The first appointment with a nephrologist: Brazilian patients' demographic and kidney function characteristics. A retrospective study

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: The number of nephrologists has risen slowly, compared with the prevalence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in Brazil. Data on patients referred to nephrology outpatient clinics remains scarce. OBJECTIVE: To determine the demographic and kidney function characteristics of patients at their first appointment with a nephrologist. DESIGN AND SETTING: Retrospective study conducted at three nephrology outpatient clinics (public and private services), in São Paulo, Brazil. METHODS: From December 2019 to February 2020, we collected patient data regarding demographics, kidney function parameters and comorbidities. We then analyzed data on 394 patients who met a nephrologist for their first appointment. RESULTS: The main comorbidities were hypertension (63.7%), diabetes (33.5%) and nephrolithiasis (22.3%). Regarding CKD stages, 24.1%, 9.1%, 13.7%, 15.2%, 15.2% and 2.3% of the patients were in stages 1, 2, 3a, 3b, 4 and 5, respectively. Proteinuria was absent or mild, moderate and high in 17.3%, 15.2% and 11.7%, respectively; and 16.2% had not undergone previous investigation of serum creatinine or proteinuria (55.8%). For 17.5%, referral to a nephrologist occurred late. Patients in public services were older than those in private services (59 years versus 51 years, respectively; P = 0.001), more frequently hypertensive (69.7% versus 57.5%; P = 0.01) and reached a nephrologist later (22.4% versus 12.4%; P = 0.009). CONCLUSION: Referrals to a nephrologist were not being made using any guidelines for CKD risk and many cases could have been managed within primary care. Late referral to a nephrologist happened in one-fifth of the cases and more frequently in the public service.

Quality indicators for primary health care in chronic kidney disease in the public service of a city in the State of São Paulo, Brazil / Qualidade de atenção primária em doença renal crônica em um serviço público de um município do Estado de São Paulo, Brasil / Calidad de los cuidados de salud en la atención primaria relacionados con la enfermedad crónica de riñón en un servicio público en una ciudad del Estado de São Paulo, Brasil

Abstract: Complications of chronic kidney disease (CKD) can be avoided when promptly diagnosed and treated. The objective was to describe quality indicators of CKD detection and health care in the primary care public service of a city in the State of São Paulo, Brazil. This retrospective study analyzed charts of patients who attended primary care in the public service between November 2019 and February 2020. We selected 10 health quality indicators based on their scientific relevance and availability from the medical records that could express how CKD was identified and managed in primary health care. We estimated the adequate percentage of health indicators with data from 1,066 individuals who had ≥ one risk factor for CKD: hypertension, diabetes, or > 60 years old. Among patients, 79.4% had information on serum creatinine, whereas 58.8% were investigated for proteinuria. Blood pressure data were found in 98.9% of the records. The percentage of patients with blood pressure < 140x90mmHg, glycosylated hemoglobin < 6.5% and LDL-cholesterol < 100mg/dL was 79.2%, 49.2%, and 33.3%, respectively. Renin-angiotensin system blockers were prescribed to 82.8% of the patients with hypertension and CKD. Serum potassium was measured in 35.7% for those who were using renin-angiotensin system blockers. Among those people with CKD, 16.7% had CKD assigned in the medical records as a diagnose. Among those participants at higher risk for CKD, the referral rate to a nephrologist was 31.6%. This study confirmed some missed quality indicators of CKD in primary healthcare. Our results may help administrators develop public policies that improve health care for individuals at high risk for CKD. Long-term follow-up of the health indicators we proposed here will be useful to assess the impact of policy intervention.

Resumo: As complicações da doença renal crônica (DRC) podem ser evitadas quando a doença é diagnosticada e tratada oportunamente. O estudo teve como objetivo descrever a qualidade dos indicadores da detecção e assistência para a DRC no sistema púbico de saúde em um município do Estado de São Paulo, Brasil. O estudo retrospectivo analisou prontuários de pacientes que utilizaram serviços de atenção primária no sistema público entre novembro de 2019 e fevereiro de 2020. Selecionamos dez indicadores de qualidade com base na relevância científica e disponibilidade, a partir dos prontuários médicos. Calculamos o percentual de adequação com dados de 1.066 indivíduos que apresentavam ≥ 1 fatores de risco para DRC: hipertensão, diabetes ou idade > 60 anos. No total, 79,4% dos pacientes apresentavam informação sobre creatinina sérica, e 58,8% foram investigados para proteinúria. Dados de pressão arterial foram encontrados em 98,9% dos prontuários. As proporções de pacientes com pressão arterial < 140x90mmHg, hemoglobina glicada < 6,5% e LDL < 100mg/dL foram 79,2%, 49,2% e 33,3%, respectivamente. Os antagonistas do sistema renina-angiotensina foram prescritos em 82,8% dos pacientes com hipertensão e DRC. O potássio sérico foi medido em 35,7% dos pacientes em uso de antagonistas do sistema renina-angiotensina. Entre os indivíduos com DRC, 16,7% tinham esse diagnóstico registrado no prontuário médico. Entre os participantes com risco mais elevado de DRC, 31,6% foram encaminhados para um nefrologista. O estudo confirmou a falta de alguns indicadores de qualidade para DRC na assistência primária. Os resultados podem ajudar gestores a desenvolverem políticas públicas que melhorem a assistência para indivíduos com risco maior de DRC. O seguimento a longo prazo dos indicadores de saúde propostos aqui será útil para avaliar o impacto dessa política de intervenção.

Resumen: Las complicaciones de la enfermedad crónica de riñón (ECR) se pueden evitar cuando esta enfermedad se diagnostica con prontitud y se trata. El objetivo fue describir indicadores de calidad en la detección de ECR, así como la asistencia en el servicio público de una ciudad, en el Estado de São Paulo, Brasil. Este estudio retrospectivo analizó fichas de pacientes que acudían a atención primaria en el servicio público, entre noviembre 2019 y febrero 2020. Seleccionamos 10 indicadores de calidad en salud, basados en relevancia científica y disponibilidad de registros médicos. Calculamos el porcentaje de adecuación de ellos con datos de 1.066 personas que tenían ≥ 1 factor de riesgo ECR: hipertensión, diabetes, o > 60 años. Un 79,4% de los pacientes tenían información sobre la creatinina sérica, y se investigó a un 58,8% en el caso de la proteinuria. Los datos de presión sanguínea se encontraron en un 98,9% de los registros. El porcentaje de pacientes con presión sanguínea < 140x90mmHg, hemoglobina glicada < 6,5% y LDL < 100mg/dL fue 79,2%, 49,2%, y 33,3%, respectivamente. Se prescribieron bloqueadores del sistema renina-angiotensina a un 82,8% de los pacientes con hipertensión y ECR. Se midió el potasio sérico en un 35,7% de aquellos quienes estaban usando bloqueadores del sistema renina-angiotensina. Entre aquellas personas con ECR, 16,7% había ECR asignado en los registros médicos como diagnosis. Entre aquellos participantes en riesgo mayor por ECR, la tasa de derivación a un nefrólogo fue 31,6%. Este estudio confirmó algunos indicadores de calidad olvidados de ECR en los cuidados de salud en la atención primaria. Nuestros resultados quizás podrían ayudar a los gestores a desarrollar políticas públicas que mejoraran el cuidado de salud para las personas con alto riesgo de ECR. El seguimiento a largo plazo de los indicadores de salud que propusimos aquí será útil para evaluar el impacto de la política de intervención.

Inflammation and kidney involvement in human viral diseases caused by SARS-CoV-2, HIV, HCV and HBV

Inflammation is closely related to renal diseases. This is particularly true for renal diseases caused by infections as in viral diseases. In this review, we highlight the inflammatory mechanisms that underlie kidney dysfunction in SARS-CoV-2, human immunodeficiency (HIV), hepatitis C (HCV), and hepatitis B (HBV) infections. The pathophysiology of renal involvement in COVID-19 is complex, but kidney damage is frequent, and the prognosis is worse when it happens. Virus-like particles were demonstrated mostly in renal tubular epithelial cells and podocytes, which suggest that SARS-CoV-2 directly affects the kidneys. SARS-CoV-2 uses the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 receptor, which is found in endothelial cells, to infect the human host cells. Critical patients with SARS-CoV-2-associated acute kidney injury (AKI) show an increase in inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-8, IFN-γ, TNF-α), known as cytokine storm that favors renal dysfunction by causing intrarenal inflammation, increased vascular permeability, volume depletion, thromboembolic events in microvasculature and persistent local inflammation. Besides AKI, SARS-CoV-2 can also cause glomerular disease, as other viral infections such as in HIV, HBV and HCV. HIV-infected patients present chronic inflammation that can lead to a number of renal diseases. Proinflammatory cytokines and TNF-induced apoptosis are some of the underlying mechanisms that may explain the virus-induced renal diseases that are here reviewed.(AU)

Knowledge of medical students on organ donation

SUMMARY OBJECTIVE: To analyze the spontaneous knowledge of medical students about organ donation. METHODS: 518 students of a medical school in Sao Paulo city, from the first-year to internship, answered an objective questionnaire applied through electronic media to assess their spontaneous theoretical knowledge and organ donation awareness. RESULTS: Organs that can be donated after brain death, such as the cornea, kidneys, heart, liver, and lung were mentioned by the students. Regarding in-life transplantation, they answered it was possible to donate mainly the kidney (91.3%), part of the liver (81.1%), and bone marrow (79.7%). Although it was not expressive, we also noted that their knowledge gradually increased as they reached the end of the course. CONCLUSIONS: Medical students knowledge on organ donation in life and after death was a little superior to 60%. The students had limited exposure to this subject during the course (<40% of them before the internship). The authors suggest that students should be more exposed to the theme of "organ donation" in the medical curriculum.

RESUMO OBJETIVOS: Analisar o conhecimento espontâneo dos graduandos de medicina sobre doação de órgãos. MÉTODOS: A pesquisa foi realizada com 518 graduandos de medicina do 1º ao 6º ano de uma faculdade de medicina da cidade de São Paulo (FM-SP). Os indivíduos responderam a um questionário de múltiplas alternativas aplicado por mídia eletrônica, para avaliar o conhecimento teórico espontâneo e o grau de conscientização sobre doação de órgãos. RESULTADOS: Órgãos que podem ser doados após a morte encefálica, como a córnea, rins, coração, fígado e pulmão foram, em sua maioria, de conhecimento dos estudantes. Em vida, os alunos responderam que era possível a doação sobretudo de rim (91,3%), parte do fígado (81,1%) e medula óssea (79,7%). Pudemos notar também que o conhecimento aumentou gradualmente no decorrer do curso, mas não de forma expressiva. CONCLUSÕES: O conhecimento dos graduandos sobre doação de órgãos em vida e após a morte foi pouco superior a 60%. A exposição dos alunos ao tema foi baixa durante o curso (<40% deles até o 5º ano). Os autores sugerem que deveria haver maior exposição dos alunos ao tema "doação de órgãos" na grade curricular do curso médico.

Superagudos: análise perceptivo-auditiva da voz e autorrelato em sopranos profissionais / Upper high notes: auditory-perceptual analysis of voice and self-reporting among professional sopranos

RESUMO Objetivo Descrever a emissão de superagudos em sopranos profissionais por meio da avaliação perceptivo-auditiva da voz e do autorrelato das cantoras. Método Cinco sopranos profissionais executaram o trecho de uma ópera de Bellini no qual havia a emissão de uma nota superaguda. A avaliação perceptivo-auditiva foi realizada por seis avaliadores (três fonoaudiólogos e três professores de canto) que consideraram brilho, loudness, metal, vibrato, soprosidade e ressonância em uma escala visual-analítica, tendo como base a emissão aguda de cada uma das cantoras. Após a gravação, as cantoras responderam a um questionário proprioceptivo sobre as sensações físicas durante a produção dos superagudos. Foi realizada uma análise inferencial dos dados da avaliação perceptivo-auditiva e transcrição ortográfica resumida do autorrelato das cantoras. Resultados Na análise perceptivo-auditiva, a emissão superaguda foi caracterizada por presença de brilho, loudness, metal, vibrato e ressonância anteriorizada percebida por fonoaudiólogos e professores de canto. No relato proprioceptivo, todas as cantoras referiram elevação de laringe e necessidade de utilização do apoio respiratório para emitir a nota superaguda. Conclusão Os superagudos foram caracterizados por uma emissão vocal brilhante, loudness aumentada, metálica, com vibrato, com pouca ou nenhuma soprosidade, com sensação de elevação da laringe e necessidade de apoio respiratório.

ABSTRACT Purpose To describe the emission of upper high notes by professional sopranos by means of the auditory-perceptual evaluation of the singers' voices and self-reports. Methods Five professional sopranos performed an excerpt from a Bellini opera which involved the emission of an upper high note. The auditory-perceptual evaluation was carried out by three speech-language therapists and three singing teachers, who considered brightness, loudness, metal quality, vibrato, breathiness, and resonance on a visual-analytical scale, based on each singer's emission of high notes. After the recording, the singers were asked to answer a proprioceptive questionnaire on the physical sensations that they had as they emitted upper high notes. An inferential analysis of the data from the auditory-perceptual evaluation was conducted, and the singers' self-reports were summarized and then orthographically transcribed. Results In the auditory-perceptual analysis, the emission of upper high notes was characterized according to the presence of brightness, loudness, metal quality, vibrato, and anterior resonance, as perceived by speech-language therapists and singing teachers. In the proprioceptive report, all singers reported laryngeal elevation and a need to use respiratory support in order to emit upper high notes. Conclusion Upper high notes are characterized by a bright vocal emission, enhanced loudness, with a metallic quality and vibrato, little or no breathiness, accompanied by a sensation of laryngeal elevation and a need for respiratory support.