Deteriorating renal function in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients is commonly associated with reduced haemoglobin levels, adding to the already considerable humanistic burden of CKD. This analysis evaluated the impact of anaemia on disease burden in patients with CKD stages 3–4, and in those on dialysis. This was a descriptive, cross-sectional analysis of European data from an Adelphi CKD Disease-Specific Programme. This programme collected data from patients and their treating nephrologists/endocrinologists; patient- and physician-reported data were matched for each patient. Health-related quality of life (HRQoL) data were obtained through patient completion of the EQ-5D, SF-12 and KDQOL-36. Additional information was obtained via physician reporting of patient symptoms, and patients’ reports of impaired activity. Anaemia was defined by haemoglobin level and/or current use of erythropoiesis stimulating agents. Significant, but modest Spearman’s rank correlations were observed between haemoglobin levels and extent of HRQoL impairment, regardless of instrument used (range 0.19–0.23; all P-values < 0.0001). When stratified by anaemia status, impairment was consistently lower for anaemic than non-anaemic CKD patients across measurement scales (e.g. EQ-5D index value [standard deviation {SD}] 0.72 [0.31] vs 0.83 [0.23], respectively; P < 0.0001). Physician-reported patient tiredness was associated with increased disease burden at all levels of CKD studied (total EQ-5D index value [SD] in patients reporting no tiredness vs tiredness 0.81 [0.26] vs 0.70 [0.30] respectively; P < 0.0001) with P < 0.0001 for no tiredness vs tiredness at all stages of CKD. The presence of anaemia was associated with impaired activity levels at CKD stages 3 (37.5 % vs 28.4 %, respectively; P = 0.0044) and 4 (48.1 % vs 39.9 %, respectively; P = 0.0292), and in patients on dialysis (52.0 % vs 45.0 %, respectively; P = 0.0732). The analysis found that CKD patients with anaemia typically had a lower HRQoL than those without anaemia. The impairment correlated with anaemia was more apparent in non-dialysis patients with CKD stages 3 or 4 than in those receiving dialysis. Coexisting CKD and anaemia may have an impact on patient HRQoL similar to other chronic conditions such as diabetes, epilepsy or certain forms of cancer.

Aims : Vascular calcification is common in diabetic patients. Warfarin has been associated with renovascular calcification and worsening renal function; rivaroxaban may provide renopreservation by decreasing vascular inflammation. We compared the impact of rivaroxaban and warfarin on renal outcomes in diabetic patients with non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF). Methods and results : Using United States IBM MarketScan data from January 2011 to December 2017, we identified adults with both NVAF and diabetes, newly-initiated on rivaroxaban or warfarin with ≥12-month insurance coverage prior to anticoagulation initiation. Patients with Stage 5 chronic kidney disease (CKD) or undergoing haemodialysis at baseline were excluded. Differences in baseline covariates between cohorts were adjusted using inverse probability-of-treatment weighting (IPTW) based on propensity scores (absolute standardized differences <0.1 achieved for all after adjustment). Outcomes included incidence rates of emergency department/hospital admissions for acute kidney injury (AKI) and the composite of the development of Stage 5 CKD or need for haemodialysis. Patients were followed until an event, index anticoagulant discontinuation/switch, insurance disenrollment, or end-of-data availability. Hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated using Cox regression. We assessed 10 017 rivaroxaban (22.6% received a reduced dose) and 11 665 warfarin users. In comparison to warfarin, rivaroxaban was associated with lower risks of AKI (HR = 0.83, 95% CI = 0.74–0.92) and development of Stage 5 CKD or need for haemodialysis (HR = 0.82, 95% CI = 0.70–0.96). Sensitivity and subgroup analyses had similar effects as the base-case analysis. Conclusion : Rivaroxaban appears to be associated with lower risks of undesirable renal outcomes vs. warfarin in diabetic NVAF patients.

Warfarin has been associated with renovascular calcification and worsening renal function, whereas rivaroxaban may provide a degree of renopreservation by decreasing vascular inflammation. We sought to compare rivaroxaban and warfarin’s impact on renal decline in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) treated in routine practice. Using US MarketScan claims data from January 2012 to December 2017, we identified patients with NVAF newly initiated on rivaroxaban or warfarin with ≥12 months of continuous insurance coverage prior to initiation. Patients with stage 5 chronic kidney disease (CKD) or receiving hemodialysis at baseline were excluded. Outcomes included rates (events/100 person-years) of hospital or emergency department admission for acute kidney injury (AKI) or progression to stage 5 CKD or need for hemodialysis. Differences in baseline covariates between cohorts were adjusted using inverse probability-of-treatment weights based on propensity scores (absolute standardized differences <0.1 achieved for all covariates after adjustment). Patients were followed until an event, anticoagulant discontinuation/switch, insurance disenrollment, or end of data availability. Hazard ratios with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated using Cox regression. We assessed 36 318 rivaroxaban (19.8% received a dose <20 mg/d) and 36 281 warfarin users. Stages 3 and 4 CKD were present in 5% and 1% of patients at baseline, and proteinuria was present in 2%. Rivaroxaban was associated with a 19% (95% CI = 13%-25%) reduction in the hazard of AKI (rates = 4.91 vs 8.45) and an 18% (95% CI = 9%-26%) reduction in progression to stage 5 CKD or hemodialysis (rates = 2.67 vs 4.12). Rivaroxaban appears associated with lower hazards of undesirable renal end points versus warfarin in patients with NVAF.

Background: A limited number of studies have assessed health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD). Results to date have been conflicting and studies have generally focused on patients with later stages of the disease. This study aimed to assess HRQoL in ADPKD across all stages of the disease, from patients with early chronic kidney disease (CKD) to patients with end-stage renal disease. Methods: A study involving cross-sectional patient-reported outcomes and retrospective clinical data was undertaken April–December 2014 in Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden. Patients were enrolled into four mutually exclusive stages of the disease: CKD stages 1–3; CKD stages 4–5; transplant recipients; and dialysis patients. Results: Overall HRQoL was generally highest in patients with CKD stages 1–3, followed by transplant recipients, patients with CKD stages 4–5 and patients on dialysis. Progressive disease predominately had an impact on physical health, whereas mental health showed less variation between stages of the disease. A substantial loss in quality of life was observed as patients progressed to CKD stages 4–5. Conclusions: Later stages of ADPKD are associated with reduced physical health. The value of early treatment interventions that can delay progression of the disease should be considered.