Dataset Information

Homocysteine lowering and cognition in CKD: the Veterans Affairs homocysteine study.

ABSTRACT: Individuals with advanced chronic kidney disease (CKD) and end-stage renal disease (ESRD) have high plasma total homocysteine (tHcy) levels, which may be a risk factor for cognitive impairment. Whether treatment with high-dose B vitamins to decrease high tHcy levels improves cognition in persons with kidney disease is unknown.Randomized controlled trial.A substudy of 659 patients (mean age, 67.3 +/- 11.7 years) who participated in a randomized double-blind clinical trial 5 years in duration conducted in 36 US Department of Veterans Affairs medical centers of the effect on all-cause mortality of vitamin-induced lowering of plasma tHcy level. 236 (35.8%) were treated by using dialysis (ESRD) and 423 (64.2%) had a Cockcroft-Gault estimated creatinine clearance of 30 mL/min or less (advanced CKD). All had high tHcy levels (> or =15 micromol/L) at baseline. Cognitive assessments began during the follow-up period of the main trial 3 years after treatment began; participants subsequently were retested 1 year later to assess cognitive change.Daily high-dose B vitamin capsule (40 mg of folic acid, 100 mg of vitamin B(6), and 2 mg of vitamin B(12)) or placebo.Cognitive function at initial assessment and 1 year later.Telephone Interview of Cognitive Status-modified, supplemented with attention, working memory, and executive function tests.Initial cognitive function was impaired in approximately 19% of patients regardless of treatment assignment (vitamin or placebo) or kidney disease status (advanced CKD or ESRD). Treatment decreased tHcy levels by 26.7%. Unadjusted and adjusted analyses showed that treatment did not improve initial cognitive outcomes or affect subsequent cognitive status 1 year later.Cognitive assessments began after treatment was initiated; cognitive assessment was limited.Treatment with high daily doses of B vitamins, which decreased tHcy levels, did not affect cognitive outcomes in patients with advanced CKD and ESRD.

SUBMITTER: Brady CB

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2748786 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Homocysteine lowering and cognition in CKD: the Veterans Affairs homocysteine study.

Brady Christopher B CB Gaziano J Michael JM Cxypoliski Roberta A RA Guarino Peter D PD Kaufman James S JS Warren Stuart R SR Hartigan Pamela P Goldfarb David S DS Jamison Rex L RL

American journal of kidney diseases : the official journal of the National Kidney Foundation 20090723 3

<h4>Background</h4>Individuals with advanced chronic kidney disease (CKD) and end-stage renal disease (ESRD) have high plasma total homocysteine (tHcy) levels, which may be a risk factor for cognitive impairment. Whether treatment with high-dose B vitamins to decrease high tHcy levels improves cognition in persons with kidney disease is unknown.<h4>Study design</h4>Randomized controlled trial.<h4>Setting & participants</h4>A substudy of 659 patients (mean age, 67.3 +/- 11.7 years) who participat ...[more]

PMID: 19628319

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Project description:BACKGROUND:Video-based health care can help address access gaps for patients and is rapidly being offered by health care organizations. However, patients who lack access to technology may be left behind in these initiatives. In 2016, the US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) began distributing video-enabled tablets to provide video visits to veterans with health care access barriers. OBJECTIVE:This study aimed to evaluate veterans' experiences with VA-issued tablets and identify patient characteristics associated with preferences for video visits vs in-person care. METHODS:A baseline survey was sent to the tablet recipients, and a follow-up survey was sent to the respondents 3 to 6 months later. Multivariate logistic regression was used to identify patient characteristics associated with preferences for care, and we examined qualitative themes around care preferences using standard content analysis methods for coding the data collected in the open-ended questions. RESULTS:Patient-reported access barriers centered around transportation and health-related challenges, outside commitments, and feeling uncomfortable or uneasy at the VA. Satisfaction with the tablet program was high, and in the follow-up survey, approximately two-thirds of tablet recipients preferred care via a tablet (194/604, 32.1%) or expressed that video-based and in-person care were "about the same" (216/604, 35.7%), whereas one-third (192/604, 31.7%) indicated a preference for in-person care. Patients were significantly more likely to report a preference for video visits (vs a preference for in-person visits or rating them "about the same") if they felt uncomfortable in a VA setting, reported a collaborative communication style with their doctor, had a substance use disorder diagnosis, or lived in a place with better broadband coverage. Patients were less likely to report a preference for video visits if they had more chronic conditions. Qualitative analyses identified four themes related to preferences for video-based care: perceived improvements in access to care, perceived differential quality of care, feasibility of obtaining necessary care, and technology-related challenges. CONCLUSIONS:Many recipients of VA-issued tablets report that video care is equivalent to or preferred to in-person care. Results may inform efforts to identify good candidates for virtual care and interventions to support individuals who experience technical challenges.

Project description:RationaleRehospitalization is common after sepsis, but little is known about the variation in readmission patterns across patient groups and care locations.ObjectivesTo examine the variation in postsepsis readmission rates and diagnoses by patient age, nursing facility use, admission year, and hospital among U.S. Veterans Affairs (VA) beneficiaries.MethodsObservational cohort study of VA beneficiaries who survived a sepsis hospitalization (2009-2011) at 114 VA hospitals, stratified by age (<65 vs. ≥65 yr), nursing home usage (none, chronic, or acute), year of admission (2009, 2010, 2011), and hospital. In the primary analysis, sepsis hospitalizations were identified using a previously validated method. Sensitivity analyses were performed using alternative definitions with explicit International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification, codes for sepsis, and separately for severe sepsis and septic shock.Measurements and main resultsThe primary outcomes were rate of 90-day all-cause hospital readmission after sepsis hospitalization and proportion of readmissions resulting from specific diagnoses, including the proportion of "potentially preventable" readmissions. Readmission diagnoses were similar from 2009 to 2011, with little variation in readmission rates across hospitals. The top six readmission diagnoses (heart failure, pneumonia, sepsis, urinary tract infection, acute renal failure, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease) accounted for 30% of all readmissions. Although about one in five readmissions had a principal diagnosis for infection, 58% of all readmissions received early systemic antibiotics. Infection accounted for a greater proportion of readmissions among patients discharged to nursing facilities compared with patients discharged to home (25.0-27.1% vs. 16.8%) and among older vs. younger patients (22.2% vs. 15.8%). Potentially preventable readmissions accounted for a quarter of readmissions overall and were more common among older patients and patients discharged to nursing facilities.ConclusionsHospital readmission rates after sepsis were similar by site and admission year. Heart failure, pneumonia, sepsis, and urinary tract infection were common readmission diagnoses across all patient groups. Readmission for infection and potentially preventable diagnoses were more common in older patients and patients discharged to nursing facilities.

Dataset Information

Homocysteine lowering and cognition in CKD: the Veterans Affairs homocysteine study.

Publications

Homocysteine lowering and cognition in CKD: the Veterans Affairs homocysteine study.

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