Among older adults with a recent heart attack, those with lower levels of kidney function are less likely to take their medications as prescribed, according to a study in the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (CJASN). Several types of medications have proven benefits for preventing recurrent heart attacks. The researchers studied 2,103 patients aged 65 or older with a recent heart attack. Pharmacy insurance claims records were used to determine the percentage of days that patients actually had their prescribed medications. Over three years' follow-up, the patients had their prescribed drugs for only 50 to 60 percent of the time. For ACEIs/ARBs and beta-blockers, medication adherence was significantly lower for patients who had lower levels of kidney function at the beginning of the study.

AAKP is planning a combined public policy event and enhanced Annual Meeting for August 2011. AAKP has planned its initial public policy forum to be held at the William J. Clinton Presidential Center in Little Rock, Arkansas. We will invite national policy, medical and academic experts to discuss and debate preventive medicine and health considerations among minority communities who are disproportionately impacted by  chronic kidney disease (CKD). 

Immediately following the public policy forum at the Clinton Presidential Center, we will begin the 2011 AAKP Annual Meeting. Building on the successes of the 2010 Convention, we will involve specific tracks/sessions to meet the needs of a wide range of current and future patients, their families and caregivers and various professional groups. Hotel agreements are currently being finalized and we will soon provide further information about the venue and accommodations for this program. We hope you plan on joining us at the 2011 Annual Meeting and helping AAKP move forward in its patient education and public policy efforts.

When the researchers reviewed routine mammograms performed in women with ESRD, they found breast arterial calcifications in 63 percent of patients. In contrast, in a group of women without kidney disease, they were found in just 17 percent of cases. Thirty-six percent of the women with kidney disease already had breast arterial calcifications on mammograms performed several years earlier before their kidney disease advanced to ESRD. Since most women with CKD are at an age where yearly mammograms are recommended, mammograms may be a useful tool for studying the development and progression of medical calcifications.