Browsing by Author "Galbraith, Lauren"

Now showing 1 - 2 of 2
  • Thumbnail Image
    ItemOpen Access
    Identifying Chronic Kidney Disease in the Community: The See Kidney Disease Targeted Screening Program
    (2015-09-30) Galbraith, Lauren; Hemmelgarn, Brenda; Ronksley, Paul
    Background: Guidelines recommend early identification of chronic kidney disease (CKD), with targeted screening as a potential method. Methods: The See Kidney Disease (SeeKD) targeted screening program screened 5,194 participants for CKD across Canada. Participant characteristics and clinical measures, including point-of-care creatinine testing for at-risk participants to determine unrecognized CKD (estimated glomerular filtration rate < 60 mL/min/1.73m2), were obtained. Individual counselling sessions were provided to participants as a behaviour change intervention. Results: The majority of participants (88.9%) had at least one risk factor for CKD, amongst whom the prevalence of unrecognized CKD was 18.8%. The majority of respondents to the post-screening survey (89.8%) self-reported a health behaviour change 2-4 weeks after their individual counselling session. Conclusion: The SeeKD program was able to identify a high prevalence of unrecognized CKD. Individual counselling may be an important component in facilitating health behaviour change among participants at risk of CKD.
  • Thumbnail Image
    ItemOpen Access
    The Steroids In the Maintenance of remission of Proliferative Lupus nephritis (SIMPL) pilot trial
    (Canadian Journal of Kidney Health and Disease, 2014-11-28) Galbraith, Lauren; Manns, Braden; Hemmelgarn, Brenda; Walsh, Michael
    Background Patients with proliferative lupus nephritis are at risk of frequent relapses. Whether low- dose prednisone prevents relapses is uncertain. Objectives We undertook a pilot RCT to determine the feasibility of a larger trial. Design Pilot randomized controlled trial. Setting Single center Canadian outpatient nephrology clinic. Patients Participants with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and a history of class III or IV lupus nephritis that achieved at least partial remission and remained on prednisone were eligible. Measurements Feasibility: proportion of eligible patients randomized and adherence to tapering regimen. Clinical: occurrence of renal or major non-renal flare of SLE. Methods We conducted a blinded, two-parallel-group randomized controlled trial of prednisone 7.5 mg/day (continuation) compared to a matching placebo (withdrawal). Results Of nineteen eligible patients screened, 15 (79%) were recruited and randomized; 8 to prednisone continuation and seven to withdrawal. All participants adhered to the tapering protocol to their assigned withdrawal or low-dose maintenance target. Over 36 months, the primary outcome occurred in four (50%) patients in the continuation group (three renal and one major non-renal flare), compared with one patient (14%) in the withdrawal group (one renal flare). Three participants (38%) in the continuation group had minor flares, while no patients in the withdrawal group did. Limitations This pilot RCT was small and not designed to assess the efficacy or safety of maintenance with low-dose prednisone. Conclusions The high proportion of eligible patients recruited, and success of protocol adherence suggest a large trial of prednisone maintenance therapy compared to withdrawal is feasible. Trial registration Current Controlled Trials ISRCTN31327267.