Diagnosis of cardiac disease in pediatric end-stage renal disease.

BACKGROUND: Cardiac disease is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in children with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). This study aimed to report the frequency of cardiac disease diagnostic methods used in US pediatric maintenance hemodialysis patients. METHODS: A cross-sectional analysis of all US pediatric (ages 0.7-18 years, n = 656) maintenance hemodialysis patients was performed using data from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services ESRD Clinical Performance Measures Project. Clinical and laboratory information was collected in 2001. Results were analysed by age, sex, race, Hispanic ethnicity, dialysis duration, body mass index (BMI), primary ESRD cause and laboratory data. RESULTS: Ninety-two percent of the patients had a cardiovascular risk factor (63% hypertension, 38% anemia, 11% BMI > 94th percentile, 63% serum phosphorus > 5.5 mg/dL and 55% calcium-phosphorus product ≥ 55 mg(2)/dL(2)). A diagnosis of cardiac disease was reported in 24% (n = 155) of all patients: left ventricular hypertrophy/enlargement 17%, congestive heart failure/pulmonary edema 8%, cardiomyopathy 2% and decreased left ventricular function 2%. Thirty-one percent of patients were not tested. Of those tested, the diagnostic methods used were chest X-rays in 60%, echocardiograms in 35% and electrocardiograms in 33%; left ventricular hypertrophy/enlargement was diagnosed using echocardiogram (72%), chest X-ray (20%) and electrocardiogram (15%). CONCLUSIONS: Although 92% of patients had cardiovascular risk factors, an echocardiography was performed in only one-third of the patients. Our study raises the question of why echocardiography, considered the gold standard for cardiac disease diagnosis, has been infrequently used in pediatric maintenance dialysis patients, a high-risk patient population.

Hypertension in pediatric long-term hemodialysis patients in the United States.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Data are limited regarding BP distribution and the prevalence of hypertension in pediatric long-term dialysis patients. This study aimed to examine BP distribution in U.S. pediatric long-term hemodialysis patients. DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS, & MEASUREMENTS: This cross-sectional study of all U.S. pediatric (aged 0-< 18 yr, n = 624) long-term hemodialysis patients was performed as part of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) Clinical Performance Measures Project. BP and clinical information were collected monthly in October, November, and December 2001. Hypertension was defined as the mean of pre- and postdialysis systolic or diastolic BP above the 95th percentile for age, height, and sex, or antihypertensive medication use. Results were calculated by age, sex, race, ethnicity, ESRD duration, body mass index percentile, primary cause of ESRD, and laboratory data. RESULTS: Hypertension was present in 79% of patients; 62% used antihypertensive medication. Five percent of patients were prehypertensive (mean BP at 90th to 95th percentile). Hypertension was uncontrolled in 74% of treated patients. Characteristics associated with hypertension included acquired kidney disease, shorter duration of ESRD, and lower mean hemoglobin and calcium values. Characteristics associated with uncontrolled hypertension were younger age and shorter duration of ESRD. CONCLUSIONS: Hypertension is common in U.S. pediatric long-term hemodialysis patients, uncontrolled in 74% of treated patients, and untreated in 21% of hypertensive patients. It is concluded that a more aggressive approach to treatment of hypertension is warranted in pediatric long-term hemodialysis patients.