Kidney Projects
Utility of the kidney failure risk equation risk prediction tool as a criteria for referral to secondary care nephrology and association with patient outcomes – an observational study
Previous research has shown that people with kidney disease have an increased risk of adverse outcomes including hospitalisation. Another risk faced by people living with kidney disease is it progressing to kidney failure, which means they need treatments to help the body do what the kidneys usually would (dialysis), or a kidney donated from someone else.
Accurate risk prediction of kidney failure in individuals is important to allow planning for which treatments patients need and to communicate this with them. A tool called the “Kidney Failure Risk Equation” (KFRE), can estimate the chance of someone’s kidney problem progressing to kidney failure. This tool has been recommended for use by national guidelines (NICE guidelines) to identify which people should be referred to hospital kidney doctors.
This project will assess the value of using the KFRE risk prediction tool as a criterion for referral to secondary care nephrology, and subsequent patient outcomes whilst assessing whether KFRE risk thresholds are associated with increased risk of hospitalisation.
Lead Investigator: Dr Heather Walker
Burden of proteinuria and treatment rates
Urinary albumin excretion is a well-known marker of diabetic kidney disease risk and progression to end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Many studies have reported that urine albumin excretion is one of the earliest markers of hypertension-mediated organ damage and a strong predictor of cardiovascular events in hypertensive patients. Urine albumin excretion is easily measured in hospitals or primary care, but rates of monitoring are low.
This study aims to estimate the number of NHSGGC over 50-year-old population at risk for ESRD and cardiovascular risk determined by urine protein/albumin excretion whilst estimating the rates of appropriate cardiovascular and renal risk minimisation treatment.
Appropriate management of patients at high risk, indicated by high levels of protein or albumin in the blood, will reduce the burden of cardiovascular disease in NHSGGC. Establishing the at-risk population who either have not had urine protein/albumin assessment or those with confirmed high levels of protein or albumin in the blood and not on appropriate treatment will allow development and monitoring of remedial measures.