Kidney Care & Hemodialysis News: May Edition

A study in the upcoming issue of the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (CJASN) finds that more than half of patients who receive a kidney transplant will visit the ER in the first two years after the procedure.

Additional findings from the study include:

• 19 months is the average length of time post-procedure before a transplant patient visits the ER
• Nearly half (48 percent) of these ER visits result in admission to the hospital
• Being a younger kidney recipient, female, black or hispanic, having public health insurance or diabetes increased the risk of an ER visit

Source: Nephrology News & Issues

CKD Patients Expected to Increase, Nephrologists Expected to Decrease

Over the coming years, the number of patients with chronic kidney disease is expected to increase dramatically due to the increase of diabetes, the aging population and additional factors.

A report for the American Society of Nephrology (ASN) has found that despite the rising need for kidney care professionals, the number of doctors filling nephrology positions has decreased from 91 percent in 2012 to just 68 percent in 2015.

Physicians said they steered away from nephrology because of, among other reasons, its lack of innovation and perceived inadequate pay. Strict regulatory burdens may also contribute to the issue.

To inspire interest in nephrology, the ASN has implemented a variety of programs targeting medical students, residents and graduate students who have expressed an interest in nephrology, but have not committed to a fellowship.

Source: Renal & Urology News

Do Hemodialysis Patients Really Need to Restrict Dietary Potassium?

Recent research from the New York University School of Medicine raises this question after researchers found there was “virtually non-existent” evidence that high dietary intake of potassium contributed to hyperkalemia.

The study’s authors noted that advising HD patients to limit plant-based sources of potassium could impair a patient’s “nutrition status and quality of life.” Avoiding many fruits and vegetables could lead to conditions like constipation and hypertension that would negatively impact an HD patient’s health, said the authors.

Source: Renal & Urology News