Austin Stack


Professor Stack is the Foundation Chair of Medicine at the School of Medicine and Consultant Nephrologist at University Hospital Limerick. His principal interests include: assessment of treatment strategies for chronic kidney disease (CKD) & end-stage kidney disease (ESKD); determinants and outcomes of acute kidney injury (AKI); cardiovascular disease and cardiovascular risk assessment; clinical impact of gout and hyperuricaemia; risk prediction models; and the application of IT communications systems in clinical and epidemiological research. He is leading an initiative to establish Ireland first National Surveillance System for Kidney Disease and is PI for several large-scale observational studies including a 3-year Health Research Board (HRB) funded study assessing the burden and progression of Chronic Kidney Disease in the Irish Health System. He is also co-investigator in the CDC funded CKD Surveillance programme that is lead by the University of Michigan and the University of California SanFrancisco (UCSF). The UL Kidney Health Consortium offers opportunities to nephrology trainees and interested researchers to participate in large research projects under his supervision


Posted By Austin Stack

High prevalence of anaemia in CKD but low testing rates for Iron, B12 and folate deficiency

High prevalence of anaemia in CKD but low testing rates for Iron, B12 and folate deficiency

A new study by researchers at University of Limerick has found high rates of anaemia among patients in the health system, while screening for common causes is low. The research study carried out by a team at University of Limerick School of Medicine found that substantial numbers of men and women in the health system had anaemia, the presence of which is strongly associated with high rates of hospitalisation, death, and poor quality of life.

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Evolution of Vascular Access Use among Incident Patients during the First Year on Hemodialysis: A National Cohort Study

Evolution of Vascular Access Use among Incident Patients during the First Year on Hemodialysis: A National Cohort Study

New University of Limerick study has found that the treatment used in the majority of Irish kidney failure patients may lead to higher rates of hospitalisation, infection and even death.

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Hyperuricemia and gout in cardiovascular, metabolic and kidney disease

Hyperuricemia and gout in cardiovascular, metabolic and kidney disease

Authors: Claudio Borghi, Enrico Agabiti-Rosei, Richard J. Johnson, Jan T. Kielstein,Empar Lurbe, Giuseppe Mancia, Josep Redon, Austin G. Stack, Konstantinos P. Tsioufis. Highlights: Increasing prevalence of hyperuricaemia has been noted in many populations.

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Failure to reach uric acid target of <0.36 mmol/L in hyperuricaemia of gout is associated with elevated total and cardiovascular mortality

Failure to reach uric acid target of <0.36 mmol/L in hyperuricaemia of gout is associated with elevated total and cardiovascular mortality

Authors: Fernando Pérez Ruiz, Pascal Richette, Austin G Stack, Ravichandra Karra Gurunath, Ma Jesus García de Yébenes Loreto Carmona Abstract Objective: To determine the impact of achieving serum uric acid (sUA) of <0.

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Mortality Comparisons of Peritoneal and In-Centre Haemodialysis

Mortality Comparisons of Peritoneal and In-Centre Haemodialysis

Research carried out at University of Limerick has shown that life expectancy outcomes for two of the most common forms of kidney dialysis treatment are “virtually identical”. In the largest study of its kind, researchers from the Graduate Entry Medical School (GEMS) at UL compared the survival of patients with kidney failure that were treated with either peritoneal dialysis (PD) or haemodialysis (HD) at a dialysis centre, two of the most common forms of available treatments.

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Gout and the Risk of Advanced Chronic Kidney Disease in the UK Health System: A National Cohort Study

Gout and the Risk of Advanced Chronic Kidney Disease in the UK Health System: A National Cohort Study

Authors: Stack, Austin Johnson, Michelle Blak, Betina Klein, Alyssa Carpenter, Lewis Morlock, Robert Maguire, Andrew Parsons, Victoria. Abstract OBJECTIVE: Evaluate association of gout with progression to advanced CKD in a national study.

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The case for uric acid-lowering treatment in patients with hyperuricaemia and CKD

The case for uric acid-lowering treatment in patients with hyperuricaemia and CKD

Authors: Yuka Sato, Daniel I. Feig, Austin G. Stack, Duk- Hee Kang, Miguel A. Lanaspa,A. Ahsan Ejaz, L. Gabriela Sánchez- Lozada, Masanari Kuwabara,Claudio Borghi and Richard J. Johnson Abstract

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Interns as medical educators:student and intern experiences from the intern-delivered teaching program at University Hospital Limerick.

Interns as medical educators:student and intern experiences from the intern-delivered teaching program at University Hospital Limerick.

Authors: Cusack R, Burke G, Troy E, Kaballo MA, Stack AG. Abstract BACKGROUND: The acquisition and assimilation of knowledge through history-taking and clinical skills practice are core aspects of training for medical students.

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Gout more than doubles risk of kidney failure

Gout more than doubles risk of kidney failure

Patients with gout are at increased risk of chronic kidney disease and kidney failure, according to new University of Limerick (UL), Ireland led research. In one of the largest and most detailed studies ever conducted, patients recruited in general practice with a diagnosis of gout were more than twice as likely to develop kidney failure than those without, according to the study led by researchers at University of Limerick’s (UL) Graduate Entry Medical School (GEMS).

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