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AAKP Renal Flash
In This Issue
Dialysis: Five Ways to Be Active in Your Care at the Hospital
Depression May Increase the Risk of Kidney Failure
Healthcare Associated Infections in Dialysis Patients
Register Today for the AAKP National Convention!
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Dialysis: Five Ways to Be Active in Your Care at the Hospital

The Joint Commission's new brochure, Dialysis: Five Ways to Be Active in Your Care at the Hospital, covers topics such as finding out how dialysis should be managed during hospitalization, avoiding infections in the hospital, asking about medications and possible interactions, talking with the hospital dietician, and planning for a return home.

 

The brochure provides helpful tips and encourages people requiring dialysis to ask a trusted family member or friend to be an advocate during any hospitalization. The campaign also encourages dialysis patients to share their dialysis care team contact information with the hospital staff upon entering the emergency department or being admitted.

 

You can download, Dialysis: Five Ways to Be Active in Your Care at the Hospital from the AAKP website by clicking here. 
 April 2011 
masthead
Depression May Increase the Risk of Kidney Failure 

depressionDepression is associated with an increased risk of developing kidney failure in the future, according to a study in the Clinical Journal of the American Society Nephrology (CJASN). Approximately 10 percent of the U.S. population will suffer from depression at some point during their lifetime. Researchers studied 5,785 people from four counties across the United States for 10 years. The participants were 65 years and older and not yet on dialysis. They completed a questionnaire measuring depressive symptoms and a broad range of medical measurements, including estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and risk factors for kidney and heart diseases. 

According to the results, depression coincided with the presence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and was 20 percent more common in individuals with kidney disease than those without kidney disease. The study shows that depression predicted subsequent rapid decline in kidney function, new onset clinically severe kidney disease, and hospitalizations that were complicated by acute kidney injury. 

Healthcare Associated Infections in Dialysis Patients

Chronic hemodialysis patients are at high risk for a number of health care associated infections (HAIs). These infections are often due to weaknesses in their immune system but can also be related to the actual process of hemodialysis which requires frequent access to the vascular system.

 

In an environment where multiple patients receive dialysis at the same time, there are opportunities for person-to-person transmission of infectious agents that can lead to a health care associated infection (HAI). This can occur directly or indirectly through contaminated devices, equipment, and supplies, environmental surfaces, or the hands of healthcare personnel. In addition, hemodialysis patients have weakened immune systems and require frequent hospitalizations and surgery, which increases their opportunities for exposure to HAIs such as central-line bloodstream infectons.

 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is working with partners and states to prevent HAIs. But, patients can also play a role in the prevention of HAIs as well. Click here for a few ways to be a safe patient.

Register Today for the AAKP National Convention!

Little Rock

The AAKP 38th Annual Convention Registration Brochure is now available! The AAKP National Convention is the largest event of its kind, bringing together patients, family members and renal professionals for three days of learning and fun. Hundreds of participants from across the United States attend. The event is taking place at the world famous Peabody Little Rock hotel in Little Rock, Arkansas.

 

In addition to the educational aspects of the meeting, attendees have the unique opportunity to share their experiences and concerns with their fellow kidney patients. The program includes panels of patients to encourage this type of interaction and sessions by mental and social health professionals to cover the emotional and social aspects of living with a chronic condition.

 

New this year, a public policy forum at the William J. Clinton Presidential Center

where invited national policy, medical and academic experts will discuss and debate preventative medicine and health considerations among minority communities who are disproportionately impacted by chronic kidney disease (CKD); disease prevention; potential technology or pharmaceutical advances related to kidney disease, heart health and transplantation; and much more. 

 

Visit www.aakp.org/events/Convention to download your free copy of the Convention Registration brochure. You can also call 1-800-748-2257 to request a copy.

 

Survey Shows Gaps in Treatment Options Education 

Many patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) would like to receive more comprehensive information about the various treatment alternatives available, according to an article appearing in the March 2011 issue of the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology.

The article is based on a survey conducted by AAKP. Nearly 1,000 ESRD patients and their caregivers responded to the survey, which asked for their perspectives on dialysis education and therapy. More than 30 percent of the patients felt that the different options for treatment -- in-center hemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis, home hemodialysis, and kidney transplantation -- were not "equally or fairly presented to them." Only about a third of ESRD patients indicated that they were given sufficient information about home hemodialysis. AAKP and Baxter Healthcare Corporation co-authored the study based on the survey findings.