PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

Keith C Norris

Publications and source records attributed to Keith C Norris.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Baseline predictors of renal disease progression in the African American Study of Hypertension and Kidney Disease.

Patients with chronic kidney disease have an increased risk for progression to ESRD. The purpose of this study was to examine factors that predict increased risk for adverse renal outcomes. Cox regression was performed to assess the potential of 38 baseline risk factors to predict the clinical renal composite outcome of 50% or 25-ml/min per 1.73 m(2) GFR decline or ESRD among 1094 black patients with hypertensive nephrosclerosis (GFR 20 to 65 ml/min per 1.73 m(2)). Patients were trial participants who had been randomly assigned to one of two BP goals and to one of three antihypertensive regimens and followed for a range of 3 to 6.4 yr. In unadjusted and adjusted analyses, baseline proteinuria was consistently associated with an increased risk for adverse renal outcomes, even at low levels of proteinuria. The relationship of proteinuria with adverse renal outcomes also was evident in analyses that were stratified by level of GFR, which itself was associated with adverse renal outcomes but only at levels <40 ml/min. Other factors that were significantly associated with increased renal events after adjustment for baseline GFR, age, and gender, both with and without adjustment for baseline proteinuria, included serum creatinine, urea nitrogen, and phosphorus. In black patients with hypertensive nephrosclerosis, increased proteinuria, reduced GFR, and elevated levels of serum creatinine, urea nitrogen and phosphorus were directly associated with adverse clinical renal events. These findings identify a subset of this high-risk population that might benefit from even more aggressive treatment.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

Building an academic-community partnered network for clinical services research: the Community Health Improvement Collaborative (CHIC).

OBJECTIVE: Community-based participatory research is recommended for research on health disparities and to improve uptake of clinical research findings. We describe the development of a multicenter consortium designed to support a community agency-academic partner infrastructure to support community-based, health-services research on multiple sources of health and healthcare disparities in local communities. DESIGN: We describe the development of the Los Angeles Community Health Improvement Collaborative (CHIC). RESULTS: The CHIC partners examined the research capacity and health priorities of its partners and developed a research agenda focused on four tracer conditions (depression, violence, diabetes, and obesity) and four areas for development of research capacity: public participation in all phases of research; understanding community and organizational context for clinical services interventions; practical clinical services trial methods; and advancing health information technology for clinical services research. The partners pooled resources to develop these areas for the tracer conditions. CONCLUSIONS: The challenges of a participatory approach to community-based clinical services research go beyond the significant methodologic and operational issues for specific projects and include building a sustainable capacity for research, community programs, and partnership across diverse communities and stakeholder organizations even when funding sources are not fully aligned with these goals.

Community Participation↗
PubMed2005

Unraveling the racial disparities associated with kidney disease.

In the United States, chronic kidney disease (CKD), and in particular end-stage renal disease (ESRD), represent a growing problem. Many other countries also have an increasing number of ESRD cases. Racial/ethnic disparities have been documented globally in the prevalence, incidence, and treatment of CKD, most extensively in the United States, but also in the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand, among others. In many circumstances, these disparities are of a negative nature, that is, certain racial/ethnic groups fare worse than their white counterparts with respect to the treatment or outcome of CKD. However, in a few circumstances, they are of a positive nature, such as the survival advantage seen in minorities with ESRD compared with whites. The reasons for racial disparities in the prevalence, incidence, and treatment of CKD are not fully understood, although they are explained partly by coexisting medical conditions and modifiable risk factors, such as socioeconomic, lifestyle, and cultural. It is likely, however, that the complete picture incorporates a complex interaction between these sociocultural, genetic, and environmental factors. In a global society that prides itself on a high level of sensitivity and equality, there is an ethical and moral imperative to address the continuing racial/ethnic disparities in CKD and many of the factors underlying this epidemic. We review data highlighting the racial/ethnic disparities that exist in the incidence and treatment of CKD, with particular emphasis on ESRD. A better understanding of both the negative and positive racial/ethnic disparities may yield important insights, which can inform future research strategies and improve health outcomes for all patients afflicted with CKD.

Health Services Accessibility↗
PubMed2005

Management of early chronic kidney disease in indigenous populations and ethnic minorities.

The rate of treated end-stage renal disease (ESRD) continues to increase globally. The disproportionately high rate of ESRD among the many growing indigenous populations and racial/ethnic minorities in the United States highlights the need to reassess present treatment strategies to more appropriately identify and manage chronic kidney disease in diverse communities. Similar projections have been noted worldwide. This discrepancy between ESRD rates among racial and ethnic minority groups, and treatment strategies is due to several factors, many of which are modifiable. These include the individual, the health care provider/system, and limited participation in controlled clinical trials. Although it is unfortunate that this disparity continues to exist, a thoughtful and compassionate approach to addressing the role of diverse biobehavioral and sociocultural factors might be the key to effective translation of emerging scientific advances into improved clinical outcomes for all patients with chronic kidney disease.

California↗
PubMed2005

Sodium disorders in the elderly.

Disorders of sodium imbalance are commonly encountered in clinical practice and can have a substantial impact on the prognosis of the patient. These disorders are more common in the elderly. Sodium disorders can cause serious neurologic symptoms and even death, particularly among hospitalized patients. The identification of sodium abnormalities and appropriate clinical intervention are critical for improving patient outcomes. Early recognition of hyponatremia and hypernatremia can provide a clue to an underlying disorder. In this update, we have summarized age-related homeostatic changes that impair sodium balance, medications that alter salt and water handling, and the recognition and management of sodium disorders in elderly patients.

Age Factors↗
PubMed2005

Using focus groups of older African Americans and Latinos with diabetes to modify a self-care empowerment intervention.

OBJECTIVE: To make cultural and age-specific modifications to a self-care empowerment intervention. DESIGN: Focus groups with self-administered surveys. SETTING: Two public health diabetes and geriatrics clinic and two senior centers in and around South Los Angeles. PARTICIPANTS: African Americans and Latinos aged > or = 55 years with diabetes (N=79), and two groups of health educators (N=16). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: After describing the proposed intervention, the focus group facilitators asked participants: 1) whether the community of interest would be interested in the proposed empowerment intervention; 2) why or why not; and 3) how the intervention could be modified to better address the concerns of the study community of interest. All groups were audiotaped, transcribed, and (when appropriate) translated into English. Three independent investigators read all transcripts and completed standardized coding forms for each transcript. In addition, at the end of each focus group, all participants completed a self-administered written survey asking them to rate aspects of the proposed intervention. RESULTS: Older African Americans and Latinos endorsed the intervention but desired an expanded dietary educational component and identified disability as an important missing content area. Participants rejected the use of an audio learning tool and did not believe that matching group-facilitator sociodemographic characteristics was important as long as facilitators demonstrated cultural competency. CONCLUSIONS: These findings illustrate a model of participatory research in which researchers and community members work together to develop an empowerment intervention that will meet community needs and will have greater cultural appropriateness. Modifying the intervention in accordance with these findings should enhance the relevance and impact of the self-care intervention.

Black or African American↗
PubMed2005

The impact of routine vitamin supplementation on serum levels of 25 (OH) D3 among the general adult population and patients with chronic kidney disease.

BACKGROUND: Vitamin D supplementation is recommended to maintain bone health in the general population and in particular in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). While the nutritional status of vitamin D is assessed by circulating levels of 25 (OH) D3, it is not routinely measured to ensure the adequacy of vitamin D supplementation. Current recommendations require the maintenance of serum levels of 25 (OH) D3 > or = 70 nmol/L. The objective of this study is to assess the effect of routine vitamin supplements on the serum levels of 25 (OH) D3 in the general population and among persons with CKD. METHOD: Using data from the third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III) we assessed the adequacy of routine vitamin supplementation by assessing serum levels of 25 (OH) D3 among 15,390 adult participants, both with and without CKD. RESULTS: In the general population the participants with vitamin supplements had higher serum level of 25 (OH) D3 (79.47 vs 74.38 nmol/L) and a lower prevalence of vitamin D deficiency (39% vs 48%) than participants not taking any supplements. In the CKD subgroup, the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency was lower with supplements (49%), while greater without supplements (59%). Vitamin D deficiency was higher among women, elderly, and minorities as previously reported. In an adjusted regression model the odds of severe vitamin D deficiency (<25 nmol/L) was 1.43 (P=.0032) among CKD patients, with a trend toward higher rates among patients not taking vitamin supplements (odds ratio 1.47, P=.0557). CONCLUSION: Vitamin supplementation is associated with a lower prevalence of vitamin D deficiency and higher serum levels of 25 (OH) D3. However, the current dose of vitamin D in routine vitamin supplements is still insufficient to maintain adequate serum 25 (OH) D3 levels in a substantial portion of both the general and CKD populations. We must re-asses the dose of vitamin D in routine vitamin supplements in the United States.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Education, motivation and medication for African Americans: bringing hypertension guidelines to practice.

African Americans suffer from high rates of hypertension and hypertension-related complications. While racial/ethnic differences in blood pressure response to pharmacologic therapy have been described, most randomized hypertension trials with substantial enrollment of African Americans receiving standardized medical care do not support class-specific racial/ethnic differences in key clinical outcomes. Understanding health care systems and the socio-economic and demographic factors that impair access can enhance the ability of the provider to enlist and engage the patient for optimal blood pressure control and end organ protection.

Black or African American↗
PubMed2004

Calcium antagonists: a more expansive role in treating persons with reduced kidney function?

Most recent studies have supported inhibition of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) with diuretic as initial hypertensive therapy in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). The recommended role of calcium channel blockers (CCB) in CKD patients had diminished due to class-specific differences in antiproteinuric effects and lesser efficacy in reducing composite renal clinical outcomes when compared to RAAS inhibition. However, the demonstrated safety and efficacy of CCB in combination with RAAS inhibition, and the recognized need for effective antihypertensive agents to achieve the low target blood pressures, has prompted a more expanded use of calcium channel blockers in this difficult to treat CKD population.

Black or African American↗
PubMed2002

The role of vitamin D in mild to moderate chronic kidney disease.

Dietary vitamin D is a prohormone that is metabolized to the bioactive vitamin D hormone, 1 alpha, 25-dihydroxyvitamin D [1,25-(OH)2D]. 1,25-(OH)2D has been implicated in a variety of regulatory pathways that extend well beyond its traditional function in Ca2+ homeostasis. In uncovering these diverse functions, investigators have focused on the complex interaction between 1,25-(OH)2D and parathyroid hormone (PTH). Here, we present an overview of the functions of vitamin D hormone and PTH in the clinical context of secondary hyperparathyroidism. We discuss recent developments in treatment that address imbalances in vitamin D hormone and PTH levels, supporting the argument that early intervention can reduce the risk of metabolic complications caused by vitamin D hormone deficiency in patients with chronic kidney disease.

Animals↗
PubMed2002

Kidney disease physician workforce: where is the emerging pipeline?

A predicted increase in the number of patients with end-stage renal disease in coming years, coupled with significant numbers of qualified nephrologists reaching retirement age, will place great demands on the renal physician workforce. Action is required on several fronts to combat the predicted shortfall in full-time nephrologists. Of particular importance is the need to recruit and train greater numbers of physicians from ethnic minority groups. Changes in the demographics of kidney disease make it increasingly a disease of ethnic minorities and the poor. These demographic changes, together with the existing racial disparities in the diagnosis and treatment of kidney disease, highlight the specific need for nephrologists who are cognizant of the issues and barriers that prevent optimal care of high-risk minority populations. The current lack of academic role models and the drive by medical schools and residency programs to encourage minority group physicians to become primary care providers, rather than specialists, are issues that must be urgently addressed. Equally, changes in the training of renal fellows are required to merge the critical need for cutting edge research activity in renal science and with the insights and sensitivity to equip clinicians with the necessary skills for the team-based approach to patient care that increasingly characterizes the management and care of the patient with chronic kidney disease.

Humans↗