ASN Press Releases: 2021
Latest Release: STUDY COMPARES STRATEGIES TO ELIMINATE RACE-BASED ADJUSTMENTS IN ESTIMATES OF KIDNEY FUNCTION
Thursday, July 29, 2021
• Removal of race adjustments to equations that estimate kidney function would increase the number of people categorized as having chronic kidney disease. • There are several modifications for removing race that vary in their expected impact on predicted kidney function values and associated clinical decisions. • Among race-free equations, the one based on blood measurements of cystatin C would likely result in the smallest changes.
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- KIDNEY HEALTH: WHAT DOES A RANKING HAVE TO DO WITH IT?
Today, yet another set of hospital rankings were released. Included in these rankings is a limited look at kidney care options in the United States, focused on the less than 2% of Americans whose kidneys have failed, not the 33% of the US population who are at risk for kidney diseases, the ninth leading cause of death in the United States.
Tuesday, July 27, 2021 - MAJOR HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS CALL FOR COVID-19 VACCINE MANDATES FOR ALL HEALTH WORKERS
Groups include American Medical Association, American Nurses Association, American Academy of Pediatrics, Association of American Medical Colleges, National Association for Home Care and Hospice, and American Society of Nephrology
Monday, July 26, 2021 - "MISSING SELF" CONTRIBUTES TO ORGAN REJECTION AFTER TRANSPLANTATION
• After kidney transplantation, natural killer cells of the recipient become active because they miss "self" proteins on donor cells. • These cells contribute to organ rejection, in addition to traditional modes of rejection involving T cells and antibodies.
Thursday, July 22, 2021 - DAPAGLIFLOZIN FOUND EFFECTIVE AND SAFE IN ADULTS WITH ADVANCED KIDNEY DISEASE
• The sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitor dapagliflozin reduced kidney, cardiovascular, and mortality risks in patients with advanced chronic kidney disease, similar to benefits seen in individuals with normal or moderately impaired kidney function. • Rates of serious side effects were similar in patients with advanced chronic kidney disease who received dapagliflozin or placebo.
Friday, July 16, 2021 - NEW SCORE MEASURES HEALTH-RELATED QUALITY OF LIFE IN PATIENTS WITH KIDNEY FAILURE
• The results of a new study support the validity of a score that considers various patient-reported outcome measures and preferences for assessing health-related quality of life in individuals with kidney failure. • The score is calculated from assessments of cognitive function, depression, fatigue, pain interference, physical functioning, sleep disturbance, and ability to participate in social roles
Friday, July 16, 2021 - FOR PEOPLE WITH KIDNEY DISEASE, THERE IS NO SAFE AMOUNT OF LEAD IN DRINKING WATER
• In this analysis of U.S. adults with advanced kidney disease, even low levels of lead in community drinking water had a negative effect on health. • Higher lead levels were found in the drinking water of predominantly Black communities compared with predominantly white communities
Thursday, July 15, 2021 - CHANGING DEMOGRAPHICS OF PHYSICIAN-SCIENTISTS DOING KIDNEY RESEARCH IN THE UNITED STATES
• The physician-scientist workforce doing kidney research in the United States is increasingly made up of women and international medical graduates. • However, this workforce is older, declining in relative number, and is less overwhelmingly focused on basic rather than clinical science.
Wednesday, July 14, 2021 - FOR INDIVIDUALS UNDERGOING DIALYSIS, MORE FREQUENT VISITS WITH KIDNEY SPECIALISTS DOES NOT IMPROVE PATIENT-REPORTED EXPERIENCES
• Patients with kidney failure did not report better experience with care from more frequent face-to-face visits with kidney specialists at dialysis facilities. • In fact, more frequent visits were linked with slightly lower patient-reported experiences with kidney-related care.
Monday, July 12, 2021 - PATIENTS WITH KIDNEY DISEASE—EVEN WITHOUT ANEMIA—MAY BENEFIT FROM IRON TREATMENT
• Among individuals with chronic kidney disease, iron deficiency was linked with higher risks of death and cardiovascular events, in patients with and without anemia. • Clinical trials are needed to test the effects of iron treatment, even in the absence of anemia, in patients with chronic kidney disease.
Thursday, July 8, 2021 - KIDNEYCURE ANNOUNCES 2021 GRANT RECIPIENTS
• KidneyCure (the ASN Foundation) is honored to continue its support of investigators committed to advancing kidney health. Building on decades of success, KidneyCure makes it possible to improve knowledge and treatment by identifying and funding high-impact projects. • Investigators funded by KidneyCure are making a difference in key areas that impact care for millions. KidneyCure is proud to support excellence and innovation, and to extend the advances that the foundation has propelled since its inception.
Thursday, July 1, 2021 - STUDY EXAMINES SYMPTOMS BEFORE AND AFTER KIDNEY TRANSPLANTATION
• In a study of patients waiting for a kidney transplant, those who experienced various symptoms had a higher risk of dying while on the waitlist. • Symptoms tended to increase or remain unchanged between transplant evaluation and transplantation; however, at 3 months after transplantation, 9 of 11 symptoms lessened.
Friday, June 18, 2021 - STUDY EXAMINES HEART AND KIDNEY OUTCOMES OF ADULTS WITH NEPHROTIC SYNDROME
• Primary nephrotic syndrome is characterized by high urinary excretion of protein, low protein in the blood, high cholesterol, and swelling in the arms and legs. • A new analysis highlights the high risk of kidney failure and different cardiovascular complications in patients with primary nephrotic syndrome.
Friday, June 18, 2021 - MANY U.S. PATIENTS WITH HIGH PRIORITY FOR KIDNEY TRANSPLANTS ARE NOT PLACED ON THE TRANSPLANT WAITING LIST
• Among U.S. adults with kidney failure, many of those who have the longest expected post-transplant survival are not being placed on the kidney transplant waiting list. • African Americans, patients lacking commercial health insurance, and those residing in lower income communities are less likely to be waitlisted.
Thursday, June 17, 2021 - AMERICAN SOCIETY OF NEPHROLOGY (ASN) COMMITS $2,700,000 TO ITS NEW LOAN MITIGATION PILOT PROGRAM FOCUSED ON BUILDING EXCELLENCE IN NEPHROLOGY
• The five-year innovative pilot program offers financial support for trainees entering the field of nephrology, focusing on individuals historically underrepresented in medicine. • Six candidates selected in the first year of the program will each receive $50,000 over the course of three years toward the repayment of eligible student loans.
Wednesday, June 16, 2021 - STUDY EXAMINES THE EFFECTS OF COVID-19 ON HUMAN KIDNEY CELLS
• The virus that causes COVID-19 can infect and replicate in human kidney cells, but this does not typically lead to cell death. • Kidney cells that already have features of injury may be more easily infected and develop additional injury.
Thursday, June 10, 2021 - IMMUNE RESPONSES AFTER COVID-19 VACCINATION IN KIDNEY TRANSPLANT RECIPIENTS AND PATIENTS ON DIALYSIS
• A large majority of patients with kidney failure on dialysis—but not kidney transplant recipients—developed antibody responses to SARS-CoV-2 after COVID-19 vaccination. • Vaccination also led to strong T cell responses against the virus that causes COVID-19 in all patients on dialysis, and in nearly 58% of kidney transplant recipients.
Wednesday, June 9, 2021 - STUDY EXAMINES COVID-19 AMONG PATIENTS RECEIVING HOME DIALYSIS
• Patients with kidney failure who are undergoing dialysis—whether at dialysis clinics or at home—face a higher risk of developing COVID-19 and a higher risk of dying from the disease.
Wednesday, June 9, 2021 - DISPARITIES IN COVID-19 RATES AMONG ADULTS WITH KIDNEY FAILURE IN NEW YORK CITY
• Among adults with kidney failure undergoing hemodialysis in New York City, Black and Hispanic patients were more likely to develop symptomatic COVID-19 than White patients. • Neighborhood-level social vulnerability factors were associated with COVID-19 incidence among White patients, but these factors did not explain racial/ethnic disparities.
Friday, June 4, 2021 - STUDY PROVIDES NEW INSIGHTS ON COVID-19 RISK IN PATIENTS RECEIVING DIALYSIS
• Among individuals with kidney failure who received dialysis at clinics several times each week, COVID-19 risks were higher in patients who were older, had diabetes, lived in local communities with higher COVID-19 rates, and received dialysis at clinics that served a larger number of patients. • Risks were lower in patients who received dialysis in clinics with a higher number of available side rooms and that had mask policies for asymptomatic patients.
Tuesday, June 1, 2021 - DEPRESSIVE SYMPTOMS LINKED TO RAPID KIDNEY FUNCTION DECLINE
• Among individuals with healthy kidneys, those with more frequent depressive symptoms were more likely to show signs of rapid kidney function decline over a median follow-up of 4 years
Friday, May 28, 2021 - STUDY FINDS LOWER RATES OF KIDNEY TRANSPLANT REFERRALS AT FOR-PROFIT VS. NON-PROFIT DIALYSIS FACILITIES
• Among patients receiving dialysis in the Southeastern United States, those at for-profit dialysis facilities were less likely to be referred for kidney transplantation than those at non-profit facilities. • Rates of starting medical evaluations soon after referral and placing patients on a waitlist after evaluations were similar between the groups.
Wednesday, May 26, 2021 - THE EFFECTS OF ELIMINATING RACE-BASED ADJUSTMENTS IN ESTIMATES OF KIDNEY FUNCTION
• Clinical equations that estimate individuals' kidney function include an adjustment for Black race. This study examined the impact of dropping this race adjustment on patient care. • The estimated prevalence of chronic kidney disease among Black adults would double if race adjustments were eliminated. • Eliminating race adjustments could lead to major changes in medication prescribing for Black patients, but it would not negatively affect the accuracy of kidney failure predictions.
Thursday, May 6, 2021 - PHARMACIST-LED SMARTPHONE APP BENEFITS KIDNEY TRANSPLANT RECIPIENTS
• A pharmacist-led smartphone health app helped prevent medication errors, medication-related side effects, and hospitalizations in a study of kidney transplant recipients.
Thursday, April 29, 2021 - COVID-19 VACCINE HESITANCY AMONG PATIENTS UNDERGOING DIALYSIS
• Twenty percent of patients undergoing dialysis who responded to a survey were hesitant to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. • Vaccine acceptability was lower among younger age groups, women, and among individuals who were Black, and Native American and Pacific Islander.
Thursday, April 29, 2021 - TRIAL TESTS INTERVENTION TO REDUCE SEDENTARY TIME AMONG PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE
• Sedentary time decreased, stepping time increased, and number of steps per day increased among patients with chronic kidney disease assigned to the 'Sit Less, Interact, Move More' intervention. • These effects were not sustained after 20 weeks, however.
Thursday, April 22, 2021 - STUDY ESTIMATES DURATION OF EMPLOYMENT LOSS EXPERIENCED BY ADULTS WITH KIDNEY FAILURE
• Adults with kidney failure are employed for fewer years during their lifetime than others in the general population. • This "lower lifetime employment duration" was mainly due to their loss of life expectancy.
Thursday, April 15, 2021 - Advocates from ASN Urges Congress to Change the Status Quo in Kidney Health
• More than 37 million Americans live with kidney diseases. • 800,000 Americans have kidney failure, a condition for which there is no cure. • Kidney diseases disproportionately affect communities of color. • COVID-19, especially deadly for people with kidney diseases, has highlighted the urgent need for change.
Wednesday, April 14, 2021 - Removing Race from Estimates of Kidney Function: What Happens Next?
The American Society of Nephrology (ASN) and the National Kidney Foundation (NKF) announce the concurrent publication of "Special Article: Reassessing the Inclusion of Race in Diagnosing Kidney Diseases: An Interim Report from the NKF-ASN Task Force" in the Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (JASN) and the American Journal of Kidney Diseases (AJKD)
Friday, April 9, 2021 - THE IMPACT OF COVID-19 ON PEOPLE WITH KIDNEY FAILURE
• Among patients undergoing dialysis, the rate of COVID-19 hospitalizations peaked between March 22 and April 25, and it was 40-times higher than the rate in the general population. • Compared before the COVID-19 pandemic, the risks of dying from any cause were 17% and 30% higher during the second quarter of 2020 among patients receiving dialysis and patients with kidney transplants, respectively. • COVID-19 hospitalization and death rates both exhibited racial disparities.
Thursday, April 8, 2021 - STUDY EXAMINES ANTIBODY RESPONSE TO COVID-19 VACCINATION IN PATIENTS WITH KIDNEY FAILURE
• Most patients with kidney failure who were undergoing hemodialysis developed a positive antibody response after being vaccinated for COVID-19, but their response was lower than that of individuals without kidney disease.
Tuesday, April 6, 2021 - Winners announced in second round of the KidneyX COVID-19 Kidney Care Challenge
ASN and HHS are funding innovators who will transform kidney care
Tuesday, April 6, 2021 - NEW TOOL ASSESSES PATIENTS' HOME DIALYSIS EXPERIENCE
• A newly developed tool assesses patients' home dialysis experience. • The 26-item Home Dialysis Care Experience instrument will be a resource for future research use, clinical care, and quality improvement initiatives among home dialysis facilities and organizations.
Tuesday, March 30, 2021 - AEROBIC EXERCISE MAY HELP ADDRESS DIALYSIS-RELATED SYMPTOMS IN PATIENTS WITH KIDNEY FAILURE
• An analysis of published clinical trials suggests that aerobic exercise lessens several hemodialysis-related symptoms, including restless leg syndrome, symptoms of depression, muscle cramping, and fatigue. • More research, with more diverse patients, is needed to determine the extent of benefits from aerobic exercise for individuals with kidney failure who are undergoing dialysis.
Thursday, March 25, 2021 - NEW APP HELPS PREVENT MEDICATION HARM AND IMPROVE SAFETY IN PATIENTS WITH KIDNEY DISEASE
• A one-year trial found that the eKidneyCare smartphone app helped patients with chronic kidney disease take their prescribed medications properly. • The app may help to prevent adverse drug reactions and other medication errors that can endanger patients.
Thursday, March 18, 2021 - Removing Race from Estimates of Kidney Function
A joint statement from the presidents of the American Society of Nephrology and the National Kidney Foundation March 9, 2021
Tuesday, March 9, 2021 - A CALL TO ACTION TO ADDRESS RACIAL INEQUITIES IN MEDICAL TESTS
Clinical algorithms that adjust for race can lead to disparities in care.
Friday, March 5, 2021 - ASSESSING PATIENTS' KIDNEY HEALTH MAY HELP PREDICT THEIR RISK OF CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE
• Adding measures of kidney function to traditional measures of cardiovascular health could help clinicians predict an individual's risk of developing cardiovascular disease.
Thursday, March 4, 2021 - PATIENTS WITH SICKLE CELL–RELATED KIDNEY FAILURE BENEFIT FROM TRANSPLANTS BUT ARE LESS LIKELY TO RECEIVE THEM
• Patients with kidney failure associated with sickle cell disease benefit from kidney transplants, but they're less likely than other patients to receive them.
Thursday, February 25, 2021 - AMERICAN SOCIETY OF NEPHROLOGY LEADS EFFORTS TO ADVANCE EQUITABLE DISTRIBUTION OF COVID-19 VACCINES TO DIALYSIS PATIENTS
45 organizations send the Biden-Harris Administration a letter urging a swift release of a federal COVID-19 vaccine allocation.
Thursday, February 25, 2021 - WAITLIST POLICIES MAY CONTRIBUTE TO RACIAL DISPARITIES IN ACCESS TO KIDNEY TRANSPLANTATION
• Racial disparities in access to kidney transplantation persist in the United States. New research indicates that registering Black patients on the kidney transplant waitlist at a slightly higher level of kidney function compared with white patients might lessen racial inequality in patients' wait time prior to kidney failure onset, and ultimately improve racial equity in access to kidney transplantation.
Tuesday, February 23, 2021 - POST-TRANSPLANT MORTALITY AMONG VETERANS ENROLLED IN THE VA AND MEDICARE
• Veterans who receive all of their post–kidney transplant care within the Veterans Health Administration (VA) have a lower risk of death than those who receive care outside the VA through Medicare coverage, according to a recent study.
Thursday, February 18, 2021 - RECENT EFFORTS HAVEN'T IMPROVED ACCESS TO KIDNEY TRANSPLANTATION
• Despite wide recognition, policy reforms, and extensive research to address barriers in patients' access to kidney transplantation, investigators found no improvement in rates of wait list placement and transplantation over 2 decades. • Moreover, rates among vulnerable populations are especially low.
Thursday, February 11, 2021 - AMERICAN SOCIETY OF NEPHROLOGY CALLS ON BIDEN-HARRIS ADMINISTRATION TO INCREASE TRANSPLANT AVAILABILITY AND EQUITY
On behalf of U.S. kidney professionals and the nearly 800,000 Americans with kidney failure, the American Society of Nephrology urges implementation of the Organ Procurement Organization final rule that will increase organs available for transplant and reduce transplant inequities.
Wednesday, February 3, 2021 - HHS AND THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF NEPHROLOGY ANNOUNCE EIGHT WINNERS IN ROUND 1 OF THE KIDNEYX COVID-19 KIDNEY CARE CHALLENGE
The $300,000 challenge has identified creative solutions that reduce risk during the pandemic
Friday, January 29, 2021 - STUDY EXAMINES SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF DISPARITIES IN KIDNEY TRANSPLANTATION
• Race and social determinants of health were associated with the likelihood of undergoing kidney transplantation among US adults with kidney failure. • Interventions that target social determinants of health may improve access to kidney transplantation.
Thursday, January 28, 2021 - SUSAN E. QUAGGIN, MD, FASN, TO LEAD AMERICAN SOCIETY OF NEPHROLOGY IN 2021; LOOKS AHEAD TO DRAMATICALLY POSITIVE CHANGES IN KIDNEY CARE
Dr. Quaggin will lead more than 21,000 kidney professionals during an exciting period of change and innovation.
Tuesday, January 5, 2021
