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Evidence for Potassium Restriction in Hemodialysis

Not Applicable
Not yet recruiting
Conditions
Hyperkalemia, Diminished Renal Excretion
Interventions
Behavioral: Traditional approach
Behavioral: Novel dietary approach focused on restricting the intake of highly bioavailable potassium
Registration Number
NCT06120608
Lead Sponsor
Centre Integre Universitaire de Sante et Services Sociaux du Nord de l'ile de Montreal
Brief Summary

EvoKe-HD is a pilot randomized controlled trial to assess the feasibility and potential for efficacy of a novel dietary approach to hyperkalemia. Contrary to the traditional recommendations limiting the intake of high-potassium whole foods, such as fruits and vegetables, the investigators propose to switch the focus to foods containing potassium that is readily absorbed by the body (high bioavailability), such as potassium from additives, processed meats, milk, fruit juices and sugary drinks.

Detailed Description

Sixty adults receiving hemodialysis treatments with blood potassium levels ≥ 5.2 mmol/L on two occasions or more in the past three months will be randomly assigned to either the novel dietary counselling or the traditional approach. Both groups will meet with the renal dietician again once a month for 20 to 30 minutes, but the content of the recommendations will be different. The intervention and follow-up period will last six months. The investigators will record pre-dialysis potassium, bicarbonate, phosphorus, calcium and parathormone levels, blood pressure, volume status, hospitalizations, medication, and dialysis prescription changes monthly and assess nutritional status and satisfaction with food at the beginning and at the end of the study.

The study will be successful if 30% or more of the eligible patients agree to participate and complete the 6-month assessment.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
NOT_YET_RECRUITING
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
60
Inclusion Criteria
  • ≥18 years or older
  • Receiving hemodialysis 3 times/week for ≥ 3 months
  • Has at least two pre-dialysis serum potassium levels ≥5.2 mmol/L on any analysis in the past 3 months
  • Can speak and understand French or English
  • Has not missed more than 1 dialysis session in the previous 3 months.
  • Is capable of providing informed consent.
Exclusion Criteria
  • Is not expected to survive beyond 6 months
  • Does not control their dietary intake (e.g., residents of high-dependency nursing homes)
  • Significant cognitive impairment precluding understanding of the dietary recommendations.

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
ControlTraditional approachParticipants will be asked to reduce the intake of food items with high total potassium content. A list of moderate-to-high potassium food items will be provided to the participants.
Restriction high bioavailability potassium sourcesNovel dietary approach focused on restricting the intake of highly bioavailable potassiumParticipants will be asked to identify and avoid food items with potassium additives by revising the ingredient lists of the grocery products they consume. They will also be asked to reduce two sources of high bioavailability potassium, such as meat, milk, fruit juices, processed potatoes or coffee.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Change in average mid-week predialysis potassium level during the study period6 months
Percentage of prevalent dialysis patients recruited and retained for 6 months6 months

Primary feasibility outcome

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Ratio of plant to animal protein intake (g/g)6 months
Subjective global assessment6 months

Standardized subjective assessment of nutritional status performed by a dietitian. Final rating is either Well-nourished, Mildly/moderately malnourished or Severely malnourished with or without cachexia and/or sarcopenia.

Self-perceived compliance with the dietary recommendations6 months

"I am following the diet recommended by the renal dietitian" (1-7 Likert scale with anchors)

Average monthly midweek pre-dialysis serum calcium level (mmol/L)6 months
Number of participants recruited 12 months into the trial6 months

Secondary feasibility outcome

Percentage of randomized participants who report having understood the dietary recommendations well or very well using a 1-7 Likert scale with anchors6 months

Secondary feasibility outcome

Percentage of randomized participants who judge the intervention to be acceptable using a 1-7 Likert scale with anchors6 months

Secondary feasibility outcome

Number of dialysis sessions with dialysate concentration < 2mmol/L6 months
Mediterranean-diet scale6 months

Score from 0 (minimal adherence to the traditional Mediterranean diet) to 9 (maximal adherence)

Number of servings/day of high potassium bioavailability items (meat, dairy, juices, potatoes)6 months
Number of patients for whom the potassium dialysate concentration was raised or lowered (by ≥0.5mmol/L)6 months
Total dose of potassium binders (g) over the study period6 months
Number of participants taking potassium binders at 6 months6 months
Number of hyperkalemia (≥5.6 mmol/L) and severe hyperkalemia (>6 mmol/L) events6 months
Healthy diet index 20206 months

Include 13 components that reflect the key recommendations in the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2020-2025. The maximum score is 100.

Peak serum potassium over the study period6 months
Albumin levels (g/L)6 months
Pre-albumin levels (g/L)6 months
Body mass index (kg/m2)6 months
Pre-dialysis serum parathyroid hormone level (pmol/L)6 months
1-week average inter-dialytic weight gain (kg/day)6 months
Ratio of the number of randomized participants over the number of screened participants randomized6 months

Secondary feasibility outcome

Average monthly midweek pre-dialysis serum potassium level (mmol/L)6 months
Mediterranean diet score6 months

0 to 100 score; higher score represents a better adherence to the Mediterranean diet

Number of servings/day of moderate to high total potassium food items6 months
Change in weight (kg)6 months
Self-perceived impact on diet6 months

"I changed my diet in the past 3 months based on the advice I received from the renal dietitian" (1-7 Likert scale with anchors)

Normalized protein nitrogen appearance (g/kg/day)6 months

calculated from urea reduction ratio

Satisfaction with food-related life6 months

5-item scale, total score range 0 to 100, higher score represents higher satisfaction with food

Average monthly midweek pre-dialysis serum phosphate level (mmol/L)6 months
1-week average pre dialysis blood pressure (mmHg)6 months
1-week average post dialysis blood pressure (mmHg)6 months
Monthly average serum bicarbonate levels (mmol/L)6 months

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

CIUSSS du Nord-de-l'Île-de-Montréal

🇨🇦

Montréal, Quebec, Canada

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