Effectiveness of a computerized decision support system for anticoagulation management in hemodialysis patients: A before-after study.

Introduction The risk-benefit profile for warfarin anticoagulation in hemodialysis (HD) patients differs compared with the non-HD population. HD patients are at increased risk of both thromboembolism and bleeding related to anticoagulation therapy. In addition, anticoagulation control may be more difficult to achieve in the HD population due to frequent comorbidities, subclinical Vitamin K deficiency, altered pharmacokinetics due to uremia and the concurrent use of multiple medications. While computerized decision support systems (CDSS) to assist with anticoagulation management are safe and effective in the non-HD population, they have not been well studied in HD outpatients. Methods A before-after study compared anticoagulation control for HD outpatients receiving warfarin at a tertiary medical center in Canada during two time periods: an initial period of nephrologist-led anticoagulation management and a second period after implementation of a pharmacist-led, CDSS-assisted anticoagulation management strategy. Findings Forty-two patients were included. Following implementation of the CDSS-assisted strategy, there was no significant change in median therapeutic time-in-range (3.7% difference (IQR, -9.5% to 20.6%); P = 0.247). Median change in INR testing frequency was 1.2 (IQR, 0.1-2.2; P = 0.0001) fewer tests per patient per month, which equates to approximately 15 fewer tests per patient per year. Adverse events were similar. Discussion Implementing a CDSS-assisted strategy for anticoagulation management in HD outpatients is effective. Doing so may lead to modest cost savings related to less frequent INR testing.

Predicting kidney transplantation outcomes using proteinuria ascertained from spot urine samples versus timed urine collections.

BACKGROUND: Proteinuria has been associated with transplant loss and mortality in kidney transplant recipients. Both spot samples (albumin-creatinine ratio [ACR] and protein-creatinine ratio [PCR]) and 24-hour collections (albumin excretion rate [AER] and protein excretion rate [PER]) have been used to quantify protein excretion, but which measurement is a better predictor of outcomes in kidney transplantation remains uncertain. STUDY DESIGN: Observational cohort study. SETTING & PARTICIPANTS: Tertiary care center, 207 kidney transplant recipients who were enrolled in a prospective study to measure glomerular filtration rate. Consecutive patients who met inclusion criteria were approached. PREDICTORS: ACR and PCR in spot urine samples, AER and PER in 24-hour urine collections. OUTCOMES: Primary outcome included transplant loss, doubling of serum creatinine level, or death. MEASUREMENTS: Urine and serum creatinine were measured using a modified Jaffé reaction that had not been standardized by isotope-dilution mass spectrometry. Urine albumin was measured by immunoturbidimetry. Urine protein was measured by pyrogallol red molybdate complex formation using a timed end point method. RESULTS: Mean follow-up was 6.4 years and 22% developed the primary end point. Multivariable-adjusted areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves were similar for the different protein measurements: ACR (0.85; 95% CI, 0.79-0.89), PCR (0.84; 95% CI, 0.79-0.89), PER (0.86; 95% CI, 0.80-0.90), and AER (0.83; 95% CI, 0.78-0.88). C Index values also were similar for the different proteinuria measurements: 0.87 (95% CI, 0.79-0.95), 0.86 (95% CI, 0.79-0.94), 0.88 (95% CI, 0.82-0.94), and 0.86 (95% CI, 0.77-0.95) for log(ACR), log(PCR), log(PER), and log(AER), respectively. LIMITATIONS: Single-center study. Measurement of proteinuria was at variable times posttransplantation. CONCLUSIONS: Spot and 24-hour measurements of albumin and protein excretion are similar predictors of doubling of serum creatinine level, transplant loss, and death. Thus, spot urine samples are a suitable alternative to 24-hour urine collection for measuring protein excretion in this population.