Hyperphosphatemia is a common complication in dialysis-dependent patients with chronic kidney disease. Most dialysis-dependent patients need oral phosphate binder therapy to control serum phosphorus concentrations. Most phosphate binders have a high daily pill burden, which may reduce treatment adherence and impair phosphorus control. Sucroferric oxyhydroxide is a potent iron-based phosphate binder approved for use in dialysis-dependent patients in 2013. A randomized controlled trial of sucroferric oxyhydroxide demonstrated its efficacy for reduction of serum phosphorus with a lower pill burden than sevelamer carbonate. Clinical trials carefully select patients, monitor adherence, and routinely titrate medications to a protocol-defined goal. Consequently, trials may not reflect real-world use of medications. Since its approval, we and others have performed retrospective and prospective analyses of sucroferric oxyhydroxide in real-world clinical practice in > 6400 hemodialysis and approximately 500 peritoneal dialysis patients in the USA and Europe. Consistent with the clinical trial data, real-world observational studies have demonstrated that sucroferric oxyhydroxide can effectively reduce serum phosphorus with a lower daily pill burden than most other phosphate binders. These studies have also shown sucroferric oxyhydroxide provides effective serum phosphorus control in different treatment settings, including as monotherapy in phosphate binder-naïve patients, in patients switching from other phosphate binders, or when used in combination with other phosphate binders. These observational studies indicate a favorable safety and tolerability profile, and minimal, if any, systemic iron absorption. This article reviews the key results from these observational studies of sucroferric oxyhydroxide and evaluates its role in the management of hyperphosphatemia in clinical practice.

Background

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-related short-term mortality is high in dialysis patients, but longer-term outcomes are largely unknown. We therefore assessed patient recovery in a large cohort of dialysis patients 3 months after their COVID-19 diagnosis.

Methods

We analyzed data on dialysis patients diagnosed with COVID-19 from 1 February 2020 to 31 March 2021 from the European Renal Association COVID-19 Database (ERACODA). The outcomes studied were patient survival, residence and functional and mental health status (estimated by their treating physician) 3 months after COVID-19 diagnosis. Complete follow-up data were available for 854 surviving patients. Patient characteristics associated with recovery were analyzed using logistic regression.

Results

In 2449 hemodialysis patients (mean ± SD age 67.5 ± 14.4 years, 62% male), survival probabilities at 3 months after COVID-19 diagnosis were 90% for nonhospitalized patients (n = 1087), 73% for patients admitted to the hospital but not to an intensive care unit (ICU) (n = 1165) and 40% for those admitted to an ICU (n = 197). Patient survival hardly decreased between 28 days and 3 months after COVID-19 diagnosis. At 3 months, 87% functioned at their pre-existent functional and 94% at their pre-existent mental level. Only few of the surviving patients were still admitted to the hospital (0.8-6.3%) or a nursing home (∼5%). A higher age and frailty score at presentation and ICU admission were associated with worse functional outcome.

Conclusions

Mortality between 28 days and 3 months after COVID-19 diagnosis was low and the majority of patients who survived COVID-19 recovered to their pre-existent functional and mental health level at 3 months after diagnosis.

Background

Patients on kidney replacement therapy (KRT) are at very high risk of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The triage pathway for KRT patients presenting to hospitals with varying severity of COVID-19 illness remains ill-defined. We studied the clinical characteristics of patients at initial and subsequent hospital presentations and the impact on patient outcomes.

Methods

The European Renal Association COVID-19 Database (ERACODA) was analysed for clinical and laboratory features of 1423 KRT patients with COVID-19 either hospitalized or non-hospitalized at initial triage and those re-presenting a second time. Predictors of outcomes (hospitalization, 28-day mortality) were then determined for all those not hospitalized at initial triage.

Results

Among 1423 KRT patients with COVID-19 [haemodialysis (HD), n = 1017; transplant, n = 406), 25% (n = 355) were not hospitalized at first presentation due to mild illness (30% HD, 13% transplant). Of the non-hospitalized patients, only 10% (n = 36) re-presented a second time, with a 5-day median interval between the two presentations (interquartile range 2-7 days). Patients who re-presented had worsening respiratory symptoms, a decrease in oxygen saturation (97% versus 90%) and an increase in C-reactive protein (26 versus 73 mg/L) and were older (72 vs 63 years) compared with those who did not return a second time. The 28-day mortality between early admission (at first presentation) and deferred admission (at second presentation) was not significantly different (29% versus 25%; P = 0.6). Older age, prior smoking history, higher clinical frailty score and self-reported shortness of breath at first presentation were identified as risk predictors of mortality when re-presenting after discharge at initial triage.

Conclusions

This study provides evidence that KRT patients with COVID-19 and mild illness can be managed effectively with supported outpatient care and with vigilance of respiratory symptoms, especially in those with risk factors for poor outcomes. Our findings support a risk-stratified clinical approach to admissions and discharges of KRT patients presenting with COVID-19 to aid clinical triage and optimize resource utilization during the ongoing pandemic.