ORCID Profile
0000-0001-5776-6160
Current Organisation
Sunshine Coast Hospital and Health Service
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Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)
Date: 30-05-2016
DOI: 10.1093/CKJ/SFW039
Publisher: SAGE Publications
Date: 09-2018
Abstract: Glucose is the most commonly used osmotic medium in peritoneal dialysis (PD) solutions, and its use has been associated with both local and systemic adverse effects. Previous, single-center, observational cohort studies have reported conflicting findings regarding whether a relationship exists between peritoneal glucose exposure and peritoneal small solute transport rate. In this secondary analysis of the balANZ multi-center, multinational, randomized controlled trial of a neutral pH, ultra-low glucose degradation product (biocompatible) versus conventional PD solutions over a 2-year period, the relationship between time varying peritoneal glucose exposure and change in peritoneal solute transport rate, (measured as dialysate to plasma creatinine ratio at 4 hours [D:PCr 4h ]), was evaluated using multivariable, multilevel linear regression. Baseline peritoneal glucose exposure was also assessed as either a continuous or categorical variable. The study included 165 patients (age 58.1 ± 14.2 years, 55% male, 33% diabetic). Peritoneal glucose exposure increased over time (coefficient 1.49, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.07 – 1.92 and was not significantly associated with change in D:PCr 4h (coefficient 0.00004, 95% CI -0.0001 – 0.0002, p = 0.68). Similar results were found when peritoneal glucose exposure was examined as a baseline continuous or categorical variable. A significant 2-way interaction was observed with PD solution type, whereby a progressive increase in D:PCr 4h was seen in the patients receiving conventional PD solution, but not in those receiving biocompatible solution. Increases in peritoneal solute transport rate in PD patients over time were not associated with peritoneal glucose exposure, although a strong and positive association with PD solution glucose degradation product content was identified. Peritoneal glucose exposure may be a less important consideration than peritoneal glucose degradation product exposure with respect to peritoneal membrane function over time.
Publisher: SAGE Publications
Date: 07-2017
Abstract: Glucose is the primary osmotic medium used in most peritoneal dialysis (PD) solutions, and exposure to glucose has been shown to exert detrimental effects both locally, at the peritoneal membrane, and systemically. Moreover, high dialysate glucose exposure may predispose patients to an increased risk of peritonitis, perhaps as a result of impaired host defences, vascular disease, and damage to the peritoneal membrane. In this post-hoc analysis of a multicenter, multinational, open-label randomized controlled trial of neutral pH, low-glucose degradation product (GDP) versus conventional PD solutions ( balANZ trial), the relationship between peritonitis rates of low ( 123.1 g/day) versus high (≥ 123.1 g/day) dialysate glucose exposure was evaluated in 177 incident PD patients over a 2-year study period. Peritonitis rates were 0.44 episodes per patient-year in the low-glucose exposure group and 0.31 episodes per patient-year in the high-glucose exposure group, (incidence rate ratio [IRR] 0.69, p = 0.09). There was no significant association between dialysate glucose exposure and peritonitis-free survival on univariable analysis (high glucose exposure hazard ratio [HR] 0.66, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.40 –1.08) or on multivariable analysis (adjusted HR 0.64, 95% CI 0.39 – 1.05). Moreover, there was no relationship between peritoneal glucose exposure and type of organism causing peritonitis. Physician-rated severity of first peritonitis episodes was similar between groups, as was rate and duration of hospital admission. Overall, this study did not identify an association between peritoneal dialysate glucose exposure and peritonitis occurrence, severity, hospitalization, or outcomes. A further large-scale, prospective, randomized controlled trial evaluating patient-level outcomes is merited.
Publisher: S. Karger AG
Date: 12-12-2016
DOI: 10.1159/000450690
Abstract: Glucose-based peritoneal dialysis (PD) solutions are the mainstay of therapy for PD patients, yet are accompanied by a number of adverse effects and potential complications. The high glucose content can cause both systemic effects, such as hyperglycaemia, as well as local effects on the peritoneal membrane, which can interfere with its function. In addition, glucose degradation products (GDPs) generated during heat sterilization of the solutions and the acidic pH at which these solutions are kept have been shown to cause peritoneal membrane injury and precipitate inflow pain, respectively. As a result, biocompatible PD solutions, characterized by neutral pH and low GDP concentrations, have been developed. However, the published evidence supporting their use has often been conflicting and of variable methodological quality. This review aims to discuss the relevant literature and up-to-date evidence for the use of biocompatible PD solutions.
Publisher: SAGE Publications
Date: 09-2016
Publisher: SAGE Publications
Date: 10-05-2022
DOI: 10.1177/08968608221096560
Abstract: Life participation is an outcome of critical importance to patients receiving peritoneal dialysis (PD). However, there is no widely accepted or validated tool for measuring life participation in patients receiving PD. Online consensus workshop to identify the essential characteristics of life participation as a core outcome, with the goal of establishing a patient-reported outcome measure for use in all trials in patients receiving PD. Thematic analysis of transcripts was performed. Fifty-six participants, including 17 patients and caregivers, from 15 countries convened via online videoconference. Four themes were identified: reconfiguring expectations of daily living (accepting day-to-day fluctuation as the norm, shifting thresholds of acceptability, preserving gains in flexibility and freedom), ensuring broad applicability and interpretability (establishing cross-cultural relevance, incorporating valued activities, distinguishing unmodifiable barriers to life participation), capturing transitions between modalities and how they affect life participation (responsive to trajectory towards stable, reflecting changes with dialysis transitions) and maximising feasibility of implementation (reducing completion burden, administrable with ease and flexibility). There is a need for a validated, generalisable outcome measure for life participation in patients receiving PD. Feasibility, including length of time to complete and flexible mode of delivery, are important to allow implementation in all trials that include patients receiving PD.
Publisher: Bentham Science Publishers Ltd.
Date: 25-01-2016
DOI: 10.2174/1574887110666151026123235
Abstract: As a consequence of both traditional and non-traditional risk factors, cardiovascular disease is over-represented, and the leading cause of mortality, among patients with Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD). Whilst recommendations for reducing cardiovascular risk in the general population exist, their applicability to the CKD population is questionable due to the exclusion of CKD patients from the majority of contemporary cardiovascular interventional studies. The aim of this review is to critically evaluate the literature regarding pharmacologic cardiovascular interventions in patients with CKD, with an emphasis on studies published since our 2008 review. Interventions discussed include erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (TREAT, U.S. Normal Hematocrit, CHOIR, CREATE, Palmer meta-analysis) statins (SHARP, AURORA, PPP, 4D, ALERT) Fibrates (VA-HIT) Folic Acid (ASFAST, US FOLIC acid trial, HOST) Antihypertensive Agents, Including Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors, angiotensin-receptor blockers, Beta-blockers and Combination therapy (Cice et al, FOSDIAL, Agarwal et al, ONTARGET) sevelamer (DCOR) Cinacalcet (ADVANCE, EVOLVE, Cunningham meta-analysis) Anti-oxidants (SPACE, HOPE, ATIC) Aspirin (HOT study re-analysis) vitamin D analogues (PRIMO) and multidisciplinary intervention (LANDMARK). Unfortunately, there remains a paucity of evidence in this area and a large number of methodologically poor quality studies with negative results. It is possible that these interventions do not have the same positive effect in CKD patients due to differences in the pathogenesis driving cardiovascular disease burden, such as altered bone metabolism and calcific vascular disease. Further well-designed studies with appropriately selected study populations and patient level outcomes are required. Until such time, physicians must consider on an in idual patient basis the appropriateness of these interventions.
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 09-01-2020
DOI: 10.1002/CCR3.2595
Publisher: Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health)
Date: 2022
DOI: 10.2215/CJN.07840621
Abstract: Outcomes reported in trials in adults with glomerular disease are often selected with minimal patient input, are heterogeneous, and may not be relevant for clinical decision making. The Standardized Outcomes in Nephrology–Glomerular Disease (SONG-GD) initiative aimed to establish a core outcome set to help ensure that outcomes of critical importance to patients, care partners, and clinicians are consistently reported. We convened two 1.5-hour workshops in Melbourne, Australia, and Washington, DC, United States. Attendees were identified purposively with 50 patients/care partners and 88 health professionals from 19 countries 51% were female. Patients and care partners were from the United States, Australia, and Canada, and had experience of a glomerular disease with systemic features ( n =9), kidney-limited nephrotic disease ( n =9), or other kidney-limited glomerular disease ( n =8). Attendees reviewed the results of the SONG-GD Delphi survey and aims of the workshop and then discussed potential core outcomes and their implementation in trials among moderated breakout groups of eight to 12 people from erse backgrounds. Transcripts of discussions were analyzed thematically. Three themes were identified that supported the proposed core outcomes: limiting disease progression, stability and control, and ensuring universal relevance ( i.e. , applicable across erse populations and settings). The fourth theme, preparedness for implementation, included engaging with funders and regulators, establishing reliable and validated measures, and leveraging existing endorsements for patient-reported outcomes. Workshop themes demonstrated support for kidney function, disease activity, death, life participation, and cardiovascular disease, and these were established as the core outcomes for trials in adults with glomerular disease. Future work is needed to establish the core measures for each domain, with funders and regulators central to the uptake of the core outcome set in trials.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 02-2022
Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)
Date: 10-07-2023
DOI: 10.1093/NDT/GFAD153
Abstract: Peritoneal dialysis (PD) solutions containing low levels of glucose degradation products (GDPs) are associated with attenuation of peritoneal membrane injury and vascular complications. However, clinical benefits associated with neutral-pH, low-GDP (N-pH/L-GDP) solutions remain unclear. Using data from the Australia and New Zealand Dialysis and Transplant Registry, we examined the associations between N-pH/L-GDP solutions and all-cause mortality, cause-specific mortality, transfer to haemodialysis (HD) for ≥30 days and PD peritonitis in adult incident PD patients in Australia and New Zealand between 1 January 2005 and 31 December 2020 using adjusted Cox regression analyses. Of 12 814 incident PD patients, 2282 (18%) were on N-pH/L-GDP solutions. The proportion of patients on N-pH/L-GDP solutions each year increased from 11% in 2005 to 33% in 2017. During the study period, 5330 (42%) patients died, 4977 (39%) experienced transfer to HD and 5502 (43%) experienced PD peritonitis. Compared with the use of conventional solutions only, the use of any form of N-pH/L-GDP solution was associated with reduced risks of all-cause mortality {adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] 0.67 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.61–0.74]}, cardiovascular mortality [aHR 0.65 (95% CI 0.56–0.77)], infection-related mortality [aHR 0.62 (95% CI 0.47–0.83)] and transfer to HD [aHR 0.79 (95% CI 0.72–0.86)] but an increased risk of PD peritonitis [aHR 1.16 (95% CI 1.07–1.26)]. Patients who received N-pH/L-GDP solutions had decreased risks of all-cause and cause-specific mortality despite an increased risk of PD peritonitis. Studies assessing the causal relationships are warranted to determine the clinical benefits of N-pH/L-GDP solutions.
Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)
Date: 26-12-2021
DOI: 10.1093/NDT/GFAA244
Abstract: Patients receiving peritoneal dialysis (PD) endure an ongoing regimen of daily fluid exchanges and are at risk of potentially life-threatening complications and debilitating symptoms that can limit their ability to participate in life activities. The aim of the study was to identify the characteristics, content and psychometric properties of measures for life participation used in research in PD. We searched MEDLINE, Embase, PsychInfo, the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL) and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials from inception to May 2020 for all studies that reported life participation in patients on PD. The characteristics, dimensions of life participation and psychometric properties of these measures were extracted and analyzed. Of the 301 studies included, 17 (6%) were randomized studies and 284 (94%) were nonrandomized studies. Forty-two different measures were used to assess life participation. Of these, 23 (55%) were used in only one study. Fifteen (36%) measures were specifically designed to assess life participation, while 27 (64%) measures assessed broader constructs, such as quality of life, but included questions on life participation. The 36-Item Short Form Health Survey and Kidney Disease Quality of Life Short Form were the most frequently used measures [122 (41%) and 86 (29%) studies, respectively]. Eight (19%) measures had validation data to support their use in patients on PD. The many measures currently used to assess life participation in patients receiving PD vary in their characteristics, content and validation. Further work to pilot and validate potential measures is required to establish a core patient-reported outcome measure to assess life participation in patients receiving PD.
Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)
Date: 11-10-2022
DOI: 10.1093/NDT/GFAB298
Abstract: The effects of training practices on outcomes of patients receiving peritoneal dialysis (PD) are poorly understood and there is a lack of evidence informing best training practices. This prospective cohort study aims to describe and compare international PD training practices and their association with peritonitis. Adult patients on PD <3 months participating in the Peritoneal Dialysis Outcomes and Practice Patterns Study (PDOPPS) were included. Training characteristics (including duration, location, nurse affiliation, modality, training of family members, use of in idual/group training and use of written/oral competency assessments) were reported at patient and facility levels. The hazard ratio (HR) for time to first peritonitis was estimated using Cox models, adjusted for selected patient and facility case-mix variables. A total of 1376 PD patients from 120 facilities across seven countries were included. Training was most commonly performed at the facility (81%) by facility-affiliated nurses (87%) in a 1:1 setting (79%). In the UK, being trained by both facility and third-party nurses was associated with a reduced peritonitis risk [adjusted HR 0.31 (95% confidence interval 0.15-0.62) versus facility nurses only]. However, this training practice was utilized in only 5 of 14 UK facilities. No other training characteristics were convincingly associated with peritonitis risk. There was no evidence to support that peritonitis risk was associated with when, where, how or how long PD patients are trained.
Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)
Date: 29-12-2021
DOI: 10.1093/NDT/GFAA346
Abstract: Diminished mental health is associated with increased morbidity and mortality and may contribute to loss of independence and motivation in patients receiving dialysis and their caregivers. Increased understanding of the patient perspective on triggers, impacts and strategies for managing mental health may inform ways to address mental health conditions in this population. A secondary thematic analysis was undertaken using data from the Standardized Outcomes in Nephrology (SONG)-Hemodialysis and SONG-Peritoneal Dialysis projects. We extracted and analysed data on the perceived causes, meaning, impact and management of mental health in patients receiving dialysis from 26 focus groups (in six countries), multinational Delphi surveys and consensus workshops. A total of 644 patients and caregivers participated. We identified five themes: bound to dialysis (forced into isolation, enslaved to a machine, stress of relentless planning and grieving the loss of a normal life), underrecognized and ignored (missed by health practitioners, need for mental health support), an uncertain future (dreading complications, coming to terms with mortality), developing self-reliance (vulnerability in being solely responsible for dialysis, sustaining motivation for dialysis, necessity for self-vigilance and taking charge to regulate emotions) and responding to a lifestyle overhaul (guilt of burdening family, controlling symptoms for overall mental wellness, protecting independence and trying to feel grateful). Patients receiving dialysis and their caregivers endure mental and emotional distress attributed to the burden of dialysis, lifestyle restrictions, the constant threat of death and symptom burden, which can impair motivation for self-management. Increased attention to monitoring and management of mental health in this population is needed.
Publisher: SAGE Publications
Date: 2020
Abstract: The StatSensor is a point-of-care device which measures creatinine in capillary whole blood. Previous studies reported an underestimation of the creatinine measurements at high creatinine concentrations and were performed in the prestandardization era for creatinine. This accuracy-based study evaluates the use of this device in kidney-transplanted patients and those with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Cross-sectional diagnostic accuracy study. Nephrology outpatient clinic in an urban tertiary center. Adults with CKD or a functioning kidney transplant. Duplicate StatSensor creatinine measurements were performed on capillary whole blood s les collected by direct fingerstick and SAFE-T-FILL collection device. Results were compared with simultaneous venous blood s ling for serum and plasma creatinine measured by an enzymatic method on the Roche Integra 400 mainframe analyzer with traceability to the ID-GC-MS (isotope dilution gas chromatography mass spectrometry) reference method. Deming regression, Pearson correlation coefficient, and Bland-Altman analysis were used to assess accuracy and comparability between capillary whole blood measured by StatSensor and plasma creatinine measured by routine analyzer with traceability to the reference method. Estimated glomerular filtration (eGFR) rates were calculated using the Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration (CKD-EPI) equation and concordance with Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) CKD stage classification was evaluated. There were 60 participants (mean age = 61.9 ± 15.0 years, 55% men, 33% transplant, mean plasma creatinine = 137 ± 59 µmol/L). Bland-Altman analysis indicated a positive mean bias of 12.7 µmol/L between StatSensor fingerstick creatinine measurement and plasma creatinine. Comparison of eGFR (CKD-EPI) calculated from the StatSensor fingerstick creatinine versus plasma creatinine showed misclassification across all KDIGO CKD stages. Postanalytical correction of the bias did not improve misclassifications. The use of mean of duplicate StatSensor creatinine results did not improve performance compared with the use of singlet results. Single center, limited participant numbers. The results of our study suggest that the limiting characteristics of the StatSensor device are not only bias, but also imprecision. The level of imprecision observed may influence clinical decision-making and limit the usefulness of StatSensor as a CKD screening tool. If choosing to utilize it for either screening for or monitoring CKD, it is essential that clinicians understand the limitations of point-of-care devices and apply this knowledge to test interpretation.
No related grants have been discovered for Melissa Cheetham.