New fibrate use and acute renal outcomes in elderly adults: a population-based study.

BACKGROUND: Fibric acid derivatives (fibrates) have been shown to increase serum creatinine level in randomized trials. OBJECTIVE: To assess renal outcomes in elderly adults within 90 days of a new fibrate prescription. DESIGN: Population-based cohort study. SETTING: Ontario, Canada. PATIENTS: Patients aged 66 years or older with a new outpatient prescription for a fibrate or ezetimibe (comparator drug) between January 2004 and December 2008. MEASUREMENTS: Hospitalization for an increase in serum creatinine level (primary outcome) and consultation with a nephrologist, receipt of dialysis for severe acute kidney injury, all-cause mortality, and increases in serum creatinine level (secondary outcomes). All outcomes were assessed within 90 days of a new prescription for ezetimibe or a fibrate. RESULTS: Compared with ezetimibe users (n = 61,831), fibrate users (n = 19,072) were more likely to be hospitalized for an increase in serum creatinine level (adjusted odds ratio, 2.4 [95% CI, 1.7 to 3.3]) and were more likely to consult a nephrologist (absolute risk difference, 0.15% [CI, 0.01% to 0.29%]; adjusted odds ratio, 1.3 [CI, 1.0 to 1.6]). There were no differences between groups in the risk for all-cause mortality or receiving dialysis for severe acute kidney injury. In a subpopulation of 1110 patients (fibrates, n = 220; ezetimibe, n = 890), 9.1% of fibrate users and 0.3% of ezetimibe users had an increase in serum creatinine level of 50% or more (absolute difference, 8.8% [CI, 4.5% to 13.1%]; odds ratio, 29.6 [CI, 8.7 to 100.5]). Risks were greater among fibrate users with chronic kidney disease. LIMITATIONS: Because hospitalizations for an increase in serum creatinine level were underestimated, absolute differences may be misleading. Most patients (91%) were prescribed fenofibrate. Serum creatinine levels were measured as part of routine care and were not available for everyone or at predefined times. CONCLUSION: New fibrate use in elderly adults was associated with an increase in serum creatinine level and a small 90-day absolute increase in hospitalizations and nephrologist consultations. There was no detectable effect on dialysis for severe acute kidney injury or on mortality. The mechanism and clinical significance of the increase in serum creatinine level with fibrates is unclear. PRIMARY FUNDING SOURCE: Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care Drug Innovation Fund.

Global trends in rates of peritoneal dialysis.

Although there is a perception that the use of peritoneal dialysis is declining worldwide, compilations of global data are unavailable to test this hypothesis. We assessed longitudinal trends in the use of peritoneal dialysis from 1997 to 2008 in 130 countries. The preferred data sources were renal registries, followed by nephrology societies, health ministries, academic centers, national experts, and industry affiliates. In 2008, there were approximately 196,000 peritoneal dialysis patients worldwide, representing 11% of the dialysis population. In total, 59% were treated in developing countries and 41% in developed countries. Over 12 years, the number of peritoneal dialysis patients increased in developing countries by 24.9 patients per million population and in developed countries by 21.8 per million population. The proportion of all dialysis patients treated with peritoneal dialysis did not change in developing countries but significantly declined in developed countries by 5.3%. The use of automated peritoneal dialysis increased by 14.5% in developing countries and by 30.3% in developed countries. In summary, the number of patients treated with peritoneal dialysis rose worldwide from 1997 to 2008, with a 2.5-fold increase in the prevalence of peritoneal dialysis patients in developing countries. The proportion of all dialysis patients treated with this modality continues to decline in developed countries.

Blood pressure, volume, and sodium control in an automated peritoneal dialysis population.

OBJECTIVES: To examine the control of blood pressure and volume, and the role of sodium removal in a single, large, contemporary, automated peritoneal dialysis (APD) population where icodextrin is used liberally and there is a policy to avoid long duration glucose-based daytime dwells. DESIGN: Observational cross-sectional study. SETTING: A university hospital. PATIENTS: 56 APD patients, with a mean duration on peritoneal dialysis of 1.9 years; 50% were prescribed icodextrin. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Blood pressure, extracellular water volume (ECW)-to-intracellular water volume (ICW) ratio, and total (peritoneal and urinary) sodium removal. RESULTS: Sodium Removal: Mean total sodium removal, while low at 102.9 +/- 64.6 mmol/day, showed a wide range, with 41% having a sodium removal of >120 mmol/day. Total sodium removal correlated with total body water, ECW, and ICW (p < 0.001, p < 0.001, p < 0.025, respectively), as well as with height and weight (p < 0.06, p < 0.01 respectively). On multivariate analysis, only ultrafiltration volume and urine volume were significantly associated with total sodium removal (r(2) = 0.67, p < 0.0001 for both). There was also a correlation between sodium removal and urea nitrogen appearance (r(2) = 0.31, p < 0.001), with urea nitrogen appearance in turn being closely correlated with ICW (p < 0.001). Volume Status: The ECW/ICW ratio was 0.88 +/- 0.17, which was not significantly different to that found in hemodialysis patients without clinical evidence of fluid overload, either predialysis (0.96 +/- 0.16) or postdialysis (0.92 +/- 0.16); p = 0.07 and 0.36 respectively. Blood Pressure: Mean +/- standard deviation systolic blood pressure (BP) was 111.9 +/- 18.2 mmHg and diastolic BP was 63.3 +/- 11.9 mmHg, with only 4 (7%) patients having a systolic BP > 140 mmHg and 1 (2%) having a diastolic BP > 80 mmHg. Median number of antihypertensives was 1 per day. Blood pressure control and ECW/ICW ratio were similar in those with sodium removal >120 mmol/day compared to those with sodium removal < or =120 mmol/day (p = 0.39 for SBP, p = 0.70 for diastolic BP, p = 0.24 for ECW/ICW). CONCLUSIONS: We have shown that good blood pressure and volume control is achievable in a large contemporary APD population with liberal use of icodextrin and avoidance of long daytime glucose-based dwells. Neither low nor high sodium removal was associated with more frequent hypertension or volume expansion.