ASN Press Releases: 2018
Latest Release: STUDY REVEALS HIGH RATES OF DEMENTIA IN OLDER ADULTS AFTER STARTING DIALYSIS
Thursday, August 9, 2018
Older adults who initiate dialysis for kidney failure face a higher likelihood of being diagnosed with dementia and Alzheimer's disease.
Certain risk factors were linked this higher risk.
Older hemodialysis patients with a diagnosis of dementia or Alzheimer's disease had a high risk of early death.
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- HOW SHOULD DOCTORS DISCUSS TREATMENT OPTIONS WITH OLDER KIDNEY FAILURE PATIENTS?
In an interview study of kidney specialists, 4 different approaches to discussing the option of dialysis versus conservative management for older patients with kidney failure were evident.
Nephrologists should reflect on their approach and understand the strengths and weaknesses of each.
Thursday, July 26, 2018
- AMERICAN SOCIETY OF NEPHROLOGY FOUNDATION FOR KIDNEY RESEARCH ANNOUNCES 2018 GRANT RECIPIENTS
• The ASN Foundation for Kidney Research announced the 2018 recipients of research grants to advance new understandings of—and treatments for—kidney diseases.
• The Foundation will fund 44 leading researchers working to cure kidney diseases. These include 25 new projects, 19 others continuing from 2016 and 2017.
• Established in 2012 by the American Society of Nephrology, the Foundation funds research that will help improve the health of the more than 20 million Americans burdened by kidney diseases, the 9th leading cause of death in the United States.
Thursday, July 26, 2018
- STUDY REVEALS LONG-TERM EFFECTIVENESS OF THERAPY FOR COMMON CAUSE OF KIDNEY FAILURE
Among individuals with autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease, those who were treated with tolvaptan for up to 11 years had a slower rate of kidney function decline compared with historical controls.
Annualized kidney function decline rates of tolvaptan-treated patients did not change during follow-up.
Thursday, July 19, 2018
- DIRECT ORAL ANTICOAGULANTS LINKED WITH HIGHER BLEEDING RISK IN PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE
Compared with warfarin use, direct oral anticoagulant use was linked with a 23% higher risk of bleeding in patients with chronic kidney disease.
There was no difference between direct oral anticoagulant and warfarin users in benefits from prevention of ischemic stroke.
Thursday, July 12, 2018
- CDC Awards ASN Contract for Continued Dialysis Bloodstream Infection Research
Contact: Christine Feheley • (202) 640-4638 • cfeheley@asn-online.org
CDC Awards ASN Contract for Continued Dialysis Bloodstream Infection Research
Washington, DC (July 12, 2018) ─ Bloodstream infections can be life-threatening to individuals undergoing kidney dialysis. Following infection control procedures is critical, yet best practices may not always occur at busy dialysis facilities.
The American Society of Nephrology's (ASN) Nephrologists Transforming Dialysis Safety (NTDS) initiative has been awarded a contract by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to study barriers to implementation of recommended practices to reduce dialysis-related infections.
The project, for which NTDS will partner with human factors researchers from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, will focus on four areas of patient safety: central venous catheter access and care, dialysis station disinfection, hand hygiene, and injection safety.
This work expands current NTDS infection prevention efforts and will consist of human factors engineers observing six dialysis facilities. Dialysis facilities chosen for this project will include a diverse representation of size, location, company affiliation, central venous catheter rates and blood stream infection rates. Assessments will begin this summer and are set to conclude in mid-July 2019.
"CDC has a strong interest in using human factors principles to help increase adoption of infection prevention practices in outpatient dialysis centers," said Priti Patel, MD, MPH, a medical officer with CDC's Division of Healthcare Quality Promotion and Director of the Making Dialysis Safer for Patients Coalition. "This new effort with NTDS is an important step toward advancing the safety of dialysis patients."
NTDS Project Chair Alan S. Kliger, MD, Clinical Professor of Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine and Vice President, Medical Director of Clinical Integration, Yale New Haven Health System, said the organization is tremendously excited about this new opportunity to transform the dialysis environment and engage physician leaders in targeting zero infections.
"Two years ago, the NTDS team initiated a partnership with the CDC in the critical arena of transforming safety in dialysis clinics," said Dr. Kliger. "Our work includes a successful series of educational webinars and Kidney Week symposia, a collection of journal articles by nationally-regarded physicians, the development of an infection prevention curriculum for fellows and pilot projects focused on effective leadership, culture change and its effect on blood stream infection reduction. We are excited to see where this research will lead."
Since 1966, the American Society of Nephrology (ASN) has been leading the fight to
prevent, treat, and cure kidney diseases throughout the world by educating health
professionals and scientists, advancing research and innovation, communicating new
knowledge, and advocating for the highest quality care for patients. ASN has nearly
18,000 members representing 112 countries. For more information, please visit
www.asn-online.org or contact 202-640-4660.
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Thursday, July 12, 2018
- American Society of Nephrology Peer-Reviewed Journals Continue Strong Impact
The Journal of the American Society of Nephrology
(JASN) maintains its prominent position in the field of nephrology in Impact Factor for
2017, with a score of 8.7 according to Journal Citation Reports® (JCR). This Impact Factor reflects the journal's influence, based on the average annual number of citations in 2017 to articles published in a journal during 2015 and 2016.
Tuesday, July 10, 2018
- RESEARCHERS DEVELOP GENE THERAPY METHOD TO TARGET KIDNEY CELLS Findings could lead to improved treatments for kidney diseases.
A synthetic adeno-associated virus was highly efficient at delivering genetic material to different kidney cell types in mice and humans.
The viral vector was also successfully used in gene therapy strategies to treat mice with kidney scarring.
Thursday, July 5, 2018
- KIDNEY DISEASE PATIENTS' EXPERIENCE OF CARE AND ILLNESS CAN TAKE A LARGE EMOTIONAL TOLL
Patients with advanced kidney disease described feelings of isolation, abandonment, alienation, mistrust, and even self-blame that would likely be surprising to the clinicians taking care of them.
Thursday, June 28, 2018
- The hidden epidemic: Worldwide, over 850 million people suffer from kidney diseases
Kidney diseases have so far been underestimated in many respects: most people are not aware of their impaired kidney function. In general, kidney diseases are "silent diseases", most often there are no apparent early symptoms. Many people with kidney diseases are not aware that they have been living with higher risks of cardiovascular diseases, infections, hospitalizations, and of course kidney failure which requires dialysis or transplantation.
Wednesday, June 27, 2018
- MEDICAID EXPANSION HAS HELPED LOW-INCOME KIDNEY FAILURE PATIENTS GET ON THE TRANSPLANT WAITLIST BEFORE STARTING DIALYSIS
In states that expanded Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act to cover more low-income individuals, there was an increase in the number of Medicaid beneficiaries who were preemptively waitlisted to receive a kidney transplant.
Medicaid expansion was associated with greater gains racial and ethnic minorities in being listed pre-emptively on the transplant waitlist compared with whites.
Thursday, June 21, 2018
- REDUCTION IN PROTEIN IN THE URINE IS A TREATMENT GOAL IN CHILDREN WITH KIDNEY DISEASE
The blood pressure–lowering medication ramipril reduced protein excretion—or proteinuria—in children with chronic kidney disease.
Greater reductions in proteinuria during the first months of treatment were linked with a lower risk of kidney disease progression.
Thursday, June 21, 2018
- THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF NEPHROLOGY ISSUES THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT IN RESPONSE TO THE NIH FUNDING INCREASE IN THE DRAFT FISCAL YEAR (FY) 2019 SPENDING BILL
The American Society of Nephrology (ASN) greatly appreciates the subcommittee's continued support of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) as a key national priority with an increase of $1.2 billion, or 3.2%, in the FY 2019 Labor-HHS spending bill. ASN is also grateful for the proposed 1.2% increase for the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), for a total allocation of $1.9 billion.
Friday, June 15, 2018
- STUDY UNCOVERS NEW INFORMATION CONCERNING CHILDHOOD KIDNEY DISEASE
Researchers have identified genetic variants linked to an increased risk of developing nephrotic syndrome, a pediatric kidney disease.
The variants are found in genomic regions involved in regulation of the immune response.
Thursday, June 14, 2018
- IN KIDNEY DISEASE PATIENTS, ILLICIT DRUG USE LINKED WITH DISEASE PROGRESSION AND EARLY DEATH
Among individuals with chronic kidney disease, hard illicit drug use was associated with higher risks of kidney disease progression and early death.
Tobacco smoking was associated with a higher risk of early death.
Alcohol drinking was associated with a lower risk of early death.
Thursday, June 7, 2018
- STUDY EXAMINES CONCERNS OF LIVING KIDNEY DONORS
Among living kidney donors, the post-donation concern that was considered most important was kidney health, followed by the surgical, lifestyle, functional, and psychosocial impacts of donation.
The hypothetical long-term risks associated with kidney removal—including mortality and cardiovascular disease—were of relatively lower importance.
Living kidney donor transplants comprise nearly one-quarter of kidney transplants performed worldwide.
Thursday, May 31, 2018
- DELIVERING STANDARDIZED CARE MAY REDUCE RACIAL DISPARITIES IN DIABETES-ASSOCIATED COMPLICATIONS
A secondary analysis of a clinical trial has shown that when all patients with type 2 diabetes received comparable diabetes-related care, black race was not associated with accelerated kidney function decline, and fewer black participants developed chronic kidney disease.
In the general population, blacks have a disproportionate burden of diabetes-related complications.
Thursday, May 24, 2018
- ACUTE KIDNEY INJURY DURING HOSPITALIZATION LINKED WITH HIGHER RISK OF HEART FAILURE AFTER DISCHARGE
Among hospitalized adults, those who experienced acute kidney injury were 44% more likely to be hospitalized for heart failure in the year after discharge.
Acute kidney injury is one of the most common and serious complications of hospitalized patients.
Thursday, May 17, 2018
- ORAL ANTIBIOTICS LINKED TO INCREASED KIDNEY STONE RISK
Highlights
• Use of oral antibiotics was linked with an increased risk of developing kidney stones.
• Risk decreased over time but was still elevated several years after antibiotic use.
• Risk was highest for young patients.
Washington, DC
Thursday, May 10, 2018
- SLEEP DURATION MAY AFFECT KIDNEY DISEASE PATIENTS' HEALTH-RELATED QUALITY OF LIFE
A new study indicates that sleep duration may influence the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) experienced by individuals with chronic kidney disease (CKD). The findings appear in an upcoming issue of the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (CJASN).
Thursday, May 3, 2018
- ASN and US Department of Health and Human Services Sign MOU to Launch Kidney Innovation Accelerator (KidneyX)
The American Society of Nephrology (ASN) is pleased to announce the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to establish the Kidney Innovation Accelerator (KidneyX). KidneyX will spur the development and commercialization of innovative technologies and therapeutics in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of kidney diseases.
Thursday, April 26, 2018
- OPIOIDS MAY CARRY UNIQUE RISKS FOR PATIENTS ON HEMODIALYSIS
Sixty-four percent of US patients undergoing hemodialysis in 2011 received opioids for pain, which is one of the most common reported symptoms in this patient population.
Opioid use was associated with higher risks of altered mental status, fall, and fracture in a dose-dependent manner, and these risks were present even when patients were not prescribed high opioid doses.
Thursday, April 19, 2018
- DIALYSIS PROVIDERS' AWARENESS OF RACIAL DISPARITIES IN TRANSPLANTATION IS LOW
Among 655 healthcare providers at dialysis clinics in the United States, 19% were aware of racial disparities in waitlisting.
Although a quarter of dialysis facilities had >5% racial difference in waitlisting within their own facilities, only 5% of the providers were aware of the disparity at their own facilities.
Nearly 70,000 US patients have end-stage renal disease, and most would benefit from kidney transplantation.
Thursday, April 12, 2018
- FINNISH STUDY REVEALS LARGE DROP IN INFECTION-RELATED DEATHS FOLLOWING KIDNEY TRANSPLANTATION
The risk of death due to infectious causes after kidney transplantation in Finland has dropped by half since the 1990s.
Common bacterial infections remain the most frequent cause of infection-related deaths among transplant recipients.
Infections are the most common non-cardiovascular causes of death after kidney transplantation
Thursday, April 5, 2018
- ASN and AAKP Advocates are on Capitol Hill Urging Congress to Support KidneyX
Advocates from the American Society of Nephrology (ASN) and the American Association of Kidney Patients (AAKP) are meeting with representatives, senators, and their respective staffs today to urge Congress to support KidneyX, a new public-private partnership to accelerate innovation in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of kidney diseases.
Wednesday, March 28, 2018
- EXPERTS ADDRESS THE URGENT NEED TO PREVENT INFECTIONS IN HEMODIALYSIS FACILITIES
Kidney failure patients undergoing hemodialysis are vulnerable to infectious threats, many of which may be life-threatening and spread to others in dialysis facilities
New articles provide important information on infections and their prevention in patients undergoing hemodialysis and transmission in dialysis facilities.
In the first year of hemodialysis, infection is the leading cause of death. In the prevalent hemodialysis population, it is a very close second most frequent cause.
Thursday, March 22, 2018
- STUDY ADDRESSES BARRIERS TO KIDNEY DISEASE SCREENING AMONG BLACK AMERICANS
In a study of Black Americans who participated in focus group sessions, certain participant factors—such as knowledge of kidney disease and spiritual and cultural influences—and logistical factors—such as convenience and awareness of scheduling—were identified as barriers that may prevent Black Americans from being screened for kidney disease.
Black Americans are at increased risk of developing chronic kidney disease and kidney failure.
Thursday, March 15, 2018
- MOST LIVING KIDNEY DONORS ARE WOMEN, AND MEN ARE DONATING LESS THAN BEFORE
Between 2005 and 2015, the unadjusted rate of living kidney donation in the United States was 30.1 and 19.3 per million population in women and men, respectively.
After adjusting for differences in age, race, the incidence of kidney failure, and geographic factors, the incidence of donation was 44% higher in women.
Over time, the incidence of donation was stable in women but declined in men. The decline was most marked in men from lower income groups.
Thursday, March 8, 2018
- ASN CELEBRATES WORLD KIDNEY DAY AND ITS THEME OF "KIDNEYS & WOMEN'S HEALTH"
In celebration of the World Kidney Day 2018's theme of "Kidneys & Women's Health: Include, Value, Empower," the American Society of Nephrology (ASN) is highlighting several articles in its journals, Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (CJASN) and Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (JASN), that are focused on women's kidney health.
Monday, March 5, 2018
- NEW RESEARCH MAY EXPLAIN THE LINK BETWEEN HEMODIALYSIS AND BRAIN FUNCTION DECLINE Hemodialysis causes decreased blood flow to the brain.
In a group of older patients undergoing hemodialysis, cerebral blood flow declined by 10%, from before the start to the end of hemodialysis.
Cerebral blood flow declined in all brain regions that were examined, including the frontal, parietal, temporal, and occipital lobes; cerebellum; and thalamus.
Thursday, March 1, 2018
- ANALYSIS FINDS LOWER IQ IN CHILDREN WITH CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE
An analysis of published studies indicates that children with chronic kidney disease may have lower intellectual functioning compared than children in the general population.
Compared with children with mild-to-moderate stage kidney disease and with kidney transplants, children on dialysis had the lowest IQ scores.
Deficits were evident for attention, memory, and executive function domains.
Thursday, February 22, 2018
- RESEARCH COMPARES MOUSE AND HUMAN KIDNEY DEVELOPMENT
Three new research articles compare human and mouse kidney development to identify shared and novel features.
The studies provide new detailed molecular data to guide future research.
The studies revealed deep conservation of certain processes, but also significant differences in gene expression during kidney development, as well as in the timing, scale, organization, and molecular profile of key cell types and cell structures.
Thursday, February 15, 2018
- BLOOD SODIUM LEVELS MAY AFFECT COGNITION IN OLDER ADULTS
In generally healthy older men, slightly lower sodium levels in the blood were related to both cognitive impairment and declines in cognitive function over time.
Additional studies are needed to determine whether correction of lower serum sodium may influence cognition in older adults.
Thursday, February 8, 2018
- METHOD ASSESSES HOW WELL DIALYSIS CLINICS REFER PATIENTS FOR TRANSPLANTATION
A new method may be useful for assessing dialysis facilities' performance concerning referrals to transplant centers. The method, which is described in an upcoming issue of the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (CJASN), may help improve patients' chances of receiving potentially life-saving kidney transplants.
Thursday, January 25, 2018
- STUDY EXAMINES EMPLOYMENT TRENDS AMONG PATIENTS WITH KIDNEY FAILURE
• Among working-aged adults who started dialysis between 1996 and 2013, employment was low throughout the study period at 23-24%, and 38% of patients who were employed 6 months prior to being diagnosed with kidney failure stopped working by the time they initiated dialysis.
• After accounting for differences in patients over time, the probability of employment in kidney failure patients increased slightly over time.
Thursday, January 18, 2018
- EXPERTS CALL FOR ACTION TO ADDRESS PHYSICIAN BURNOUT IN NEPHROLOGY
Kidney specialists face increasing work demands, high rates of burnout, and declining interest in nephrology as a career. A group of articles publishing in an upcoming issue of the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (CJASN) sheds light on how that these factors threaten to reduce job satisfaction and impair the delivery of high-quality care to patients with kidney diseases.
Thursday, January 11, 2018