Agarwal, R. (2005). Hypertension and survival in chronic hemodialysis patients-past lessons and future opportunities. Kidney International, 67, 1-13.
This study review looks at reverse epidemiology between hypertension and mortality among chronic hemodialysis patients. The author conducts a critical analysis of the most recent research studies, which show that there is a positive improvement among chronic hemodialysis patients when systolic blood pressure is controlled prior to treatment. Therefore, there is the need to control hypertension in hypertensive hemodialysis patients (Agarwal, 2005, pp. 1-10). The credibility of this source lies on the fact that the author is an experienced associate professor of medicine at Indiana University School of Medicine, and thus his experience in nephrology forms the basis of the study. And since, the current research paper entails looking into the direct link between hypertension and the kidney; this source will form a useful theoretical framework in terms of showing the positive impact of controlling hypertension before commencing hemodialysis.
Center for Disease Control and Prevention. (2010). National chronic kidney disease fact sheet: General information and national estimates on chronic kidney in the United States, 2010. Atlanta, GA: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, CDC.
This fact sheet looks at the prevalence of Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) among adults in the U.S., the risk factors in the development and progression of CKD, the health consequences of CKD, and the preventative strategies for CKD. In this study, it is shown that hypertension is a major risk factor in the development and progression of CKD including other underlying health consequences such as kidney failure, cardiovascular disease, and premature deaths (Center for Disease and Prevention, 2010). This source is credible because it is a joint study between CDC, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, and American Society of Nephrology among other health promotion agencies. Accordingly, this study will form the basis of the current research paper considering that it provides useful and factual data regarding the direct relationship between hypertension and kidney complications particularly kidney failure.
Hughson, M.D., Douglas-Denton, R., Bertram, J.F. & Hoy, W.E. (2006). Hypertension, glomerular number, and birth weight in African Americans and white subjects in the southeastern United States. Kidney International, 69, 671-678.
The study aims at showing the relationship between hypertension and the decreased nephron number among participants from southeastern U.S. The study, which involved 62 African-Americans and 60 whites, was set to show the link between the total glomerular number (Nglom) and the mean arterial blood pressure (MAP). Through critical analysis of the data obtained, the researchers show that there is a direct link between low nephron number and the development of hypertension among the whites compared to African Americans (Hughson et al., 2006, pp. 671-677). This source is very reliable considering that it is based on primary data and extensive analyses conducted by researchers from the University of Mississippi Medical Center, Monash University, and the Centre for Chronic Disease. Here, it is certain that this source will inform the current research paper in terms of providing the role of kidney morphology and functionality in the development of hypertension as opposed to the foregoing sources, which show the impact of hypertension on the kidney.
Lea, J. et al. (2005). The relationship between magnitude of protenuria reduction and risk of end-stage renal disease: Results of the African American study of kidney disease and hypertension. Arch Intern Med., 165 (8), 947-53.
Studies note that there is a direct link between the degree of protenuria and the gradual increase in the development and progress of the end-stage renal disease. Thus, this study aims at investigating the relationship between baseline/changes in the level of protenuria and the rate of glomerular filtration (GFR) relative to the development/progression of hypertensive renal diseases in the absence of other risk factors such as diabetes. This study, which involves post hoc analysis of data regarding 1094 hypertensive kidney disease patients from the African-American communities, shows that the preliminary changes in the degree of protenuria from the baseline levels within a period of six months occasions the development/progression of hypertensive renal disease at various GFRs (Lea et al., 2005, pp. 947-950). This particular source is plausible because it utilizes primary data and critical analysis based on the experience of researchers drawn from the department of medicine in Emory University School of Medicine. Conversely, this study will also form the basis of the current research paper in that it shows the relationship between kidney functionality and the progress hypertension-related kidney complications.
O’Rourke, M.F. & Safar, M.E. (2005). Relationship between aortic stiffening and microvascular disease in brain and kidney: Cause and logic of therapy. Hypertension, 46, 200-204.
The study notes that there is a direct link between the damage of microvascular networks in the kidney and various aspects of hypertension such as pulse pressure and the augmentation index. This study reviews epidemiological studies and other clinical trials to show the functioning of the human arterial tree in normal circumstances, and under aging conditions. It also shows the impact of arterial stiffening on the renal microvasculature besides providing the logical therapeutic interventions required to reverse the kidney complications. Here, the continuous exposure of the delicate kidney microvasculature to fluctuations of pulse pressure due to arterial stiffening is implicated in the development of renal microvascular damage (O’Rourke & Safar, 2005, pp. 200-204). This source draws its credibility from the fact that the researchers embark on reviewing the most recent peer-reviewed literature studies besides incorporating many years of experience as clinicians in the critical analysis of the studies. As a result, this source will aid the critical development of the current research paper mainly through showing the long-term effect of hypertension on the kidney structure and functionality.
Reference list
Agarwal, R. (2005). Hypertension and survival in chronic hemodialysis patients-past lessons and future opportunities. Kidney International, 67, 1-13.
Center for Disease Control and Prevention. (2010). National chronic kidney disease fact sheet: General information and national estimates on chronic kidney in the United States, 2010. Atlanta, GA: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, CDC.
Hughson, M.D., Douglas-Denton, R., Bertram, J.F. & Hoy, W.E. (2006). Hypertension, glomerular number, and birth weight in African Americans and white subjects in the southeastern United States. Kidney International, 69, 671-678.
Lea, J. et al. (2005). The relationship between magnitude of protenuria reduction and risk of end-stage renal disease: Results of the African American study of kidney disease and hypertension. Arch Intern Med., 165 (8), 947-53.
O’Rourke, M.F. & Safar, M.E. (2005). Relationship between aortic stiffening and microvascular disease in brain and kidney: Cause and logic of therapy. Hypertension, 46, 200-204.