Clinical journal of the American Society of Nephrology : CJASN
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Clin J Am Soc Nephrol · Feb 2010
End-of-life care preferences and needs: perceptions of patients with chronic kidney disease.
Despite high mortality rates, surprisingly little research has been done to study chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients' preferences for end-of-life care. The objective of this study was to evaluate end-of-life care preferences of CKD patients to help identify gaps between current end-of-life care practice and patients' preferences and to help prioritize and guide future innovation in end-of-life care policy. ⋯ Current end-of-life clinical practices do not meet the needs of patients with advanced CKD.
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Clin J Am Soc Nephrol · Jan 2010
The HALT polycystic kidney disease trials: design and implementation.
Two HALT PKD trials will investigate interventions that potentially slow kidney disease progression in hypertensive autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) patients. Studies were designed in early and later stages of ADPKD to assess the impact of intensive blockade of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system and level of BP control on progressive renal disease. Design, settings, participants, and measurements: PKD-HALT trials are multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials studying 1018 hypertensive ADPKD patients enrolled over 3 yr with 4 to 8 yr of follow-up. In study A, 548 participants, estimated GFR (eGFR) of >60 ml/min per 1.73 m(2) were randomized to one of four arms in a 2-by-2 design: combination angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEi) and angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) therapy versus ACEi monotherapy at two levels of BP control. In study B, 470 participants, eGFR of 25 to 60 ml/min per 1.73 m2 compared ACEi/ARB therapy versus ACEi monotherapy, with BP control of 120 to 130/70 to 80 mmHg. Primary outcomes of studies A and B are MR-based percent change kidney volume and a composite endpoint of time to 50% reduction of baseline estimated eGFR, ESRD, or death, respectively. ⋯ HALT PKD will evaluate potential benefits of rigorous BP control and inhibition of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system on kidney disease progression in ADPKD.
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Clin J Am Soc Nephrol · Jan 2010
Adverse safety events in chronic kidney disease: the frequency of "multiple hits".
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) lacks standardized patient safety indicators (PSIs); however, undetected safety events are likely to contribute to adverse outcomes in this disease. This study sought to determine the proportion of CKD patients who experience multiple potentially hazardous events from varied causes and to identify risk factors for the occurrence of "multiple hits." ⋯ Patients with CKD are at a high risk for safety events pertinent to this disease and a substantial number are subject to multiple events from a diverse set of safety indicators, which could have important consequences in disease outcomes.
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Clin J Am Soc Nephrol · Jan 2010
ReviewEvidence that calcium supplements reduce fracture risk is lacking.
Credible evidence that calcium supplements reduce the risk of vertebral, nonvertebral, or hip fractures is lacking. Flaws in study design and execution such as inclusion of calcium-replete individuals, high dropout rates, and poor compliance preclude testing the hypothesis that calcium deficiency increases fracture rates or that calcium supplements reduce them. Intent-to-treat analyses of individual trials have failed to detect antifracture efficacy. ⋯ To regard a calcium-deficient arm as unethical begs the question. Consensus statements that support the widespread use of calcium are opinion-based; they accept claims of beneficial effects despite flaws in study design, execution, and analysis; and they reject reported adverse effects because of them. Until well designed, well executed, and well analyzed studies demonstrate a net benefit in morbidity, mortality, and cost, recommendations supporting the widespread use of calcium supplementation remain belief-based and not evidence-based.