Xiao, Huiling

ABSTRACT Background Kidney disease significantly increases the risk of dementia, including among kidney transplant (KTx) recipients. To date, the cost implications of dementia after KTx are not well described. Methods We performed a retrospective cohort study of US Renal Data System (USRDS) data (2006–2020) to estimate cost of care for ≥65‐year‐old Medicare insured KTx recipients (2006–2020) with newly diagnosed dementia ( n = 3285), compared to propensity‐matched controls without dementia ( n = 6570). KTx recipients age 65+ years with post‐KTx dementia were identified by diagnosis codes, and costs were computed based on payments on Medicare claims. Average costs per month, marginal costs per month, and cumulative costs were compared after dementia diagnosis versus after the equivalent time post‐KTx in controls. Results Dementia was diagnosed at a mean of 5.1 ± 3.4 years post‐KTx. Patients' characteristics were well matched in cases versus controls, including age (mean: 70.1 vs. 69.9 years), sex (38.4% vs. 37.9% women), race (23.7% vs. 22.2% African American), and cause of ESKD (45.4% vs. 43.7% diabetes). Over 4 years post‐KTx, dementia was associated with reduced survival (27% vs. 68%) along with $66 145 (95% CI $51 560‐$78 489) higher Medicare spending. Average monthly costs in dementia patients reached a maximum of $12 713 and exceeded the cost of unaffected patients by up to $9789 per month. Conclusions Post‐KTx dementia dramatically increased resource utilization and reduced post‐KTx surivival. These findings highlight the need for care pathways that better integrate cognitive health assessment and management into the care of KTx candidates and recipients.

Background. Pancreas transplant biopsy practices for the diagnosis of rejection or other pathologies are not well described. Methods. We conducted a survey of staff at US pancreas transplant programs (March 22, 2022, to August 22, 2022) to assess current program practices and perceptions about the utility and challenges in the performance and interpretation of pancreas allograft biopsies. Results. Respondents represented 65% (76/117) of active adult pancreas transplant programs, capturing 66% of recent pancreas transplant volume in the United States. Participants were most often nephrologists (52%), followed by surgeons (46%), and other staff (4%). Pancreas allograft biopsies were performed mostly by interventional radiologists (74%), followed by surgeons (11%), nephrologists (8%), and gastroenterologists (1%). Limitations in the radiologist’s or biopsy performer’s comfort level or expertise to safely perform a biopsy, or to obtain sufficient/adequate samples were the two most common challenges with pancreas transplant biopsies. Pancreas transplant biopsies were read by local pathologists at a majority (86%) of centers. Challenges reported with pancreas biopsy interpretation included poor reliability, lack of reporting of C4d staining, lack of reporting of rejection grading, and inconclusive interpretation of the biopsy. Staff at a third of responding programs (34%) stated that they rarely or never perform pancreas allograft biopsies and treat presumed rejection empirically. Conclusions. This national survey identified significant variation in clinical practices related to pancreas allograft biopsies and potential barriers to pancreas transplant utilization across the United States. Consideration of strategies to improve program experience with percutaneous pancreas biopsy and to support optimal management of pancreas allograft rejection informed by histology is warranted.

AbstractPrescription narcotic use among living kidney donors is not well described. Using a unique database that integrates national registry identifiers for living kidney donors (1987–2007) in the United States with billing claims from a private health insurer (2000–2007), we identified pharmacy fills for prescription narcotic medications in periods 1–4 and >4 yr post‐donation and estimated relative likelihoods of post‐donation narcotic use by Cox regression. We also compared narcotic fill rates and medication possession ratios (MPRs, defined as (days of medication supplied)/(days observed)), between donors and age‐ and sex‐matched non‐donors. Overall, rates of narcotic medication fills were 32.3 and 32.4 per 100 person‐years in periods 1–4 and >4 yr post‐donation. After age and race adjustment, women were approximately twice as likely as men to fill a narcotic prescription in years 1–4 (adjusted hazard ratio, aHR, 2.28; 95% confidence interval, CI, 1.86–2.79) and >4 yr (aHR 1.70; 95% CI 1.50–1.93). MPRs in donors were low (<2.5% days exposed), and lower than among age‐ and sex‐matched non‐donors. Prescription narcotic medication use is more common among women than men in the intermediate term after live kidney donation. Overall, total narcotic exposure is low, and lower than among non‐donors from the general population.