In sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), epidemiological data for chronic kidney disease (CKD) are scarce. We conducted a prospective cross-sectional study including 952 patients in an outpatient clinic in Tanzania to explore CKD prevalence estimates and the association with cardiovascular and infectious disorders. According to KDIGO, we measured albumin-to-creatinine ratio and calculated eGFR using CKD-EPI formula. Factors associated with CKD were calculated by logistic regression. Venn diagrams were modelled to visualize interaction between associated factors and CKD. Overall, the estimated CKD prevalence was 13.6% (95% CI 11–16%). Ninety-eight patients (11.2%) (95% CI 9–14%) were categorized as moderate, 12 (1.4%) (95% CI 0–4%) as high, and 9 (1%) (95% CI 0–3%) as very high risk according to KDIGO. History of tuberculosis (OR 3.75, 95% CI 1.66–8.18; p = 0.001) and schistosomiasis (OR 2.49, 95% CI 1.13–5.18; p = 0.02) were associated with CKD. A trend was seen for increasing systolic blood pressure (OR 1.02 per 1 mmHg, 95% CI 1.00–1.03; p = 0.01). Increasing BMI (OR 0.92 per 1kg/m2, 95% CI 0.88–0.96; p = <0.001) and haemoglobin (OR 0.82 per 1g/dL, 95% CI 0.72–0.94; p = 0.004) were associated with risk reduction. Diabetes was associated with albuminuria (OR 2.81, 95% CI 1.26–6.00; p = 0.009). In 85% of all CKD cases at least one of the four most common factors (hypertension, diabetes, anaemia, and history of tuberculosis or schistosomiasis) was associated with CKD. A singular associated factor was found in 61%, two in 14%, and ≥3 in 10% of all CKD cases. We observed a high prevalence estimate for CKD and found that both classical cardiovascular and neglected infectious diseases might be associated with CKD in a semi-rural population of SSA. Our finding provides further evidence for the hypothesis that the “double burden” of non-communicable and endemic infectious diseases might affect kidney health in SSA.

Survival on chronic haemodialysis treatment in Switzerland compares favourably to international reference values. Dialysis withdrawal and the frequency of kidney transplantation impact long term patient outcome and should be adjusted for when comparing mortality analysis.

Tac-based immunosuppression seems to improve graft survival and to preserve graft function in ECD kidneys with low immunological risk.

IntroductionEpidemiological data about diabetes mellitus (DM) for sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) are scarce and the utility of glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) to diagnose DM is uncertain in African populations with a high proportion of anemia.Research design and methodsIn a cross-sectional study, age-adjusted prevalence rates and predictors for DM and pre-DM were prospectively assessed by HbA1c in a semirural walk-in population of Tanzania (n=992). Predictors for DM were calculated by logistic regression. Correlations between HbA1c, hemoglobin, and blood glucose levels were done by Pearson’s correlation.ResultsOverall, DM and pre-DM prevalence rates were 6.8% (95% CI 5.3 to 8.5) and 25% (95% CI 22.8 to 28.3), respectively. There was an increase in DM prevalence in patients 50–59 (14.9%; 95% CI 9.1 to 22.5), ≥60 years old (18.5%; 95% CI 12.2 to 26.2) and in patients with overweight (9.3%; 95% CI 5.9 to 13.7), obesity (10.9%; 95% CI 6.9 to 16) compared with patients 18–29 years old (2.2%; 95% CI 0.9 to 4.4) (p<0.001) and to normal-weight patients (3.6%; 95% CI 2.1 to 5.6) (p<0.01), respectively. Age (OR 1.08, 95% CI 1.05 to 1.12; p<0.001), body mass index (BMI) (OR 1.10, 95% CI 1.04 to 1.16; p<0.001), and acute infection (OR 3.46, 95% CI 1.02 to 10.8; p=0.038) were predictors for DM. Comparing patients with a BMI of 20 kg/m2 and a BMI of 35 kg/m2, the relative risk for DM increases in average by 2.12-fold (range 1.91–2.24) across the age groups. Comparing patients 20 years old with patients 70 years old, the relative risk for DM increases in average 9.7-fold (range 8.9–10.4) across the BMI groups. Overall, 333 patients (36%) suffered from anemia. Pearson’s correlation coefficients (r) between HbA1c and hemoglobin was −0.009 (p=0.779), and between HbA1c and fasting blood glucose and random blood glucose, it was 0.775 and 0.622, respectively (p<0.001).ConclusionWe observed a high prevalence of DM and pre-DM, mainly triggered by increasing age and BMI, and provide evidence that HbA1c is suitable to assess DM also in populations of SSA with high proportions of anemia.Trial registration numberNCT03458338.

BackgroundThe American Fistula First Breakthrough Initiative currently aims for a 66% arterio-venous fistula (AVF) rate, while in the UK, best practice tariffs target AVF and arterio-venous graft (AVG) rates of 85%. The present study aims to assess whether these goals can be achieved.MethodsWe conducted a retrospective cohort study on patients who initiated haemodialysis from 1995 to 2006. Outcomes were the final failure-free survival of the first permanent access and the type of second access created. Prevalent use rates for the access types were calculated on the 1st January of each year for the second half of the study period.ResultsTwo hundred and eleven out of 246 patients (86%) received an AVF, 16 (6%) an AVG and 19 (8%) a permanent catheter (PC) as the first permanent access. Eighty-six (35%) patients had final failure of the primary access. One- and 3-year final failure-free survival rates were 73 and 65% for AVF compared with 40 and 20% for AVG and 62 and 0% for PC, respectively. In patients with primary AVF, female sex {hazard ratio (HR) 2.20 [confidence interval (CI) 1.29–3.73]} and vascular disease [HR 2.24 (CI 1.26–3.97)] were associated with a poorer outcome. A similar trend was observed for autoimmune disease [HR 2.14 (CI 0.99–4.65)]. As second accesses AVF, AVG and PC were created in 47% (n = 40), 38% (n = 33) and 15% (n = 13). The median prevalent use rate was 80.5% for AVF, 14% for AVG and 5.5% for PC.ConclusionsThe vascular access targets set by initiatives from the USA and UK are feasible in unselected haemodialysis patients. High primary AVF rates, the superior survival rates of AVFs even in patient groups at higher risk of access failure and the high rate of creation of secondary AVFs contributed to these promising results.

Delayed graft function (DGF) is considered as a risk factor for renal allograft rejection, but this association might be confounded by diagnostic biases (e.g., higher biopsy frequency in patients with DGF, inclusion of clinically diagnosed rejection episodes, and limited details on the rejection phenotype). This retrospective study including 329 deceased donor transplantations aimed to clarify a causal relationship between DGF and rejection. DGF occurred in 93/329 recipients (28%), whereas immediate graft function (IGF) in 236/329 recipients (72%). The percentage of patients with ≥1 allograft biopsy within the first year post-transplant was similar between the DGF and IGF group (96% vs. 94%; p=0.60). The cumulative one-yr incidence of biopsy-proven clinical (35% vs. 34%; p=0.62) and combined (sub)clinical rejection (58% vs. 60%; p=0.79) was not different between the two groups. Furthermore, there were no differences regarding rejection phenotypes/severities and time frame of occurrence. By multivariable Cox regression analysis, donor-specific HLA antibodies, younger recipient age, and immunosuppressive regimens were independent predictors for clinical rejection, while DGF was not. These results in an intermediate sized, but thoroughly investigated patient population challenge the concept that DGF is a risk factor for rejection and highlights the need for additional studies in this regard.

Aims: To evaluate the prevalence and predictors of airflow limitation among smokers aged >40 years visiting primary care practices in Switzerland, and the correlation between airflow limitation and patient-reported symptoms.Methods: General practitioners (GPs) were invited to participate in the study via letter. Airflow limitation was measured using an EasyOne™ spirometer without administration of a bronchodilator, and patient-reported symptoms were evaluated using an intervieweradministered questionnaire.Results: 15,084 subjects recruited by 440 GPs had acceptable quality spirometry traces; 8,031 of these (53%) had symptom data available and were included in this analysis. Only 18.5% of the GP consultations were for respiratory reasons. In total, 29% of individuals had prebronchodilator airflow limitation suggesting chronic obstructive pulmonary disease according to the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD)/Hardie interpretation. The interviewer-administered questionnaire indicated that 58% of individuals had at least one current symptom -cough, sputum production, or dyspnoea. There were no differences in lung function for patients answering yes or no to symptom questions.Conclusions: Pre-bronchodilator airflow limitation and patient-reported respiratory symptoms are frequent among smokers, but short dichotomous questions about symptoms are not useful for identifying patients with airflow limitation. Spirometry can identify patients with early airflow limitation in general practice. However, poor quality of spirometry, even with an automated feedback and quality control spirometer, remains an issue.

In our ESRD cohort, the percentage of INR in target range in patients treated with phenprocoumon seems comparable with published data on warfarin and data in non-ESRD populations. However, this finding has to be confirmed in larger studies powered for analysing the factors influencing INR control and the impact of INR control on bleeding and thromboembolic events in ESRD patients treated with phenprocoumon.