Sodium-glucose Co-transporter 2 Inhibitors: A Novel Molecule for Health Care Practitioners in Diabetology, Cardiology and Nephrology

Prevention and timely management of cardiovascular (CV) complications like myocardial infarction, heart failure (HF), stroke and renal complications, like chronic kidney disease (CKD) and end-stage renal disease, are important to improve the quality of life and survival in people with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The multifaceted action of sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) results in effective glycemic control with benefits on CV and renal risk factors, like body weight, blood pressure, uric acid and albuminuria. Robust CV and renal event reduction is reflected in the outcomes of large CV outcome trials, meta-analyses and real-world studies. Recent evidence has proven cardiac and renal benefits with SGLT2i in subjects with HF and CKD irrespective of their T2DM status. Until recently, SGLT2i was used as a glucose-lowering molecule with pleiotropic benefits, mainly by primary care practitioners and diabetologists. The potential for cardiac and renal protection in people with and without T2DM has shifted an interest in cardiologists and nephrologists to view it as a cardiac and renal molecule, respectively. Thus, the role of SGLT2i in the management of T2DM is undergoing a paradigm shift—straddling the interfaces of diabetology, cardiology, nephrology and primary care—moving away from being considered a pure antidiabetic molecule. We conducted a literature review of SGLT2i in management of T2DM along with their protective effects on CV and renal parameters in patients with or without baseline comorbidities.

Coordenação de cuidados primários para o paciente com doença renal crônica em diálise: revisitando papéis / Coordination of primary care for patients with chronic kidney disease on dialysis: revisiting roles

O número de pessoas em diálise tem aumentado de maneira significativa nos últimos anos. Essas pessoas são, em geral, portadoras de condições crônicas múltiplas e complexas, e a coordenação do seu cuidado torna-se um desafio. O presente artigo objetiva sintetizar os resultados da literatura a respeito da coordenação do cuidado e dos cuidados primários ofertados ao paciente em diálise. Trata-se de uma revisão integrativa que teve como fontes de dados publicações disponíveis nas bases: LILACS, SciELO e PubMed. Foram identificados 16 artigos publicados entre 1992 e 2020. A partir da análise temática, evidenciaram-se cinco áreas: vínculo das pessoas em diálise com a Atenção Primária à Saúde (APS) e com o médico da família e comunidade (MFC); percepção dos profissionais quanto a seus papéis e habilidades; percepção das pessoas a respeito dos papéis e habilidades dos profissionais; cuidados primários (CP) prestados por nefrologistas e MFC; e impacto da APS na mortalidade, hospitalização e qualidade de vida. Os resultados sugerem que o nefrologista tem assumido o papel de coordenador do cuidado e de principal provedor de CP à pessoa em diálise. Todavia, isso não significa queos cuidados oferecidos sejam adequados às necessidades do paciente, devendo o MFC estar cada vez mais envolvido com esse cuidado, o que tem sido gradualmente observado nos últimos anos.

The number of patients on dialysis has increased significantly in recent years. These patients are, in general, carriers of multiple and complex chronic conditions, and the coordination of their care becomes a challenge. This article aims to summarize the results of the literature regarding the coordination of care for dialysis patients. This is an integrative review based on data published and available in the databases: LILACS, SciELO, and PubMed. 16 articles published between 1992 and 2020 were identified. Based on the thematic analysis, five areas were highlighted: linkage of patients with primary health care (PHC) and with the family and community physician (FCF); professionals' perception of their roles and skills; patients' perception of the professionals' roles and skills; primary care delivered by nephrologists and FCF; and the impact of PHC on mortality, hospitalization, and quality of life. The results suggest that nephrologists have assumed the role of care coordinators and main providers of primary care for dialysis patients. However, this does not mean that the care offered is adequate for the patient's needs, and the FCF should be increasingly involved with this care, which indeed began to gradually occur in recent years.

Arteriovenous Fistula Creation by Nephrologist: A Single Centre Experience

Introduction: Arteriovenous Fistula (AVF) is the preferredvascular access with the least rate of complications andmorbidities. Across the globe except European countriesAVF is created predominantly by surgeons. There are veryfew experiences shared by Nephrologists from Indiansubcontinent in creating AV fistulas and their follow up. Theaim of this study was to assess preoperative factors affectingthe outcome of AVF creation and the follow up of successfullycreated fistulas.Material and Methods: A prospective observational studywas carried at our hospital over a period of six months from01 October 2018 to 31 March 2019. All patients undergoingAVF creation by nephrologist from 01 October 2018 to 15Feb 2019 were included in the study and each patient wasfollowed for six weeks. Besides baseline parameter, historyof Diabetes, hypertension and coronary and peripheralvascular disease were noted. All the perioperative findingslike vascular calcification and Blood pressure were noted. Allsuccessful AVF were followed for six weeks with serial USGand Doppler at postoperative day 1, 2 week and 6 weeks.Results: A total of 20 (77%) out of 26 AVF were successfullycreated, The average age was 54.6±15.4 years, Among baselineparameters gender had statistical significance (p=0.03).During surgery more arterial diameter and hypertension wereassociated with successful outcome. During follow-up, botharterial and venous diameter as well as blood flow in arteryand AVF had significant correlation between postoperative 1st,2nd and 6th week (p<0.01). More than 35% and 80% of patientsat 2 and 6 weeks respectively achieved criteria for successfulmaturation as per NKF- KDOQI criteria and it was > 90% and100% as per UAB criteria.Conclusion: Our experience suggest good outcome of AVFcreation by nephrologist, even with those with risk factors forfailure and non maturation. Also we suggest early cannulationof AVF at four weeks or earlier.

The clinical impact of the referral pattern to nephrologist in patients with chronic renal failure / 대한내과학회지

BACKGROUND: It has been speculated that many factors including age, hemoglobin serum albumin level and socioeconomic factors are closely related with the mortality and morbidity of patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Optimal management of the patients with pre-dialysis chronic kidney disease has been thought to be very important for the prognosis of end-stage renal disease patients on dialysis. METHODS: In order to evaluate the clinical impact of referral pattern of chronic renal failure patients to nephrologist, 217 patients (male 129, female 88) who initiated hemodialysis from Jan. 1998 to Jul. 2002 in Chungnam National University Hospital were included in this retrospective analysis. Patients were defined as early referral (n=129) when hemodialysis was initiated at least 90 days after the first visit to nephrologist and as late referral (n=88) when hemodialysis was performed within 90 days after the first visit to nephrologist. RESULTS: Male gender and medical aid coverage were significantly more prevalent in late referral than early referral group (p<0.05, p<0.05, respectively). Late referral group had more combined medical problems than those of early referral group (p<0.05). Serum albumin level of early referral group was significantly higher than that of late referral group at the initiation of hemodialysis (p<0.001). At the initiation of hemodialysis, temporary central catheter for the blood access was needed in 85.2 % of late referral group. However, only 41.6% of early referral group needed such temporary catheter (p<0.001). One year after initiation of hemodialysis treatment, early referral group showed significantly lower mortality rate than that of late referral group (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: The early referral of chronic renal failure patients to nephrologist has beneficial effects including higher one-year survival after beginning of hemodialysis.