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.

Background and objectives Adequate estimation of renal function in obese patients is essential for the classification of patients in CKD category as well as the dose adjustment of drugs. However, the body size descriptor for GFR indexation is still debatable, and formulas are not validated in patients with extreme variations of weight.Design, setting, participants, & measurements This study included 209 stages 1-5 CKD obese patients referred to the Department of Renal Function Study at the University Hospital in Lyon between 2010 and 2013 because of suspected renal dysfunction. GFR was estimated with the Chronic Kidney Disease and Epidemiology equation (CKD-EPI) and measured with a gold standard method (inulin or iohexol) not indexed (mGFR) or indexed to body surface area determined by the Dubois and Dubois formula with either real (mGFRr) or ideal (mGFRi) body weight. Mean bias (eGFR2mGFR), precision, and accuracy of mGFR were compared with the results obtained for nonobese participants (body mass index between 18.5 and 24.9) who had a GFR measurement during the same period of time.Results Mean mGFRr (51.6624.2 ml/min per 1.73 m 2 ) was significantly lower than mGFR, mGFRi, and eGFR CKD-EPI . eGFR CKD-EPI had less bias with mGFR (0.29; 21.7 to 2.3) and mGFRi (21.62; 23.1 to 0.45) compared with mGFRr (8.7; 7 to 10). This result was confirmed with better accuracy for the whole cohort (78% for mGFR, 84% for mGFRi, and 72% for mGFRr) and participants with CKD stages 3-5. Moreover, the Bland Altman plot showed better agreement between mGFR and eGFR CKD-EPI . The bias between eGFR CKD-EPI and mGFRr was greater in obese than nonobese participants (8.7 versus 0.58, P,0.001).Conclusions This study shows that, in obese CKD patients, the performance of eGFR CKD-EPI is good for GFR#60 ml/min per 1.73 m 2 . Indexation of mGFR with body surface area using ideal body weight gives less bias than mGFR scaled with body surface area using real body weight.

Peritoneal dialysis (PD) has been proposed as a therapeutic option for patients with end-stage renal disease and associated congestive heart failure (CHF). Here, we compare mortality risks in these patients by dialysis modality by including all patients who started planned chronic dialysis with associated congestive heart failure and were prospectively enrolled in the French REIN Registry. Survival was compared between 933 PD and 3468 hemodialysis (HD) patients using a Kaplan-Meier model, Cox regression, and propensity score analysis. The patients were followed from their first dialysis session and stratified by modality at day 90 or last modality if death occurred prior. There was a significant difference in the median survival time of 20.4 months in the PD group and 36.7 months in the HD group (hazard ratio, 1.55). After correction for confounders, the adjusted hazard ratio for death in PD compared to the HD patients remained significant at 1.48. Subgroup analyses showed that the results were not changed with regard to the New York Heart Association stage, age strata, or estimated glomerular filtration rate strata at first renal replacement therapy. The use of propensity score did not change results (adjusted hazard ratio, 1.55). Thus, mortality risk was higher with PD than with HD among incident patients with end-stage renal disease and congestive heart failure. These results may help guide clinical decisions and also highlight the need for randomized clinical trials.

Background: Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) may lead to right heart failure and subsequently alter glomerular filtration rates (GFR). Chronic kidney disease (CKD, GFR <60 mL/min/1.73 m²) may also adversely affect PAH prognosis. This study aimed to assess how right heart hemodynamics was associated with reduced estimated GFR (eGFR) and the association of CKD with survival in PAH patients. Methods: In a prospective PAH cohort (2003–2012), invasive hemodynamics and eGFR were collected at diagnosis (179 patients) and during follow-up (159 patients). The prevalence of CKD was assessed at PAH diagnosis. Variables, including hemodynamics, associated with reduced eGFR at diagnosis and during follow-up were tested in multivariate analysis. The association of CKD with survival was evaluated using a multivariate Cox regression model. Results: At diagnosis, mean age was 60.4 ± 16.5 years, mean pulmonary arterial pressure was 43 ± 12 mm Hg, and eGFR was 74.4 ± 26.4 mL/min/1.73 m². CKD was observed in 52 incident patients (29%). Independent determinants of reduced eGFR at diagnosis were age, systemic hypertension, and decreased cardiac index. Independent determinants of reduced eGFR during follow-up were age, female gender, PAH etiology, systemic hypertension, decreased cardiac index, and increased right atrial pressure. Age ≥60 years, female gender, NYHA 4, and CKD at diagnosis were independently associated with decreased survival. The adjusted hazards ratio for death associated with CKD was 1.81 (95% confidence interval [1.01–3.25]). Conclusion: CKD is frequent at PAH diagnosis and is independently associated with increased mortality. Right heart failure may induce renal hypoperfusion and congestion, and is associated with eGFR decrease.