Introduction: The prevalence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and heart failure (HF) has been rising over the past decade, with a prevalence close to 40%. Cardiovascular disease and malnutrition are common comorbidities and known risk factors for mortality in haemodialysis (HD) patients. We aimed to evaluate the one-year mortality rate after dialysis induction, and the impact of serum albumin levels on survival outcomes, in patients with CKD and HF. Methods: This was a retrospective analysis of patients with CKD and HF who underwent chronic HD between January 2016 and December 2019 in a tertiary-care Portuguese hospital. Variables were submitted to univariate and multivariate analysis to determine factors predictive of one-mortality after HD start. Results: In total, 204 patients were analysed (mean age 75.1 ± 10.3 years). Within the first year of HD start, 28.7% of patients died. These patients were significantly older [79.8 ± 7.2 versus 72.9 ± 10.9 years, p < 0.001; OR 1.08 (1.04–1.13), p < 0.001] and had a higher mean Charlson Index [9.0 ± 1.8 versus 8.3 ± 2.0, p = 0.015; OR 1.22 (1.04–1.44), p = 0.017], lower serum creatinine [5.1 ± 1.6 mg/dL versus 5.8 ± 2.0 mg/dL; p = 0.021; OR 0.80 (0.65–0.97), p = 0.022], lower albumin levels [3.1 ± 0.6 g/dL versus 3.4 ± 0.6 g/dL, p < 0.001; OR 0.38 (0.22–0.66), p = 0.001] and started haemodialysis with a central venous catheter more frequently [80.4% versus 66.2%, p = 0.050]. Multivariate analysis identified older age [aOR 1.07 (1.03–1.12), p = 0.002], lower serum creatinine [aOR 0.80 (0.64–0.99), p = 0.049] and lower serum albumin [aOR 0.41 (0.22–0.75), p = 0.004] as predictors of one-year mortality. Conclusion: In our cohort, older age, lower serum creatinine and lower serum albumin were independent risk factors for one-year mortality, highlighting the prognostic importance of malnutrition in patients starting chronic HD.

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Background: CKD is a significant cause of morbidity, cardiovascular and all-cause mortality. CHA2DS2-VASc is a score used in patients with atrial fibrillation to predict thromboembolic risk; it also appears to be useful to predict mortality risk. The aim of the study was to evaluate CHA2DS2-VASc scores as a tool for predicting one-year mortality after hemodialysis is started and for identifying factors associated with higher mortality. Methods: Retrospective analysis of patients who started hemodialysis between January 2014 and December 2019 in Centro Hospitalar Universitário Lisboa Norte. We evaluated mortality within one year of hemodialysis initiation. The CHA2DS2-VASc score was calculated at the start of hemodialysis. Results: Of 856 patients analyzed, their mean age was 68.3 ± 15.5 years and the majority were male (61.1%) and Caucasian (84.5%). Mortality within one-year after starting hemodialysis was 17.8% (n = 152). The CHA2DS2-VASc score was significantly higher (4.4 ± 1.7 vs. 3.5 ± 1.8, p < 0.001) in patients who died and satisfactorily predicted the one-year risk of mortality (AUC 0.646, 95% CI 0.6–0.7, p < 0.001), with a sensitivity of 71.7%, a specificity of 49.1%, a positive predictive value of 23.9% and a negative predictive value of 89.2%. In the multivariate analysis, CHA2DS2-VASc ≥3.5 (adjusted HR 2.24 95% CI (1.48–3.37), p < 0.001) and central venous catheter at dialysis initiation (adjusted HR 3.06 95% CI (1.93–4.85)) were significant predictors of one-year mortality. Conclusion: A CHA2DS2-VASc score ≥3.5 and central venous catheter at hemodialysis initiation were predictors of one-year mortality, allowing for risk stratification in hemodialysis patients.

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is frequent in hospitalized patients and contributes to adverse short- and long-term outcomes. We aimed to evaluate the association of AKI and long-term adverse renal events and mortality in a cohort of patients hospitalized with COVID-19. Single-center and retrospective study of hospitalized patients admitted to a Dedicated Unit for COVID-19 at Centro Hospitalar Universitário Lisboa Norte, Portugal, between March 2020 and October 2020. AKI was defined and classified according to the Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) classification, using SCr criteria. The analyzed outcomes were development of major adverse kidney events (MAKE), major adverse renal cardiovascular events (MARCE), and mortality over a two-year follow-up period. From the included 409 patients, AKI occurred in 60.4% (n=247). Within two years after discharge, 31.8% (n=130) of patients had an eGFR<60mL/min/1.73m² and/or a 25% decrease on eGFR and 1.7% (n=7) of patients required RRT, 6.1% (n=25) of patients had CV events and 27.9% (n=114) of patients died. The incidence of MAKE was 60.9% (n=249), and MARCE was 62.6% (n=256). On a multivariate analysis, older age (adjusted HR 1.02 (95% CI: 1.01-1.04), p=0.008), cardiovascular disease (adjusted HR 2.22 (95% CI: 1.24-3.95), p=0.007), chronic kidney disease (adjusted HR 5.15 (95% CI: 2.22-11.93), p<0.001), and AKI (adjusted HR 1.76 (95% CI: 1.12-2.78), p=0.015) were independent predictors of MAKE. Older age (adjusted HR 1.06 (95% CI: 1.04-1.08), p<0.001) and neoplasia (adjusted HR 4.88 (95% CI: 2.37-10.04), p<0.001) were independent predictors of mortality. In this cohort of hospitalized patients with COVID-19, AKI was independently associated with the risk of long-term need for dialysis and/or renal function decline and/or mortality after hospital discharge.

Introduction and Objectives: Acute kidney injury (AKI) is frequent in hospitalized patients and contributes to adverse short- and long-term outcomes. We aimed to evaluate the association of AKI and long-term adverse renal events and mortality in a cohort of patients hospitalized with COVID-19. Material and Methods: Single-center and retrospective study of hospitalized patients admitted to a Dedicated Unit for COVID-19 at Centro Hospitalar Universitário Lisboa Norte, Portugal, between March 2020 and October 2020. AKI was defined and classified according to the Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) classification, using SCr criteria. The analyzed outcomes were development of major adverse kidney events (MAKE), major adverse renal cardiovascular events (MARCE), and mortality over a two-year follow-up period. Results: From the included 409 patients, AKI occurred in 60.4% (n=247). Within two years after discharge, 31.8% (n=130) of patients had an eGFR<60mL/min/1.73m2 and/or a 25% decrease on eGFR and 1.7% (n=7) of patients required RRT, 6.1% (n=25) of patients had CV events and 27.9% (n=114) of patients died. The incidence of MAKE was 60.9% (n=249), and MARCE was 62.6% (n=256). On a multivariate analysis, older age (adjusted HR 1.02 (95% CI: 1.01-1.04), p=0.008), cardiovascular disease (adjusted HR 2.22 (95% CI: 1.24-3.95), p=0.007), chronic kidney disease (adjusted HR 5.15 (95% CI: 2.22-11.93), p<0.001), and AKI (adjusted HR 1.76 (95% CI: 1.12-2.78), p=0.015) were independent predictors of MAKE. Older age (adjusted HR 1.06 (95% CI: 1.04-1.08), p<0.001) and neoplasia (adjusted HR 4.88 (95% CI: 2.37-10.04), p<0.001) were independent predictors of mortality. Conclusions: In this cohort of hospitalized patients with COVID-19, AKI was independently associated with the risk of long-term need for dialysis and/or renal function decline and/or mortality after hospital discharge.

Background: Planning for vascular access (VA) creation is essential in pre-dialysis patients although optimal timing for VA referral and placement is debatable. Guidelines suggest referral when eGFR is 15–20 mL/min/1.73 m². This study aimed to validate the use of kidney failure risk equation (KFRE) in VA planning. Methods: Retrospective analysis of all adult patients with CKD who were referred for first VA placement, namely AVF or AVG, at a tertiary center, between January 2018 and December 2019. The four-variable KFRE was calculated. Start of KRT, mortality, and VA placement were assessed in a 2-year follow-up. We used Cox regression to predict KRT start and calculated the ROC curve. Results: 256 patients were included and 64.5% were male, mean age was 70.4 ± 12.9 years and mean eGFR was 16.09 ± 10.43 mL/min/1.73 m². One hundred fifty-nine patients required KRT (62.1%) and 72 (28.1%) died in the 2-year follow-up. The KFRE accurately predicted KRT start within 2-years (38.3 ± 23.8% vs 17.6 ± 20.9%, p < 0.001; HR 1.05 95% CI (1.06–1.12), p < 0.001), with an auROC of 0.788 ( p < 0.001, 95% CI (0.733–0.837)). The optimal KFRE cut-off was >20%, with a HR of 9.2 (95% CI (5.06–16.60), p < 0.001). Patients with KFRE ⩾ 20% had a significant lower mean time from VA consult to KRT initiation (10.8 ± 9.4 vs 15.6 ± 10.3 months, p < 0.001). On a sub-analysis of patients with an eGFR < 20 mL/min/1.73 m², a KFRE ⩾ 20% was also a significant predictor of 2-year start of KRT, with an HR of 6.61 (95% CI (3.49–12.52), p < 0.001). Conclusion: KFRE accurately predicted 2-year KRT start in this cohort of patients. A KFRE ⩾ 20% can help to establish higher priority patients for VA placement. The authors suggest referral for VA creation when eGFR < 20 mL/min/1.73 m² and KFRE ⩾ 20%.