 (95% confidence interval, 0.95 to 1.22), 0.96 (95% confidence interval, 0.84 to 1.10), and 0.87 (95% confidence interval, 0.74 to 1.03) for 15–30, 31–60, 61–90, and >90 miles, respectively, compared with <15 miles (P trend =0.05). There was no statistically significant association of distance and evaluation initiation among referred patients: adjusted odds ratios of 1.14 (95% confidence interval, 0.97 to 1.33), 1.12 (95% confidence interval, 0.94 to 1.35), 1.04 (95% confidence interval, 0.87 to 1.25), and 0.89 (95% confidence interval, 0.72 to 1.11) for 15–30, 31–60, 61–90, and >90 miles, respectively, compared with <15 miles (P trend =0.70).ConclusionsDistance from residence to transplant center among patients undergoing long-term dialysis in the southeastern United States was not associated with increased likelihood of referral and initiating transplant center evaluation.

Iron Packaging Regulations in the United States and Pediatric Morbidity: A Retrospective Cohort Study

2020 ◽  
Vol 59 (4-5) ◽  
pp. 375-379 ◽  
Author(s):  
James B. Leonard ◽  
Elizabeth Quaal Hines ◽  
Wendy Klein-Schwartz
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Cohort Study ◽  
Confidence Interval ◽  
Retrospective Cohort Study ◽  
Odds Ratio ◽  
Retrospective Cohort ◽  
Early Time ◽  
The United States ◽  
Morbidity And Mortality ◽  
Pediatric Morbidity

Iron poisoning was a leading cause of pediatric morbidity and mortality. We sought to assess whether the removal of strict iron packaging requirements in 2003 resulted in an increase in iron-related morbidity and mortality in pediatric exposures. We performed a retrospective cohort study utilizing the National Poison Data System from 2000 to 2017. A total of 4110 exposures met inclusion criteria: 847 from before (2000-2003) and 3263 after removal of unit-dose package regulations (2004-2017). The incidence of any marker of severity (7.2% vs 3.8%; odds ratio = 0.51, 95% confidence interval = 0.37-0.69) and frequency of deferoxamine use were both higher in the early time period (2.6% vs 1.0%; odds ratio = 0.38, 95% confidence interval = 0.22-0.66). There was no difference in the frequency of key serious effects (acidosis, elevated transaminases, hypotension). Despite removal of iron packaging regulations in the United States, there continues to be a decrease in the incidence of severe iron exposures in children.

Association between Longer Travel Distance for Transplant Care and Access to Kidney Transplantation and Graft Survival in the United States

2021 ◽  
pp. ASN.2020081242
Author(s):  
Adrian M. Whelan ◽  
Kirsten L. Johansen ◽  
Sandeep Brar ◽  
Charles E. McCulloch ◽  
Deborah B. Adey ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Kidney Transplantation ◽  
Graft Failure ◽  
Living Donor ◽  
Deceased Donor ◽  
The United States ◽  
Travel Distance ◽  
Transplant Center ◽  
Living Donor Transplantation ◽  
Transplant Candidates

BackgroundTransplant candidates may gain an advantage by traveling to receive care at a transplant center that may have more favorable characteristics than their local center. Factors associated with longer travel distance for transplant care and whether the excess travel distance (ETD) is associated with access to transplantation or with graft failure are unknown.MethodsThis study of adults in the United States wait-listed for kidney transplantation in 1995–2015 used ETD, defined as distance a patient traveled beyond the nearest transplant center for initial waiting list registration. We used linear regression to examine patient and center characteristics associated with ETD and Fine–Gray models to examine the association between ETD (modeled as a spline) and time to deceased or living donor transplantation or graft failure.ResultsOf 373,365 patients, 11% had an ETD≥50 miles. Traveling excess distance was more likely among patients who were of non-Black race or those whose nearest transplant center had lower annual living donor transplant volume. At an ETD of 50 miles, we observed a lower likelihood of deceased donor transplantation (subhazard ratio [SHR], 0.85; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 0.84 to 0.87) but higher likelihood of living donor transplantation (SHR, 1.14; 95% CI, 1.12 to 1.16) compared with those who received care at their nearest center. ETD was weakly associated with higher risk of graft failure.ConclusionsPatients who travel excess distances for transplant care have better access to living donor but not deceased donor transplantation and slightly higher risk of graft failure. Traveling excess distances is not clearly associated with better outcomes, especially if living donors are unavailable.

scholarly journals Early initiation of prophylactic anticoagulation for prevention of coronavirus disease 2019 mortality in patients admitted to hospital in the United States: cohort study

BMJ ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. n311
Author(s):  
Christopher T Rentsch ◽  
Joshua A Beckman ◽  
Laurie Tomlinson ◽  
Walid F Gellad ◽  
Charles Alcorn ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Cohort Study ◽  
Confidence Interval ◽  
Hospital Admission ◽  
The United States ◽  
Early Initiation ◽  
Inpatient Mortality ◽  
Therapeutic Anticoagulation ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Prophylactic Anticoagulation

Abstract Objective To evaluate whether early initiation of prophylactic anticoagulation compared with no anticoagulation was associated with decreased risk of death among patients admitted to hospital with coronavirus disease 2019 (covid-19) in the United States. Design Observational cohort study. Setting Nationwide cohort of patients receiving care in the Department of Veterans Affairs, a large integrated national healthcare system. Participants All 4297 patients admitted to hospital from 1 March to 31 July 2020 with laboratory confirmed severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection and without a history of anticoagulation. Main outcome measures The main outcome was 30 day mortality. Secondary outcomes were inpatient mortality, initiating therapeutic anticoagulation (a proxy for clinical deterioration, including thromboembolic events), and bleeding that required transfusion. Results Of 4297 patients admitted to hospital with covid-19, 3627 (84.4%) received prophylactic anticoagulation within 24 hours of admission. More than 99% (n=3600) of treated patients received subcutaneous heparin or enoxaparin. 622 deaths occurred within 30 days of hospital admission, 513 among those who received prophylactic anticoagulation. Most deaths (510/622, 82%) occurred during hospital stay. Using inverse probability of treatment weighted analyses, the cumulative incidence of mortality at 30 days was 14.3% (95% confidence interval 13.1% to 15.5%) among those who received prophylactic anticoagulation and 18.7% (15.1% to 22.9%) among those who did not. Compared with patients who did not receive prophylactic anticoagulation, those who did had a 27% decreased risk for 30 day mortality (hazard ratio 0.73, 95% confidence interval 0.66 to 0.81). Similar associations were found for inpatient mortality and initiation of therapeutic anticoagulation. Receipt of prophylactic anticoagulation was not associated with increased risk of bleeding that required transfusion (hazard ratio 0.87, 0.71 to 1.05). Quantitative bias analysis showed that results were robust to unmeasured confounding (e-value lower 95% confidence interval 1.77 for 30 day mortality). Results persisted in several sensitivity analyses. Conclusions Early initiation of prophylactic anticoagulation compared with no anticoagulation among patients admitted to hospital with covid-19 was associated with a decreased risk of 30 day mortality and no increased risk of serious bleeding events. These findings provide strong real world evidence to support guidelines recommending the use of prophylactic anticoagulation as initial treatment for patients with covid-19 on hospital admission.

scholarly journals Sex Disparity in Deceased-Donor Kidney Transplant Access by Cause of Kidney Disease

2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 241-250
Author(s):  
Patrick Ahearn ◽  
Kirsten L. Johansen ◽  
Jane C. Tan ◽  
Charles E. McCulloch ◽  
Barbara A. Grimes ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Kidney Transplantation ◽  
Kidney Disease ◽  
Confidence Interval ◽  
Kidney Transplant ◽  
Kidney Failure ◽  
Deceased Donor ◽  
The United States ◽  
Hazard Ratio ◽  
Donor Kidney ◽  
Deceased Donor Kidney

Background and objectivesWomen with kidney failure have lower access to kidney transplantation compared with men, but the magnitude of this disparity may not be uniform across all kidney diseases. We hypothesized that the attributed cause of kidney failure may modify the magnitude of the disparities in transplant access by sex.Design, setting, participants, & measurementsWe performed a retrospective cohort study of adults who developed kidney failure between 2005 and 2017 according to the United States Renal Data System. We used adjusted Cox models to examine the association between sex and either access to waitlist registration or deceased-donor kidney transplantation, and tested for interaction between sex and the attributed cause of kidney failure using adjusted models.ResultsAmong a total of 1,478,037 patients, 271,111 were registered on the waitlist and 89,574 underwent deceased-donor transplantation. The rate of waitlisting was 6.5 per 100 person-years in women and 8.3 per 100 person-years for men. In adjusted analysis, women had lower access to the waitlist (hazard ratio, 0.89; 95% confidence interval, 0.89 to 0.90) and to deceased-donor transplantation after waitlisting (hazard ratio, 0.96; 95% confidence interval, 0.94 to 0.98). However, there was an interaction between sex and attributed cause of kidney disease in adjusted models (P<0.001). Women with kidney failure due to type 2 diabetes had 27% lower access to the kidney transplant waitlist (hazard ratio, 0.73; 95% confidence interval, 0.72 to 0.74) and 11% lower access to deceased-donor transplantation after waitlisting compared with men (hazard ratio, 0.89; 95% confidence interval, 0.86 to 0.92). In contrast, sex disparities in access to either the waitlist or transplantation were not observed in kidney failure secondary to cystic disease.ConclusionsThe disparity in transplant access by sex is not consistent across all causes of kidney failure. Lower deceased-donor transplantation rates in women compared with men are especially notable among patients with kidney failure attributed to diabetes.

scholarly journals Health Policy for Dialysis Care in Canada and the United States

2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (11) ◽  
pp. 1669-1677
Author(s):  
Marcello Tonelli ◽  
Raymond Vanholder ◽  
Jonathan Himmelfarb
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Health Policy ◽  
Clinical Outcomes ◽  
Kidney Failure ◽  
Universal Access ◽  
Chronic Kidney Failure ◽  
The United States ◽  
For Profit ◽  
Policy Goals ◽  
Centered Care

Contemporary dialysis treatment for chronic kidney failure is complex, is associated with poor clinical outcomes, and leads to high health costs, all of which pose substantial policy challenges. Despite similar policy goals and universal access for their kidney failure programs, the United States and Canada have taken very different approaches to dealing with these challenges. While US dialysis care is primarily government funded and delivered predominantly by private for-profit providers, Canadian dialysis care is also government funded but delivered almost exclusively in public facilities. Differences also exist for regulatory mechanisms and the policy incentives that may influence the behavior of providers and facilities. These differences in health policy are associated with significant variation in clinical outcomes: mortality among patients on dialysis is consistently lower in Canada than in the United States, although the gap has narrowed in recent years. The observed heterogeneity in policy and outcomes offers important potential opportunities for each health system to learn from the other. This article compares and contrasts transnational dialysis-related health policies, focusing on key levers including payment, finance, regulation, and organization. We also describe how policy levers can incentivize favorable practice patterns to support high-quality/high-value, person-centered care and to catalyze the emergence of transformative technologies for alternative kidney replacement strategies.

scholarly journals A large outbreak of scombroid fish poisoning associated with eating escolar fish (Lepidocybium flavobrunneum)

2004 ◽  
Vol 133 (1) ◽  
pp. 29-33 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. A. FELDMAN ◽  
S. B. WERNER ◽  
S. CRONAN ◽  
M. HERNANDEZ ◽  
A. R. HORVATH ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Cohort Study ◽  
Relative Risk ◽  
Confidence Interval ◽  
Retrospective Cohort ◽  
The United States ◽  
Case Definition ◽  
Duration Of Symptoms ◽  
Fish Poisoning ◽  
Large Outbreak

In August 2003, an outbreak of scombroid fish poisoning occurred at a retreat centre in California, USA. In a retrospective cohort study, 42 (75%) of the 56 dinner attendees who ate escolar fish (Lepidocybium flavobrunneum) met the case definition. Individuals who ate at least 2 oz of fish were 1·5 times more likely to develop symptoms than those who ate less (relative risk 1·5, 95% confidence interval 0·9–2·6), and to develop more symptoms (median 7 vs. 3 symptoms, P=0·03). Patients who took medicine had a longer duration of symptoms than those who did not (median 4 vs. 1·5 h, P=0·05), and experienced a greater number of symptoms (median 8 vs. 3 symptoms, P=0·0002). Samples of fish contained markedly elevated histamine levels (from 2000 to 3800 ppm). This is one of the largest reported outbreaks of scombroid fish poisoning in the United States and was associated with a rare vehicle for scombroid fish poisoning, escolar.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document