Large cohort studies suggest that high convective volumes associated with online hemodiafiltration may reduce the risk of mortality/morbidity compared to optimal high-flux hemodialysis. By contrast, intradialytic tolerance is not well studied. The aim of the FRENCHIE (French Convective versus Hemodialysis in Elderly) study was to compare high-flux hemodialysis and online hemodiafiltration in terms of intradialytic tolerance. In this prospective, open-label randomized controlled trial, 381 elderly chronic hemodialysis patients (over age 65) were randomly assigned in a one-to-one ratio to either high-flux hemodialysis or online hemodiafiltration. The primary outcome was intradialytic tolerance (day 30-day 120). Secondary outcomes included health-related quality of life, cardiovascular risk biomarkers, morbidity, and mortality. During the observational period for intradialytic tolerance, 85% and 84% of patients in high-flux hemodialysis and online hemodiafiltration arms, respectively, experienced at least one adverse event without significant difference between groups. As exploratory analysis, intradialytic tolerance was also studied, considering the sessions as a statistical unit according to treatment actually received. Over a total of 11,981 sessions, 2,935 were complicated by the occurrence of at least one adverse event, with a significantly lower occurrence in online hemodiafiltration with fewer episodes of intradialytic symptomatic hypotension and muscle cramps. By contrast, health-related quality of life, morbidity, and mortality were not different in both groups. An improvement in the control of metabolic bone disease biomarkers and β2-microglobulin level without change in serum albumin concentration was observed with online hemodiafiltration. Thus, overall outcomes favor online hemodiafiltration over high-flux hemodialysis in the elderly.

The aim of this study was to estimate the incidence of COVID-19 disease in the French national population of dialysis patients, their course of illness and to identify the risk factors associated with mortality. Our study included all patients on dialysis recorded in the French REIN Registry in April 2020. Clinical characteristics at last follow-up and the evolution of COVID-19 illness severity over time were recorded for diagnosed cases (either suspicious clinical symptoms, characteristic signs on the chest scan or a positive reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction) for SARS-CoV-2. A total of 1,621 infected patients were reported on the REIN registry from March 16th, 2020 to May 4th, 2020. Of these, 344 died. The prevalence of COVID-19 patients varied from less than 1% to 10% between regions. The probability of being a case was higher in males, patients with diabetes, those in need of assistance for transfer or treated at a self-care unit. Dialysis at home was associated with a lower probability of being infected as was being a smoker, a former smoker, having an active malignancy, or peripheral vascular disease. Mortality in diagnosed cases (21%) was associated with the same causes as in the general population. Higher age, hypoalbuminemia and the presence of an ischemic heart disease were statistically independently associated with a higher risk of death. Being treated at a selfcare unit was associated with a lower risk. Thus, our study showed a relatively low frequency of COVID-19 among dialysis patients contrary to what might have been assumed.

Protein-energy wasting (PEW), defined as a loss of body protein mass and fuel reserves, is a powerful predictor of adverse outcomes in haemodialysis (HD) patients. Robust arguments suggest that intra-dialytic exercise, combined with oral/parenteral nutrition, enhances the effect of nutritional interventions in HD patients. This pilot randomized controlled trial investigated the feasibility and the effects of a 6 month intra-dialytic cycling program combined to a nutritional support on PEW, physical functioning (gait, balance, muscle strength) and quality of life (QoL) in older HD patients (mean age 69.7 ± 14.2 years).Twenty-one patients fulfilling diagnostic criteria of PEW were randomly assigned to Nutrition-Exercise group (GN-Ex , n = 10) or Nutrition group (GN , n = 11). Both groups received nutritional supplements in order to reach recommended protein and energy intake goals. In addition GN-Ex completed a cycling program. No significant difference between groups was found in the number of patients having reached remission of PEW. Likewise, no change was observed in serum-albumin, -prealbumin, C-reactive protein, body mass index, lean- and fat-tissue index, or quadriceps force. Interestingly, we found positive effects of exercise on physical function and QoL for the GN-Ex , as evidenced by a significant improvement in the 6-min walk test (+22%), the absence of decline in balance (unlike the GN ), and a noteworthy increase in QoL (+53%). Combining intra-dialytic exercise and nutrition in HD patients is feasible, and well accepted, improves physical function and QoL but it appears not to have the potential to reverse PEW.

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