Incidence of Chronic Kidney Disease Following Acute Coronavirus Disease 2019 Based on South Carolina Statewide Data.

BACKGROUND: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was associated with severe acute illness including multiple organ failure. Acute kidney injury (AKI) was a common finding, often requiring dialysis support. OBJECTIVE: Define the incidence of new clinically identified chronic kidney disease (CKD) among patients with COVID-19 and no pre-existing kidney disease. DESIGN PARTICIPANTS: The South Carolina (SC) Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) COVID-19 mandatory reporting registry of SC residents testing for COVID-19 between March 2020 and October 2021 was included. DESIGN MAIN MEASURES: The primary outcome was a new incidence of a CKD diagnosis (N18.x) in those without a pre-existing diagnosis of CKD during the follow-up period of March 2020 to January 14, 2022. Patients were stratified by severity of illness (hospitalized or not, intensive care unit needed or not). The new incidence of CKD diagnosis was examined using logistic regression and cox proportional hazards analyses. KEY RESULTS: Among patients with COVID-19 (N = 683,958) without a pre-existing CKD diagnosis, 8322 (1.2 %) were found to have a new diagnosis of CKD. The strongest predictors for subsequent CKD diagnosis were age ≥ 60 years hazard ratio (HR) 31.5 (95% confidence interval [95%CI] 25.5-38.8), and intervening (between COVID-19 and CKD diagnoses) AKI diagnosis HR 20.7 (95%CI 19.7-21.7). The presence of AKI was associated with an HR of 23.6, 95% CI 22.3-25.0, among those not hospitalized, and HR of 6.2, 95% CI 5.7-6.8 among those hospitalized, for subsequent CKD. COVID-19 was not significantly associated with subsequent CKD after accounting for the severity of illness and comorbidities. CONCLUSION: Among SC residents, COVID-19 was not associated with CKD independent from indicators of the severity of illness, especially AKI diagnosis. Kidney-specific follow-up testing may be reserved for those high-risk for CKD development. Further prospective registries should examine the long-term kidney consequences to confirm these findings.

Optimizing the use of patients' individual outcome information - Development and usability tests of a Chronic Kidney Disease dashboard.

BACKGROUND: Reporting individual clinical and patient-reported outcomes to patients during consultations may add to patients' disease knowledge and activation and stimulate Shared Decision Making (SDM). These outcomes can be presented over time in a clear way by the means of dashboarding. We aimed to systematically develop a Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) dashboard designed to support consultations, test its usability and explore conditions for optimal use in practice. METHODS: For development a participatory approach with patients and healthcare professionals (HCPs) from three hospitals was used. Working groups and patient focus groups were conducted to identify needs and inform the dashboard's design. Usability was tested in patient interviews. A focus group with HCPs was held to identify conditions for optimal use of the dashboard in daily practice. RESULTS: A dashboard was developed for CKD patients stage 3b-4 visualizing both clinical and patient-reported outcomes over time for use during consultations and accessible for patients at home. Both HCPs and patients indicated that the dashboard can: motivate patients in their treatment by providing feedback on outcomes over time; improve consultation conversations by enhanced preparation of both HCPs and patients; better inform patients, thereby facilitating shared decision making. HCPs and patients both stated that setting a topic agenda for the consultation together is important in effectively discussing the dashboard during consultations. Moreover, the dashboard should not dominate the conversation. Lastly, findings of the usability tests provided design requirements for optimal user-friendliness and clarity. CONCLUSIONS: Dashboarding can be a valuable way of reporting individual outcome information to patients and their clinicians as findings suggest it may stimulate patient activation and facilitate decision making. Co-creation with patients and HCPs was essential for successful development of the dashboard. Gained knowledge from the co-creation process can inform others wishing to develop similar digital tools for use in clinical practice.

NAVKIDS2 trial: a multi-centre, waitlisted randomised controlled trial of a patient navigator intervention in children with chronic kidney disease - statistical analysis plan and update to the protocol.

BACKGROUND: This update summarises key changes made to the protocol since the publication of the original protocol for the NAVKIDS2 trial of patient navigators for children with chronic kidney disease (CKD) experiencing social disadvantage and provides the statistical analysis plan (SAP) which has not previously been published. METHODS/DESIGN: The original protocol was published in BMC Nephrology ( https://doi.org/10.1186/s12882-019-1325-y ) prior to the commencement of trial recruitment. During the course of the trial, some key methodological changes needed to be made including changes to eligibility criteria (addition of patients with CKD stages 1-2, broadening of financial status eligibility criterion, addition of patients living in rural/remote areas, modification of age eligibility to 0-16 years, addition of limits related to the language spoken by family, guidance regarding families with multiple eligible children), changes to sites, reduction of sample size, addition of virtual options for consent and study procedures in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, removal of staggered recruitment across sites, addition of outcomes, and changes to the timing and number of assessments. This update summarises the changes made and their rationale and provides the detailed plan for statistical analysis of the trial. These changes have been finalised prior to the completion of study follow-up and the commencement of data analysis. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ANZCTR) ACTRN12618001152213 . Prospectively registered on 12 July 2018.

[Risk factors of kidney injury in patients with COVID-19].

AIM: To determine the incidence and risk factors of acute kidney injury (AKI) in Russian cohort of patients with COVID-19. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We included 315 patients, who were hospitalized with COVID-19 from October 2020 till February 2021. The diagnosis was established on the basis of the positive SARS-CoV-2 swab test and/or typical radiologic findings on CT scans. RESULTS: AKI complicated the clinical course in 92 (29.21%) cases. The independent risk factors of AKI were female sex, underline chronic kidney disease and the highest level of C-reactive protein during hospitalization. In the general group of patients were 41 (13%) lethal cases, in the group with AKI 32 (34.8%). Compared with those without AKI, patients with AKI had 4.065 (95% confidence interval 2.154 to 7.671) times the odds of death. Respiratory support, the highest serum creatinine and glucose levels appeared to be the risk factors of death among patients with AKI in the multivariable Cox regression. CONCLUSION: The clinical course of COVID-19 was complicated by AKI in 29% cases. The independent risk factors of AKI in patients with COVID-19 are underline chronic kidney disease, circulatory disorder and the highest level of C-reactive protein during hospitalization.

Chronic kidney disease and clinical outcomes in patients with COVID-19 in Japan.

BACKGROUND: Identifying predictive factors for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is crucial for risk stratification and intervention. Kidney dysfunction contributes to the severity of various infectious diseases. However, the association between on-admission kidney dysfunction and the clinical outcome in COVID-19 patients is unclear. METHODS: This study was a multicenter retrospective observational cohort study of COVID-19 patients, diagnosed by polymerase chain reaction. We retrospectively analyzed 500 COVID-19 patients (mean age: 51 ± 19 years) admitted to eight hospitals in Japan. Kidney dysfunction was defined as a reduced estimated glomerular filtration rate (< 60 mL/min/1.73 m2) or proteinuria (≥ 1 + dipstick proteinuria) on admission. The primary composite outcome included in-hospital death, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, mechanical ventilation (invasive and noninvasive methods), and intensive care unit (ICU) admission. RESULTS: Overall, 171 (34.2%) patients presented with on-admission kidney dysfunction, and the primary composite outcome was observed in 60 (12.0%) patients. Patients with kidney dysfunction showed higher rates of in-hospital death (12.3 vs. 1.2%), mechanical ventilation (13.5 vs. 4.0%), and ICU admission (18.1 vs. 5.2%) than those without it. Categorical and multivariate regression analyses revealed that kidney dysfunction was substantially associated with the primary composite outcome. Thus, on-admission kidney dysfunction was common in COVID-19 patients. Furthermore, it correlated significantly and positively with COVID-19 severity and mortality. CONCLUSIONS: On-admission kidney dysfunction was associated with disease severity and poor short-term prognosis in patients with COVID-19. Thus, on-admission kidney dysfunction has the potential to stratify risks in COVID-19 patients.

Immune globulin therapy and kidney disease: Overview and screening, monitoring, and management recommendations.

PURPOSE: This report calls attention to the potential risks of diminished kidney function when administering immune globulin (IG). The goal is to increase awareness of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and kidney function impairment in patients receiving IG and provide recommendations for screening, monitoring, and management to promote risk prevention and mitigation. SUMMARY: Human IG preparations for intravenous (IVIG) or subcutaneous (SCIG) administration are the mainstay of treatment in patients with primary immunodeficiency diseases. Increasingly, IVIG at high doses (1,000 to 2,400 mg/kg) is also used as a treatment for a variety of autoimmune and inflammatory conditions. Although some autoinflammatory disorders respond to a single course of IVIG therapy, the majority of patients require long-term, regular infusions, thereby increasing the overall risks. Often, both patients and physicians treating adults with IG are unaware of underlying CKD or kidney function impairment. This lack of awareness constitutes a major risk factor for potential worsening, particularly when using high doses of IVIG. Therefore, screening of all patients for CKD and kidney function impairment before the use of IG is essential. Identification of the cause of kidney impairment is strongly encouraged, as IG therapy may need to be modified. CONCLUSION: As detailed here, there are potential risks to patients with impaired kidney function with administration of IG, particularly at high doses. Product selection, volume, route of administration, and rate of infusion may impact those with compromised kidney function. Therefore, screening of all patients for CKD and kidney function impairment before the use of IVIG and SCIG, as well as ongoing monitoring and management, is critical. As with all potential adverse drug reactions, the best approach is to prevent them.

The COVID-19 pandemic and access to health care in people with chronic kidney disease: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

AIM: This systematic review aims to evaluate the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on access to health care for patients with CKD. METHODS: MEDLINE and EMBASE databases were searched up to July 2021 (PROSPERO CRD42021230831). Data relevant to access to health care before and during the COVID-19 pandemic were extracted, including outcomes related to access to general nephrology consultations, telehealth, dialysis services and kidney transplantations. Relative and absolute effects were pooled using a random effects model to account for between-study heterogeneity. Risk of bias was assessed using a modified Quality in Prognostic Studies tool. The certainty of the evidence was rated using the GRADE approach. RESULTS: Twenty-three studies across five WHO regions were identified. Reductions in transplantation surgeries were observed during the COVID-19 pandemic compared with the pre-COVID-19 era (risk ratio = 2.15, 95%CI = 1.51-3.06, I2  = 90%, p < .001). Additionally, six studies reported increased use of telehealth services compared with pre-COVID-19 times. Four studies found reduced access to in-person general nephrology services and six studies reported interruptions to dialysis services during the COVID-19 pandemic. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest COVID-19 pandemic may have led to reductions in access to kidney transplantation, dialysis and in-person nephrology care. Meanwhile, whilst the use of telehealth has emerged as a promising alternate mode of health care delivery, its utility during the pandemic warrants further investigation. This study has highlighted major barriers to accessing care in a highly vulnerable chronic disease group.

Microneedle patches integrated with lateral flow cassettes for blood-free chronic kidney disease point-of-care testing during a pandemic.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is the most neglected chronic disease affecting over 750 million persons in the world. Currently, many patients with cancers or other chronic diseases (i.e., CKD) struggle to receive clinical treatment or examination due to hospitals cancelling or delaying in the COVID-19 pandemic, which may increase the risk of death. Cystatin C (Cys C) has been proposed as a potential glomerular filtration rate (GFR) marker for the early detection of acute kidney injury and CKD. However, most traditional methods for Cys C detection are immunoassays using serum as a sample and are tedious to perform and economically burdensome. To diagnose the disease in the early stage and carry out daily management during the current pandemic, we developed an integration of hydrogel microneedle patch (HMNP) and lateral flow cassette (LFC) to rapidly detect Cys C in skin interstitial fluid (ISF) in 25 min for blood-free CKD management anytime and anywhere by the naked eye that can reduce the impact of an individual's quality of life and life expectancy. Conceivably, this strategy presents a wide scope in the application of numerous other diseases if corresponding analytes are available in skin ISF.

Differences between COVID-19-induced acute kidney injury and chronic kidney disease patients.

INTRODUCTION: This article describes the main differences between COVID-19-induced acute kidney injury (AKI-COVID19) in patients with previous normal renal function (AKI-NRF) and those with chronic kidney disease (AKI-CKD) treated in a high complexity clinic in Barranquilla (Colombia). MATERIAL AND METHODS: The patients included in this study (n: 572) were those with a positive diagnosis of COVID-19 confirmed by detection of a positive PCR for SARS-CoV-2. Of these patients, 188 developed AKI during their hospital stay. Patients' epidemiological data, serum parameters, and clinical frailty status were recorded. Statistical analysis and comparison among AKI-NRF, AKI-CKD, and non-AKI patients were performed. RESULTS: The incidence of COVID-19-induced AKI was 33%, with the majority classified as AKIN 1, 16% requiring renal replacement therapy, and AKI-COVID19 mortality of 68%. A significantly higher prevalence of hypertension, cardiac disease, and serum reactive C-protein and lower albumin values in AKI-CKD patients was recorded. Mortality rate, invasive ventilation requirement, and D-dimer levels were significantly higher in AKI-NRF patients. CONCLUSION: Different clinical patterns between AKI-NRF and AKI-CKD were documented.

Impact of COVID-19 on the worsening crisis of chronic kidney disease: the imperative to fund early detection is now.

The number of Australians affected by kidney disease will increase as the impacts of COVID-19 infection on kidney health are realised. Chronic kidney disease (CKD) imposes significant health and economic burdens from dialysis costs, loss of employment, premature death and increased admissions to hospital. Screening for kidney disease must be integrated into post-COVID-19 care; however, currently there is no reimbursement for kidney health checks in primary care. Early detection can reduce the progression of CKD by as much as 50% and thus the imperative to fund the Kidney Health Check is now.

Role of artificial intelligence in the diagnosis and management of kidney disease: applications to chronic kidney disease and acute kidney injury.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) and acute kidney injury (AKI) are global public health problems associated with a significant burden of morbidity, healthcare resource use, and all-cause mortality. This review explores recently published studies that take a machine learning approach to the diagnosis, management, and prognostication in patients with AKI or CKD. RECENT FINDINGS: The release of novel therapeutics for CKD has highlighted the importance of accurately identifying patients at the highest risk of progression. Many models have been constructed with reasonable predictive accuracy but have not been extensively externally validated and peer reviewed. Similarly, machine learning models have been developed for prediction of AKI and have found sufficient accuracy. There are issues to implementing these models, however, with conflicting results with respect to the relationship between prediction of an AKI outcome and improvements in the occurrence of other adverse events, and in some circumstances potential harm. SUMMARY: Artificial intelligence models can help guide management of CKD and AKI, but it is important to ensure that they are broadly applicable and generalizable to various settings and associated with improved clinical decision-making and outcomes.

Risk assessment for acute kidney injury and death among new COVID-19 positive adult patients without chronic kidney disease: retrospective cohort study among three US hospitals.

OBJECTIVE: To develop simple but clinically informative risk stratification tools using a few top demographic factors and biomarkers at COVID-19 diagnosis to predict acute kidney injury (AKI) and death. DESIGN: Retrospective cohort analysis, follow-up from 1 February through 28 May 2020. SETTING: 3 teaching hospitals, 2 urban and 1 community-based in the Boston area. PARTICIPANTS: Eligible patients were at least 18 years old, tested COVID-19 positive from 1 February through 28 May 2020, and had at least two serum creatinine measurements within 30 days of a new COVID-19 diagnosis. Exclusion criteria were having chronic kidney disease or having a previous AKI within 3 months of a new COVID-19 diagnosis. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Time from new COVID-19 diagnosis until AKI event, time until death event. RESULTS: Among 3716 patients, there were 1855 (49.9%) males and the average age was 58.6 years (SD 19.2 years). Age, sex, white blood cell, haemoglobin, platelet, C reactive protein (CRP) and D-dimer levels were most strongly associated with AKI and/or death. We created risk scores using these variables predicting AKI within 3 days and death within 30 days of a new COVID-19 diagnosis. Area under the curve (AUC) for predicting AKI within 3 days was 0.785 (95% CI 0.758 to 0.813) and AUC for death within 30 days was 0.861 (95% CI 0.843 to 0.878). Haemoglobin was the most predictive component for AKI, and age the most predictive for death. Predictive accuracies using all study variables were similar to using the simplified scores. CONCLUSION: Simple risk scores using age, sex, a complete blood cell count, CRP and D-dimer were highly predictive of AKI and death and can help simplify and better inform clinical decision making.

Prognostic value of estimated glomerular filtration rate in hospitalised older patients (over 65) with COVID-19: a multicentre, European, observational cohort study.

BACKGROUND: The reduced renal function has prognostic significance in COVID-19 and it has been linked to mortality in the general population. Reduced renal function is prevalent in older age and thus we set out to better understand its effect on mortality. METHODS: Patient clinical and demographic data was taken from the COVID-19 in Older People (COPE) study during two periods (February-June 2020 and October 2020-March 2021, respectively). Kidney function on admission was measured using estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). The primary outcomes were time to mortality and 28-day mortality. Secondary outcome was length of hospital stay. Data were analysed with multilevel Cox proportional hazards regression, and multilevel logistic regression and adjusted for individual patient clinical and demographic characteristics. RESULTS: One thousand eight hundred two patients (55.0% male; median [IQR] 80 [73-86] years) were included in the study. 28-day mortality was 42.3% (n = 742). 48% (n = 801) had evidence of renal impairment on admission. Using a time-to-event analysis, reduced renal function was associated with increased in-hospital mortality (compared to eGFR ≥ 60 [Stage 1&2]): eGFR 45-59 [Stage 3a] aHR = 1.26 (95%CI 1.02-1.55); eGFR 30-44 [Stage 3b] aHR = 1.41 (95%CI 1.14-1.73); eGFR 1-29 [Stage 4&5] aHR = 1.42 (95%CI 1.13-1.80). In the co-primary outcome of 28-day mortality, mortality was associated with: Stage 3a adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 1.18 (95%CI 0.88-1.58), Stage 3b aOR = 1.40 (95%CI 1.03-1.89); and Stage 4&5 aOR = 1.65 (95%CI 1.16-2.35). CONCLUSION: eGFR on admission is a good independent predictor of mortality in hospitalised older patients with COVID-19 population. We found evidence of a dose-response between reduced renal function and increased mortality.

Using dipstick urinalysis to predict development of acute kidney injury in patients with COVID-19.

BACKGROUND: Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common complication in patients hospitalized with COVID-19 and may require renal replacement therapy (RRT). Dipstick urinalysis is frequently obtained, but data regarding the prognostic value of hematuria and proteinuria for kidney outcomes is scarce. METHODS: Patients with positive severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV2) PCR, who had a urinalysis obtained on admission to one of 20 hospitals, were included. Nested models with degree of hematuria and proteinuria were used to predict AKI and RRT during admission. Presence of Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) and baseline serum creatinine were added to test improvement in model fit. RESULTS: Of 5,980 individuals, 829 (13.9%) developed an AKI during admission, and 149 (18.0%) of those with AKI received RRT. Proteinuria and hematuria degrees significantly increased with AKI severity (P < 0.001 for both). Any degree of proteinuria and hematuria was associated with an increased risk of AKI and RRT. In predictive models for AKI, presence of CKD improved the area under the curve (AUC) (95% confidence interval) to 0.73 (0.71, 0.75), P < 0.001, and adding baseline creatinine improved the AUC to 0.85 (0.83, 0.86), P < 0.001, when compared to the base model AUC using only proteinuria and hematuria, AUC = 0.64 (0.62, 0.67). In RRT models, CKD status improved the AUC to 0.78 (0.75, 0.82), P < 0.001, and baseline creatinine improved the AUC to 0.84 (0.80, 0.88), P < 0.001, compared to the base model, AUC = 0.72 (0.68, 0.76). There was no significant improvement in model discrimination when both CKD and baseline serum creatinine were included. CONCLUSIONS: Proteinuria and hematuria values on dipstick urinalysis can be utilized to predict AKI and RRT in hospitalized patients with COVID-19. We derived formulas using these two readily available values to help prognosticate kidney outcomes in these patients. Furthermore, the incorporation of CKD or baseline creatinine increases the accuracy of these formulas.

Improving annual albuminuria testing for individuals with diabetes.

BACKGROUND: Annual albuminuria screening detects the early stages of nephropathy in individuals with diabetes. Because early detection of albuminuria allows for interventions that lower the risk of developing chronic kidney disease, guidelines recommend annual testing for all individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus and for those with type 1 diabetes for at least 5 years. However, at the Eskind Diabetes Clinic at the Vanderbilt University Medical Center, testing occurred less frequently than desired. METHODS: A quality improvement team first analysed the clinic's processes, identifying the lack of a systematic approach to testing as the likely cause for the low rate. The team then implemented two successive interventions in a pilot of patients seen by nurse practitioners in the clinic. In the first intervention, staff used a dashboard within the electronic health record while triaging each patient, pending an albuminuria order if testing had not been done within the past year. In the second intervention, clinic leadership sent daily reminders to the triage staff. A statistical process control chart tracked monthly testing rates. RESULTS: After 6 months, annual albuminuria testing increased from a baseline of 69% to 82%, with multiple special-cause signals in the control chart. CONCLUSIONS: This project demonstrates that a series of simple interventions can significantly impact annual albuminuria testing. This project's success likely hinged on using an existing workflow to systematically determine if a patient was due for testing and prompting the provider to sign a pended order for an albuminuria test. Other diabetes/endocrinology and primary care clinics can likely implement a similar process and so improve testing rates in other settings. When coupled with appropriate interventions to reduce the development of chronic kidney disease, such interventions would improve patient outcomes, in addition to better adhering to an established quality metric.

COVID-19 and chronic kidney disease: an updated overview of reviews.

BACKGROUND: Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has resulted in the death of more than 3.5 million people worldwide. While COVID-19 mostly affects the lungs, different comorbidities can have an impact on its outcomes. We performed an overview of reviews to assess the effect of Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) on contracting COVID-19, hospitalization, mortality, and disease severity. METHODS: We searched published and preprint databases. We updated the reviews by searching for primary studies published after August 2020, and prioritized reviews that are most updated and of higher quality using the AMSTAR tool. RESULTS: We included 69 systematic reviews and 66 primary studies. Twenty-eight reviews reported on the prevalence of CKD among patients with COVID-19, which ranged from 0.4 to 49.0%. One systematic review showed an increased risk of hospitalization in patients with CKD and COVID-19 (RR = 1.63, 95% CI 1.03-2.58) (Moderate certainty). Primary studies also showed a statistically significant increase of hospitalization in such patients. Thirty-seven systematic reviews assessed mortality risk in patients with CKD and COVID-19. The pooled estimates from primary studies for mortality in patients with CKD and COVID-19 showed a HR of 1.48 (95% CI 1.33-1.65) (Moderate certainty), an OR of 1.77 (95% CI 1.54-2.02) (Moderate certainty) and a RR of 1.6 (95% CI 0.88-2.92) (Low certainty). CONCLUSIONS: Our review highlights the impact of CKD on the poor outcomes of COVID-19, underscoring the importance of identifying strategies to prevent COVID-19 infection among patients with CKD.

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on symptoms of anxiety and depression and health-related quality of life in older patients with chronic kidney disease.

BACKGROUND: Older patients with advanced chronic kidney disease are at increased risk for a severe course of the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) and vulnerable to mental health problems. We aimed to investigate prevalence and associated patient (demographic and clinical) characteristics of mental wellbeing (health-related quality of life [HRQoL] and symptoms of depression and anxiety) before and during the COVID-19 pandemic in older patients with advanced chronic kidney disease. METHODS: An ongoing Dutch multicentre prospective cohort study enrols patients of ≥70 years with an eGFR < 20 mL/min/1.73m2 from October 2018 onward. With additional questionnaires during the pandemic (May-June 2020), disease-related concerns about COVID-19 and general anxiety symptoms were assessed cross-sectionally, and depressive symptoms, HRQoL, and emotional symptoms longitudinally. RESULTS: The 82 included patients had a median age of 77.5 years (interquartile range 73.9-82.1), 77% were male and none had tested positive for COVID-19. Cross-sectionally, 67% of the patients reported to be more anxious about COVID-19 because of their kidney disease, and 43% of the patients stated that their quality of life was reduced due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Compared to pre-COVID-19, the presence of depressive symptoms had increased (11 to 22%; p = .022) and physical HRQoL declined (M = 40.4, SD = 10.1 to M = 36.1, SD = 10.4; p < .001), particularly in males. Mental HRQoL (M = 50.3, SD = 9.6 to M = 50.4, SD = 9.9; p = .913) and emotional symptoms remained similar. CONCLUSIONS: Older patients with advanced chronic kidney disease suffered from disease-related anxiety about COVID-19, increased depressive symptoms and reduced physical HRQoL during the COVID-19 pandemic. The impact of the pandemic on this vulnerable patient group extends beyond increased mortality risk, and awareness of mental wellbeing is important. TRIAL REGISTRATION: The study is registered at the Netherlands Trial Register (NTR), trial number NL7104. Date of registration: 06-06-2018.

Long-Term Exposure to Ambient PM2.5 and Increased Risk of CKD Prevalence in China.

BACKGROUND: Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is an important environmental risk factor for cardiopulmonary diseases. However, the association between PM2.5 and risk of CKD remains under-recognized, especially in regions with high levels of PM2.5, such as China. METHODS: To explore the association between long-term exposure to ambient PM2.5 and CKD prevalence in China, we used data from the China National Survey of CKD, which included a representative sample of 47,204 adults. We estimated annual exposure to PM2.5 before the survey date at each participant's address, using a validated, satellite-based, spatiotemporal model with a 10 km×10 km resolution. Participants with eGFR <60 ml/min per 1.73 m2 or albuminuria were defined as having CKD. We used a logistic regression model to estimate the association and analyzed the influence of potential modifiers. RESULTS: The 2-year mean PM2.5 concentration was 57.4 µg/m3, with a range from 31.3 to 87.5 µg/m3. An increase of 10 µg/m3 in PM2.5 was positively associated with CKD prevalence (odds ratio [OR], 1.28; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.22 to 1.35) and albuminuria (OR, 1.39; 95% CI, 1.32 to 1.47). Effect modification indicated these associations were significantly stronger in urban areas compared with rural areas, in males compared with females, in participants aged <65 years compared with participants aged ≥65 years, and in participants without comorbid diseases compared with those with comorbidities. CONCLUSIONS: These findings regarding the relationship between long-term exposure to high ambient PM2.5 levels and CKD in the general Chinese population provide important evidence for policy makers and public health practices to reduce the CKD risk posed by this pollutant.