Krisanapan, Pajaree

Background/Objectives: With the growing population of kidney transplant recipients (KTRs) in intensive care units (ICUs), understanding their prognostic outcomes is critical. As conflicting findings exist, we aim to systematically evaluate and meta-analyze ICU outcomes in kidney transplant recipients compared to non-recipients. Methods: We conducted a comprehensive search of the PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane databases, from inception through 23 December 2024, to identify relevant studies comparing the outcomes of KTRs and non-transplant ICU patients. Odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated for dichotomous outcomes, and weighted mean differences (WMDs) were calculated for continuous outcomes. The risk of bias was assessed using the ROBINS-I V2 tool. The study protocol was registered in the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (CRD42024595104). Results: Seven studies, including 12,062 patients, were analyzed. Demographics, including age and sex, were comparable across groups. No statistically significant associations were found for overall mortality (OR: 1.82, 95% CI: 0.79 to 4.16), ICU mortality (OR: 1.06, 95% CI: 0.45 to 2.48), or 28/30-day mortality (OR: 2.06, 95% CI: 0.30 to 14.10) in KTRs, though there was a trend suggesting a potential increase in the odds of overall mortality. KTRs tended to have longer ICU stays (WMD: +1.96 days, 95% CI: 0.81–3.11) and higher Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) scores (WMD: +0.79, 95% CI: −0.78–2.36), but these findings did not reach statistical significance. One study reported higher 1-year and 5-year mortality for KTRs. Sensitivity analyses revealed one influential study. Begg’s test for overall mortality suggested non-significant publication bias (p = 1.0). Conclusions: KTRs in ICUs are at significantly higher risk for long-term mortality, emphasizing the need for tailored critical care strategies and long-term management. Future research should focus on standardizing methodologies, reducing heterogeneity, and addressing gaps in data to improve evidence-based care for this vulnerable population.

ABSTRACT Background Cognitive impairment (CI) is a critical complication in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients, associated with decreased quality of life and increased hospitalization. Despite its significant impact, the prevalence, risk factors, and consequences of CI in PD patients are not well understood. We aimed to determine the prevalence, risk factors, and outcomes of CI in PD patients. Methods We performed systematic reviews in OVID Medline, Embase, and Cochrane databases until February 2024 to identify cross-sectional and cohort studies on prevalence of CI (identified by cognitive assessment scales) in PD patients. The Newcastle–Ottawa Scale was used to assess risk of bias. A pooled meta-analysis of CI prevalence in PD and a subgroup analysis comparing the risk of CI between PD and non-PD settings were performed using a random-effects model. Results A total of 19 studies were identified, involving 2882 PD patients. The pooled prevalence of CI in PD patients was 47.7% (95%CI: 35.8–59.9%). CI in patients undergoing PD appears to be associated with older age, female gender, lower levels of education, and is linked to higher rates of hospitalization and peritonitis, compared to those without CI. However, it is not associated with increased mortality. Compared to hemodialysis, PD showed a trend toward a lower risk of CI (OR 0.64, 95%CI 0.39–1.03; P = .068). Conclusion CI is highly prevalent and associated with several adverse clinical outcomes in PD patients. These findings could contribute to facilitate the development of screening and early intervention strategies to reduce the burden of disease in this population.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients can benefit from personalized education on lifestyle and nutrition management strategies to enhance healthcare outcomes. The potential use of chatbots, introduced in 2022, as a tool for educating CKD patients has been explored. A set of 15 questions on lifestyle modification and nutrition, derived from a thorough review of three specific KDIGO guidelines, were developed and posed in various formats, including original, paraphrased with different adverbs, incomplete sentences, and misspellings. Four versions of AI were used to answer these questions: ChatGPT 3.5 (March and September 2023 versions), ChatGPT 4, and Bard AI. Additionally, 20 questions on lifestyle modification and nutrition were derived from the NKF KDOQI guidelines for nutrition in CKD (2020 Update) and answered by four versions of chatbots. Nephrologists reviewed all answers for accuracy. ChatGPT 3.5 produced largely accurate responses across the different question complexities, with occasional misleading statements from the March version. The September 2023 version frequently cited its last update as September 2021 and did not provide specific references, while the November 2023 version did not provide any misleading information. ChatGPT 4 presented answers similar to 3.5 but with improved reference citations, though not always directly relevant. Bard AI, while largely accurate with pictorial representation at times, occasionally produced misleading statements and had inconsistent reference quality, although an improvement was noted over time. Bing AI from November 2023 had short answers without detailed elaboration and sometimes just answered “YES”. Chatbots demonstrate potential as personalized educational tools for CKD that utilize layman’s terms, deliver timely and rapid responses in multiple languages, and offer a conversational pattern advantageous for patient engagement. Despite improvements observed from March to November 2023, some answers remained potentially misleading. ChatGPT 4 offers some advantages over 3.5, although the differences are limited. Collaboration between healthcare professionals and AI developers is essential to improve healthcare delivery and ensure the safe incorporation of chatbots into patient care.

Background: Despite the prevalence and incidence of kidney stones progressively increasing worldwide, public awareness of this condition remains unclear. Understanding trends of awareness can assist healthcare professionals and policymakers in planning and implementing targeted health interventions. This study investigated online search interest in “kidney stone” by analyzing Google Trends, focusing on stationarity of the trends and predicting future trends. Methods: We performed time series analysis on worldwide Google monthly search data from January 2004 to November 2023. The Augmented Dickey–Fuller (ADF) test was used to assess the stationarity of the data, with a p-value below 0.05 indicating stationarity. Time series forecasting was performed using the autoregressive integrated moving average to predict future trends. Results: The highest search interest for “kidney stone” (score 100) was in August 2022, while the lowest was in December 2007 (score 36). As of November 2023, search interest remained high, at 92. The ADF test was significant (p = 0.023), confirming data stationarity. The time series forecasting projected continued high public interest, likely reflecting ongoing concern and awareness. Notably, diverse regions such as Iran, the Philippines, Ecuador, the United States, and Nepal showed significant interest, suggesting widespread awareness of nephrolithiasis. Conclusion: This study highlighted that “kidney stone” is a consistently relevant health issue globally. The increase and stationarity of search trends, the forecasted sustained interest, and diverse regional interest emphasize the need for collaborative research and educational initiatives. This study’s analysis serves as a valuable tool for shaping future healthcare policies and research directions in addressing nephrolithiasis related health challenges.