CKD – Page 4 – Allocare

February 21, 2022August 16, 2022

How a Low-Protein Diet Can Delay Dialysis in Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease

At any given time, an estimated 15% of the US adult population has chronic kidney disease (CKD). It manifests as reduced kidney function to below 60% of its normal range (estimated glomerular filtration rate < 60 mL/min/1.73 m²) or by spillage of protein into the urine. The many causes of CKD include diabetes, hypertension, glomerulonephritis, and cystic kidney diseases. CKD is an irreversible malady with no known cure, and it invariably worsens over time. CKD is associated with higher mortality risks as it advances. If the patient does not die of cardiovascular or infectious events, end-stage renal disease ensues and the patient requires maintenance dialysis therapy or kidney transplantation to survive.

Each year, 130,000 Americans transition to dialysis, which is not only costly but also associated with poor health-related quality of life and an early mortality of more than 20% in the first year. Hence, slowing CKD progression and preventing or delaying dialysis can have major favorable implications for CKD outcomes. Read more.

February 16, 2022August 16, 2022

Walking daily correlates with high health-related quality of life in adults with CKD

Adults with chronic kidney disease who walked between 7,000 and 12,000 steps a day reported high health-related quality of life, according to data published in the Journal of Renal Nutrition.

“Recent studies have shown that walking, as a daily form exercise in patients with CKD, may improve cardiopulmonary function, and regulate blood pressure, blood glucose and lipid levels in patients with CKD; moreover, it plays a vital role in enhancing the quality of life of CKD patients,” JiachuanXiong, MD, from the department of nephrology at the Key Laboratory for the Prevention and Treatment of CKD of Chongqing Clinical Research Center of Kidney and Urology Diseases in Xinqiao Hospital at Army Medical University in China, and colleagues wrote. Read the full story.

November 10, 2021August 16, 2022

Chronic Kidney Disease and the Importance of Early Detection

“Approximately 1 in 7 adults in the United States has chronic kidney disease, which occurs when kidneys have become damaged over time and do not work as well as healthy kidneys. Kidney failure may lead to anemia, high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, and early death. People may not feel sick or notice any symptoms. Therefore, it can go undetected until it has advanced.

However, if caught in its early stages, kidney damage can be kept from getting worse by following a healthy diet and taking the proper medicine. We sit down with Erich, a chronic kidney disease patient of 30 years, and his wife and care provider Andria to hear their story. We also meet with Dr. Cosette Jamieson, a nephrologist who specializes in chronic kidney disease, to learn about the importance of early diagnosis and management strategies for patients.”

Learn more here.

November 9, 2021August 16, 2022

Investigational Oral CKD-Anemia Agent Effective, Safe

“The investigational hypoxia-inducible factor prolyl-hydroxylase inhibitor (HIF-PHI) daprodustat was safe and as effective as erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESAs) for anemia, according to the phase III ASCEND program.

In the first of the two ASCEND trials looking at patients with chronic kidney disease undergoing dialysis, patients treated with oral daprodustat had a mean change in hemoglobin level of 0.28±0.02 g/dL from baseline to weeks 28 through 52, reported Ajay Singh, MBBS, MBA, of Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston and chair of the ASCEND program’s Executive Steering Committee, and colleagues.”

Kidney Failure Patients Face High Rates of Insomnia

“Many kidney failure patients struggle with insomnia and other types of sleep disorder. Learn how common this is, the risks, what these patients go through, and how to manage it.

Are you or a loved one a chronic kidney disease (CKD) patient that struggles with sleeping well at night? Insomnia is a common sleep disorder among all individuals but especially those with kidney failure. It is characterized by persistent difficulty in falling asleep or staying asleep and poor subjective sleep quality. Learn more about insomnia and kidney failure, including the prevalence, causes, potential consequences, and treatment options.”

Learn more here.

August 27, 2021August 16, 2022

FDA OKs New Drug for CKD-Related Pruritus

“The FDA approved difelikefalin (Korsuva) on Monday for treating pruritus in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients, Cara Therapeutics and Vifor Pharma announced.

Difelikefalin is a first-in-class kappa opioid receptor (KOR) agonist that targets the peripheral nervous system, according to the two companies. Administered as an injection (0.5 μg/kg three times per week), the drug is indicated for moderate-to-severe pruritus in CKD patients on hemodialysis — the first therapy approved in this setting.”

Could Nixing Race-Adjustments for eGFR Harm Black Cancer Patients?

“Removing race from estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) equations would result in fewer Black patients being eligible for certain anticancer drugs, researchers have demonstrated.

Their analysis showed that for Black patients, removing race from the Chronic Kidney Disease-Epidemiology Collaboration (CKD-EPI) equation reduced median eGFR from 103 mL/min to 89 mL/min. In addition, removing the race factor doubled the percentage of black patients with an eGFR under 60 mL/min — a clinically relevant cut-off below which many drugs have recommended changes to dosage and eligibility, reported Thomas D. Nolin, PharmD, PhD, of the University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy, and colleagues.”

Learn more here.

August 14, 2021August 16, 2022

Weight Cycling Linked With Poor Outcomes in Chronic Kidney Disease

“Large fluctuations in body mass index (BMI) over time — otherwise known as weight cycling — were associated with poorer outcomes in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), according to an observational study.

In 84,636 predialysis patients with CKD followed for a median of 4 years, those in the highest quartile of BMI variability had an increased risk for all-cause mortality compared with the lowest quartile (HR 1.66, 95% CI 1.53-1.81, P<0.001), reported Dong Ki Kim, MD, PhD, of Seoul National University College of Medicine in South Korea, and colleagues.”

Blue Shield of California invests in Cricket Health expansion aimed at treating kidney disease

“Improving clinical outcomes for people with kidney disease results in lower costs for health plan partners, according to Cricket.

Today, Cricket Health closed an $83.5 million Series B funding round led by Valtruis, which will enable Cricket’s expansion to support demand for its care model for people with kidney disease.

Blue Shield of California made a strategic investment of an unspecified amount. The round also includes existing investors Oak HC/FT and Cigna Ventures, as well as K2 HealthVentures.

The expansion will improve clinical outcomes for people with kidney disease, resulting in lower costs for health plan partners, according to Cricket. In both Texas and California, across commercial and Medicare Advantage health plan partnerships, Cricket Health said it has shown improvements in key clinical measures for its populations living with kidney disease.”

Commentary: Critical Elements for a Bright Future in Renal Replacement Therapy

“Let’s start with a simple, tragic fact. Kidney failure affects far too many people. For the vast majority of human history, this meant a steady, irreversible buildup of fluids and toxins leading to an inevitable death. This is no longer the case today. Thanks to the pioneering efforts of scientists over the past 150+ years, millions of people worldwide are able to continue living with regular dialysis, and others—though far too few—receive transplants.

The story of how we’ve been able to get here, and the inflection point that the kidney disease care paradigm finds itself in today, is a testament not only to the innate desire within us to heal and alleviate suffering, but to the critical elements of curiosity, ingenuity and perseverance that are once again needed today, to recalibrate in a patient-focused way.”

Read full article, here.