AAKP News of the
Month:
Join AAKP at the 37th Annual Convention!
The AAKP 37th Annual Convention is in sunny Tampa, Fla., September 2-4, 2010, at the Marriott Waterside Hotel & Marina. The Annual Convention provides kidney disease patients, as well as their friends and family members, with the opportunity to discuss their concerns and share their experiences while learning about important issues affecting their health care. The Convention will feature three tracks of educational sessions: chronic kidney disease (CKD), dialysis and transplantation. Room rates start at just $110 per night. Visit the AAKP Web site for updated information or contact us at (800) 749-2257 or info@aakp.org. |
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| Nocturnal Hemodialysis Improves Protein and Phosphorus Status |
 A new study shows patients who undergo in-center nocturnal hemodialysis (NHD) have improved protein and phosphorus status compared with those treated with in-center conventional hemodialysis (ICHD). Serum albumin levels were significantly higher in NHD patients compared with the ICHD group (3.93 vs. 3.84 g/dL). A higher percentage of NHD patients than ICHD patients achieved albumin levels of 3.5 g/dL or higher (91 vs. 82 percent). In addition, 65 percent of NHD patients achieved enough serum phosphate levels (5.5 mg/dL or less) compared with 63 percent for ICHD patients, a significant difference between the groups. The findings conclude NHD, unlike ICHD, permits adequate protein intake without making hyperphosphatemia worse. |
| Updated Version of The Iron Story Now Available |
 An updated version of the popular patient education brochure, The Iron Story, is now available. This brochure provides information, specifically for dialysis patients, regarding the importance of iron, as well as the effects of having too little iron in the body. In addition, it describes anemia and how it affects the kidneys. The Iron Story discusses the importance of intravenous (IV) iron usage and the role of erythropoietin stimulating agent (ESA) to keep blood count high and prevent anemia.
The Iron Story is FREE to patients and health care workers. To receive a copy, contact AAKP at (800) 749-2257 or info@aakp.org. The brochure can also be downloaded from the AAKP website www.aakp.org/brochures/iron-story. A Spanish version of The Iron Story can also be downloaded from the AAKP website. The brochure is made possible by an educational grant from Fresenius Medical Care North America. |
| Get Your Tickets For the Medal of Excellence Award Dinner |
 Join AAKP in honoring Tom F. Parker, III, MD, the 2010 AAKP Medal of Excellence Award recipient. The AAKP Medal of Excellence Award acknowledges a renal physician's significant contributions to the progress of patient education and disease treatment in the kidney community.
The Award Dinner takes place Saturday, March 13 at the Renaissance Harborplace Hotel in Baltimore, Md, in conjunction with the Renal Physician Association's Annual Meeting. Dinner tickets are available for $99 each. To purchase tickets online, please click here, or call (800) 749-2257. |
| End Of Life Care Falls Short For Kidney Disease Patients |
New research published in the Clinical Journal of the American Society Nephrology (CJASN) shows patients with advanced chronic kidney disease (CKD) often do not receive adequate end-of-life care and are unhappy with the medical decisions made as their conditions worsen. Researchers surveyed 584 late stage CKD patients as they came to dialysis, transplant or pre-dialysis clinics. Patients reported they would like their kidney care team to help them plan for the future in case they become incompetent to make decisions. If seriously ill, patients indicated interest in receiving help with managing pain and other symptoms and psychosocial and spiritual support. Patients were often unaware of palliative care options and of the status and progression of their illness.
Of the patients studied, 61 percent regretted starting dialysis, noting that the decision to start the treatment reflected physicians' and family members' preferences rather than their own personal choice. While the vast majority of dialysis patients die in hospitals, more patients in this survey wanted to die at home (36.1%) or in a hospice facility (28.8%) than in a hospital (27.4%). Less than 10 percent of patients reported having discussed end-of-life care issues with their doctors in the past year.
The study helps doctors identify gaps between current end-of-life care practice and patients' preferences and will hopefully help prioritize and guide future innovation in renal end-of-life care policy. |
| Submit Your Entry for the AAKP Artwork Contest |
The deadline to submit your entry for the AAKP Artwork Contest is February 26, 2010. The Artwork Contest is held in honor of the upcoming National Kidney Month (March). The goal of this artwork contest is to allow individuals to demonstrate, through their artwork, how kidney disease has affected them and help raise awareness of this chronic disease.
Artwork is publicly judged during National Kidney Month and will be displayed on the AAKP website from March 15 - April 15. Winners are announced in April. Entries must adhere to the contest/artwork guidelines and be accompanied by an official entry form.
The top three selected pieces of artwork will be turned into all occasion greeting cards and be offered by AAKP as an Association fundraiser. Winners will receive a complimentary pack of their artwork greeting card along with an award certificate for their accomplishments. Please contact AAKP at (800) 749-2257 or info@aakp.org for questions. |
| Obesity Linked to Common Form of Kidney Cancer |
| According to new research, being obese could lead to a greater risk of developing the most common form of renal cell cancer. Researchers found obese patients with kidney tumours have 48 percent higher odds of developing a clear-cell renal cell cancer (RCC) than patients with a body mass index (BMI) of less than 30. The odds increase by 4 percent for every extra BMI point. According to Dr. William Lowrance, "A number of studies have suggested that obesity could be a risk factor for RCC, but the exact reason is unknown. Researchers suggest it might be secondary to hormonal changes, decreased immune function, hypertension or diabetes in obese patients." | |
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