Background and Aims The global pandemic with SARS-CoV-2 virus and Covid-19 threatened hemodialysis patients as vulnerable category with high risk for fatal outcome. The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence and risk factors for mortality in hemodialysis (HD) patients with confirmed Covid-19. Method This study was retrospective, multicentric, and included all HD patients with positive PCR test for SARS-CoV-2 during the period of 10 months from March 1 – December 31/2020. The outcome of patients with positive PCR test for SARS CoV-2 was evaluated. The following clinical parameters were compared in two groups of patients (the deceased and alive): age, sex, hemodialysis vintage, type of vascular access, BMI, Hemoglobin, WBC, Platelets, CRP, LDH, D-dimer, s-albumin, radiological findings, smoking abuse, therapy with ACE and ARBs, presence of symptoms and comorbidities: hypertension (HTA), diabetes mellitus (DM), coronary artery disease (CAD), chronic pulmonary disease (CPD), dyslipidemia, atrial fibrillation (AFF), malignancy, treatment in hospital and intensive care unit (ICU) with oxygen support and mechanical ventilation, and anticoagulant therapy. Statistical analysis was performed by SPSS, continued variables with ANOVA and categorical variables with Pearson Chi- square test and logistic regression. Results Of total 631 hemodialysis patients during the period of 10 months 162 patients (113 M and 49 F) or 25,67% were with positive PCR test for SARS-CoV-2, they have had mean age 62,47±13,14 years and HD vintage 71,93±68,01 months. During the observed period 38 patients with Covid-19 (25 M and 13 F) deceased, that represents mortality of 23,45%, 8 patients deceased at home and 30 patients in hospital. The mortality in patients with age range 18-49 years was 8%, with 50-59 years 18,9%, with 60-69 years 22,2%, with 70-79 years 31,2% and in patients with ≥ 80 years was 50%. Clinical parameters showed that the deceased patients compared with alive patients have had statistically significant higher age (67,7±10,57 vs 60,85±13,46 years; p=0.004), biochemical findings WBC (9,13±4,07 vs 6,45±3,0; p<0.001), LDH (394±4,07 vs 294±143; p=0.032), D-dimer (3699±4,07 vs 2025±2628; p=0.041), lower s-albumin (25,03±4,0 vs 34,57±6,89; p<0.001), and less hospital days (9,87±12,15 vs 16,24±14,31; p=0.04). Regarding comorbidities the mortality in the deceased patients was significantly higher in patients with chronic pulmonary disease (CPD) in comparison to patients without CPD (56,3% vs 19,9%; p=0.001), and in patients with malignancy in comparison to patients without malignancy (57,1% vs 21,9%; p=0.032). The mortality in hospitalized patients was significantly higher in comparison to treated patients at home (25,8% vs 10,5%; p<0.001) and was significantly higher in patients treated in ICU in comparison to patients treated at hospital (40,7% vs 25%; p<0.001). By logistic regression model it was determined that presence of chronic pulmonary disease (HR=6,178; p=0.008), ICU treatment (HR=5,311; p=0.01) and malignancy (HR=16,766; p=0.01) were the most predictive risk factors for mortality. Conclusion Our study showed that mortality is high in HD patients with Covid-19 and amounts 23,45%, which is in accordance with other larger studies of ERACODA and ERA-EDTA registry regarding mortality of hemodialysis patients with Covid-19 (25% vs 20%). The mortality in HD patients with Covid-19 was associated with advanced age, high level of WBC, LDH and D-dimer, and low level of s-albumin. In contrast to general population, no association with gender, diabetes and cardiovascular disease, but significant association of mortality with presence of chronic pulmonary disease, malignancy, hospital and ICU treatment was found.

Background and Aims KDIGO Clinical Practice Guidelines suggest in hemodialysis (HD) patients using a dialysate calcium concentration between 1,25 and 1,5 mmol/L and maintaining serum intact parathyroid hormone (sPTH) levels in the range of approximately 2 to 9 times the upper normal limit for the assay. The aim of the study was to evaluate the predictors of PTH variability in HD patients over a 12 months period. Method The multicenter restrospective study encompassed 398 patients (256M and 142F) with the average age 59,64±13,29 years and the average HD vintage 78,63±64,26 months. Over a 12 months (M0-M12) period: serum calcium (sCa), serum phosphorus (sPi), serum alkaline phosphatase (sAPh), oral calcium-carbonate daily dose, oral calcitriol weekly dose, and dialysate Ca concentration (dCa) were monitored monthly, and sPTH at 6 months. According to PTH assay reference level (18,4-80,1 pg/ml) 3 groups of patients were categorized: patients with low sPTH<160, with target range sPTH =160-721, and with high sPTH>721. For statistical analysis chi-square test, analysis of variance with repeated measures and logistic regression analysis were performed by softver SPSS. Results Over a 12 months period the number of patients with low sPTH significantly decreased, but the number of patients with target range sPTH and high sPTH increased (Chi square=269,45; p<0.001). On the basis of overall pattern of sPTH fluctuation over a 12 months period six subgroups of patients were observed: consistently low in 20,6% of patients, consistently within the target range in 22,1%, consistently high in 14,07%, low-amplitude fluctuation with low and target range sPTH levels (LAL) in 31,4%, low-amplitude fluctuation with target range and high sPTH levels (LAH) in 10,55%, and high-amplitude fluctuation (HA) subgroup with low, target range and high sPTH levels in 1,25%. In 35 patients constantly hemodialyzed over a 12 months period with dCa=1,25 mmol/L due to high sCa the significant increase of sPTH (M0=797±657 vs M12=1030±740 pg/ml; p=0.001) and no significant changes of sCa (M0=2,44± vs M12=2,34± mmol/L; n.s.), sPi (M0=1,81±0,49 vs M12=1,68±0,49 mmol/L; n.s.), Ca-carbonate daily dose (M0=1,88±1,54 vs M12=2,22±1,53 g/d; n.s.) and calcitriol weekly dose (M0=0,84±1,38 vs M12=1,1±1,41 ucg/w; n.s.) were observed. In 24 patients constantly hemodialyzed with dCa=1,75 mmol/L due to low sCa the significant decrease of sPTH (M0=518±582 vs M12=391±530 pg/ml; p=0.037) and no significant changes of sCa (M0=2,17±0,19 vs M12=2,18±0,17 mmol/L; n.s.), sPi (M0=1,3±0,34 vs M12=1,36±0,52 mmol/L; n.s.), Ca-carbonate daily dose (M0=2,53±1,58 vs M12=2,1±1,91 g/d; n.s.) and calcitriol weekly dose (M0=1,33±1,23 vs M12=1,42±1,69 ucg/w; n.s.) were observed. In 195 patients constantly hemodialyzed with dCa=1,5 mmol/L no significant changes of sPTH (M0=388±421 vs M12=434±459 pg/ml; n.s.), sCa (M0=2,29±0,18 vs M12=2,27±0,15 mmol/L; n.s.), sPi (M0=1,48±0,41 vs M12=1,52±0,41 mmol/L; n.s.), Ca-carbonate daily dose (M0=2,42±1,4 vs M12=2,57±1,2 g/d; n.s.) and calcitriol weekly dose (M0=0,47±0,72 vs M12=0,38±0,68 ucg/w; n.s.) were observed. By model of logistic regression analysis dCa=1,75 (OR=8,33), increased sCa (OR=7,7), and presence of diabetes mellitus (OR=2,44) were the most significant predictors of low sPTH<160 (Chi square=116,27; p<0.001), but the increased sCa (OR=6,88), dCa=1,25 (OR=5,08), and the increased sPi (OR=2,72) were the most significant predictors of high sPTH>721 (Chi square=72,475; p<0.001). Conclusion The prolonged use of dCa=1,25 in patients with high sCa led to significant sPTH increase likely due to net negative calcium balance, but prolonged use of dCa=1,75 in patients with low sCa led to significant sPTH decrease likely due to net positive calcium balance.

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Introduction. Factors that have been reported to affect erythropoietin (EPO) responsiveness in hemodialysis (HD) patients include iron deficiency, chronic inflammation, secondary hyperparathyroidism, malnutrition and inadequate HD dose. The aim of the study was to analyze the deteminants of hemoglobin variability in HD patients. Methods. The study encompassed 526 patients (197 F and 329 M). According to HD vintage at the beginning of the study the patients were divided into two groups: group-1 encompassed 153 patients with HD vintage bellow 24 months, and group-2 encompassed 329 patients with HD vintage over 24 months. Over a period of 21 months after admission the following parameters were analyzed: hemoglobin (Hb), EPO dose, iron dose, HD dose (eKT/V), transferrin saturation (TSAT), C-reactive protein (CRP), ferritin and serum albumin at 3 months and parathyroid hormone (PTH) at 6 months. Results. The percentage of patients with Hb>=105g/L significantly improved, and the average Hb level significantly increased in both groups over a period of 21 months. The average EPO and iron dose significantly decreased, but TSAT and ferritin levels significantly increased over a period of 21 months. The average eKT/V and s-albumin values significantly increased, but the average CRP and PTH levels significantly decresead over a period of 21 months. In group-1 EPO dose and CRP, but in group-2 EPO dose, ferritin, HD vintage, and iron dose were statistically significant predictors of the Hb level 9 months after admission. Conclusions. Insufficient EPO therapy, iron deficiency and chronic inflammation were the main factors of inadequate correction of anemia in HD patients before admission.