Thrombocytopenia predicts mortality in Chinese hemodialysis patients- an analysis of the China DOPPS

Background Hemodialysis (HD) patients have a higher mortality rate compared with general population. Our previous study revealed that platelet counts might be a potential risk factor. The role of platelets in HD patients has rarely been studied. The aim of this study is to examine if there is an association of thrombocytopenia (TP) with elevated risk of all-cause mortality and cardiovascular (CV) death in Chinese HD patients. Methods Data from a prospective cohort study, China Dialysis Outcomes and Practice Patterns Study (DOPPS) 5, were analyzed. Demographic data, comorbidities, platelet counts and other lab data, and death records which extracted from the medical record were analyzed. TP was defined as the platelet count below the lower normal limit (< 100*109/L). Associations between platelet counts and all-cause and CV mortality were evaluated using Cox regression models. Stepwise multivariate logistic regression was used to identify the independent associated factors, and subgroup analyses were also carried out. Results Of 1369 patients, 11.2% (154) had TP at enrollment. The all-cause mortality rates were 26.0% vs. 13.3% (p < 0.001) in patients with and without TP. TP was associated with higher all-cause mortality after adjusted for covariates (HR:1.73,95%CI:1.11,2.71), but was not associated with CV death after fully adjusted (HR:1.71,95%CI:0.88,3.33). Multivariate logistic regression showed that urine output < 200 ml/day, cerebrovascular disease, hepatitis (B or C), and white blood cells were independent impact factors (P < 0.05). Subgroup analysis found that the effect of TP on all-cause mortality was more prominent in patients with diabetes or hypertension, who on dialysis thrice a week, with lower ALB (< 4 g/dl) or higher hemoglobin, and patients without congestive heart failure, cerebrovascular disease, or hepatitis (P < 0.05). Conclusion In Chinese HD patients, TP is associated with higher risk of all-cause mortality, but not cardiovascular mortality. Platelet counts may be a useful prognostic marker for clinical outcomes among HD patients, though additional study is needed.

Evidence from Studies of Patient-Reported Outcomes Supports a Policy of Using a Dialysate Sodium Concentration of 140 mEq/L for the Majority of Patients

The best evidence available to guide a policy for prescribing the dialysate sodium concentration, [DNa], comes from large randomly selected observational studies, such as the Dialysis Outcomes and Practice Patterns Study (DOPPS). These show that, after adjustment for differences in demographics and comorbidity, using a [DNa] lower than 140 mEq/L is associated with patients taking longer to recover after a dialysis treatment, worse symptoms of kidney failure, a higher score for the burden of kidney disease and worse mental and physical health-related quality of life. It is also associated with greater risks of being admitted to hospital and dying. These outcomes are more important than any medically determined surrogate outcome, such as the control of blood pressure or interdialytic weight gain. The most appropriate policy for prescribing the dialysate sodium concentration is to use a [DNa] of 140 mEq/L for the majority of patients.

Representativeness of the PDOPPS cohort compared to the Australian PD population

Background: The Peritoneal Dialysis Outcomes and Practice Patterns Study (PDOPPS) is an international, prospective study following persons treated by peritoneal dialysis (PD) to identify modifiable practices associated with improvements in PD technique and person survival. The aim of this study was to assess the representativeness of the Australian cohort included in PDOPPS compared to the complete Australian PD population, as reported to the Australia and New Zealand Dialysis and Transplant (ANZDATA) Registry. Methods: Adults with at least one PD treatment reported to ANZDATA Registry during the census period of PDOPPS Phase I (November 2014 to April 2018) were compared to the Australian PDOPPS cohort. The primary outcomes were the representativeness of centres and persons. Secondary outcomes explored the association of person characteristics with consent to study participation. Results: After data linkage, 511 PDOPPS participants were compared to 5616 Australians treated with PD. Within centres eligible for PDOPPS, selected centres were similar to other Australian centres. The PDOPPS participants’ cohort tended to include older persons, more males, a higher proportion of Caucasians and more persons with higher socioeconomic advantage compared to the Australian PD population. Differences in distribution across sex and ethnicities between the PDOPPS cohort and the overall PD population were in part due to the selection and consent processes, during which females and non-Caucasians were more likely to not consent to PDOPPS participation. Conclusion: Sampling methods used in PDOPPS allowed for good national representativeness of the included centres. However, representativeness of the unweighted PDOPPS sample was suboptimal in regard to some participant characteristics.

Mortality Risk Factors in the China Dialysis Outcomes and Practice Patterns Study (DOPPS)

Background Mortality risk for hemodialysis (HD) patients varies by country and ethnicity. Here, mortality rate and its related risk factors in Chinese HD patients from the Dialysis Outcomes and Practice Patterns Study (DOPPS) were investigated. Methods Data from China DOPPS phase 5 (2012–2015) were used. Patients’ demographics, assigned primary causes of end stage kidney disease (ESKD), comorbidities, dialysis prescription, laboratory values, date and cause for death were analyzed. Cox proportional hazards models were used to assess the association of patient characteristics and treatments with mortality. Results 1427 HD patients were enrolled. The mean age was 59.4 ± 14.9 years. The median follow-up time was 1.9 (1.1–2.1) years. There was total 205 deaths with at least 103 from cardiovascular disease (50.2%). The overall mortality rate was 8.8 per 100 patient-years. In the multivariate Cox model, older, serum albumin (Alb < 4g/dl, blood platelets < 100*109/L, pulse pressure (PP) > 63mmHg, and congestive heart failure history were independent risk factors for all-cause mortality. Conclusions Attention should be paid to patients who were older, with lower Alb and blood platelets level, higher PP and congestive heart failure history. Our results highlighted that there might be some modifiable risk factors for patients’ survival, such as Hgb, Alb, blood platelets, and blood pressure management.

Updated Evidence on the Epidemiology of Hepatitis C Virus in Hemodialysis

Prevalence rates of HCV infection are decreasing in hemodialysis units of most developed countries; however, nosocomial transmission of HCV continues to occur in the hemodialysis setting, not only in the emerging world. According to the Dialysis Outcomes and Practice Patterns Study (DOPPS, 2012–2015), the prevalence of HCV among patients on regular hemodialysis was 9.9%; in incident patients, the frequency of HCV was approximately 5%. Outbreaks of HCV have been investigated by epidemiologic and phylogenetic data obtained by sequencing of the HCV genome; no single factor was retrieved as being associated with nosocomial transmission of HCV within hemodialysis units. Transmission of HCV within HD units can be prevented successfully by full compliance with infection control practices; also, antiviral treatment and serologic screening for anti-HCV can be useful in achieving this aim. Infection control practices in hemodialysis units include barrier precautions to prevent exposure to blood-borne pathogens and other procedures specific to the hemodialysis environment. Isolating HCV-infected hemodialysis patients or using dedicated dialysis machines for HCV-infected patients are not currently recommended; reuse of dialyzers of HCV-infected patients should be made, according to recent guidelines. Randomized controlled trials regarding the impact of isolation on the risk of transmission of HCV to hemodialysis patients have not been published to date. At least two studies showed complete elimination of de novo HCV within HD units by implementation of strict infection control practices without isolation practices. De novo HCV within hemodialysis units has been independently associated with facility HCV prevalence, dialysis vintage, and low staff-to-patient ratio. Antiviral treatment of HCV-infected patients on hemodialysis should not replace the implementation of barrier precautions and other routine hemodialysis unit procedures.

MO792CONTEMPORARY MINERAL AND BONE DISORDER MARKERS AND TREATMENT AMONG HEMODIALYSIS PATIENTS IN THE EUROPEAN DIALYSIS OUTCOMES AND PRACTICE PATTERNS STUDY (DOPPS)*

Background and Aims Chronic kidney disease mineral and bone disorder (CKD-MBD) is characterized by abnormalities in serum calcium, phosphorus, and parathyroid hormone (PTH) and associated with morbidity and mortality. Previous publications from the Dialysis Outcomes and Practice Patterns Study (DOPPS) have demonstrated country differences in the prevalence and treatment of CKD-MBD among hemodialysis patients in participating European countries. We aim to compare the distribution of CKD-MBD related labs and treatments across countries in a contemporary population of European hemodialysis patients. Method DOPPS is an international prospective cohort study of hemodialysis patients ≥18 years of age. Patients are enrolled randomly from a representative sample of dialysis facilities within each nation at the start of each study phase. The current analysis includes n=1,701 patients from 91 facilities in the initial prevalent cross section of Europe DOPPS phase 7 (2019-present; Belgium, Germany, Italy, Spain, Sweden, UK). Results from Belgium should be considered preliminary as initial questionnaire completion is ongoing. Results The % of patients with a high PTH (&gt;600 pg/mL) ranged from 6% in Italy to 24% in the UK, with 12-17% having high PTH in all other countries. Mean serum total calcium ranged from 8.7 in Germany to 9.1 mg/dL in the UK (Table). Mean serum phosphorus varied from 4.5 in Belgium to 5.3 mg/dL in Germany. Dialysate calcium of 2.5 mEq/L was predominant in Germany, Sweden, and the UK while 3.0 mEq/L was the most common prescription in Belgium, Italy, and Spain. Calcimimetic prescription ranged from 13% in the UK to 32% in Spain. Etelcalcetide prescription ranged from 1% in the UK to 12% in Spain and 14% in Italy. Active vitamin D prescription ranged from 27% in Belgium to 75% in Sweden. Nearly all vitamin D prescriptions were administered intravenously in Spain versus about half in Italy; in all other countries, the route of active vitamin D administration was primarily oral. Patient age and dialysis vintage varied by country, potentially contributing to some of the observed country differences in MBD marker levels and treatment practices. Conclusion CKD-MBD related abnormalities in PTH, serum phosphorus and calcium remain common in European dialysis patients, with prevalence varying considerably by country. Substantial international variation in CKD-MBD treatments was also observed in prescription of vitamin D and calcimimetics. Uptake of the relatively new calcimimetic, etelcalcetide, varied considerably by country. A detailed understanding of the effect of treatment variation on CKD-MBD marker levels and patient outcomes is needed to provide important insights for the European HD community in optimizing management of secondary hyperparathyroidism.