ASN's Mission

To create a world without kidney diseases, the ASN Alliance for Kidney Health elevates care by educating and informing, driving breakthroughs and innovation, and advocating for policies that create transformative changes in kidney medicine throughout the world.

learn more

Contact ASN

1401 H St, NW, Ste 900, Washington, DC 20005

email@asn-online.org

202-640-4660

The Latest on X

Kidney Week

Please note that you are viewing an archived section from 2023 and some content may be unavailable. To unlock all content for 2023, please visit the archives.

Abstract: TH-PO1007

The Prevalence of CKD in Australian Primary Care: Analysis of a National General Practice Dataset

Session Information

Category: CKD (Non-Dialysis)

  • 2301 CKD (Non-Dialysis): Epidemiology, Risk Factors, and Prevention

Authors

  • Jun, Min, The George Institute for Global Health, Newtown, New South Wales, Australia
  • Wick, James, University of Calgary Cumming School of Medicine, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
  • Neuen, Brendon Lange, The George Institute for Global Health, Newtown, New South Wales, Australia
  • Kotwal, Sradha S., The George Institute for Global Health, Newtown, New South Wales, Australia
  • Badve, Sunil, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
  • Chalmers, John P., The George Institute for Global Health, Newtown, New South Wales, Australia
  • Jardine, Meg, NHMRC Clinical Trials Centre, Camperdown, New South Wales, Australia
  • Perkovic, Vlado, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
  • Gallagher, Martin P., The George Institute for Global Health, Newtown, New South Wales, Australia
  • Ronksley, Paul E., University of Calgary Cumming School of Medicine, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Background

CKD prevalence in Australia varies substantially across reports. Using a large, nationally-representative general practice data source in Australia, we determined the contemporary prevalence and staging of CKD in Australian primary care.

Methods

We performed a retrospective, community-based observational study using healthcare data from MedicineInsight, a national general practice data source in Australia. We included all adults with ≥1 visit to a general practice participating in MedicineInsight and ≥1 serum creatinine measurement (with or without a UACR measure) between 2011-2020; n=2,720,529 patients. CKD prevalence was estimated using 3 definitions: (1): an eGFR (mL/min/1.73m2) <60 or an eGFR ≥60 with a UACR (mg/mmol) >2.5 for M and >3.5 for F, (2) 2 consecutive eGFR measures <60, ≥90 days apart or an eGFR ≥60 with a UACR >2.5 for M and >3.5 for F and (3) 2 consecutive eGFR measures <60, ≥90 days part and/or 2 consecutive UACR measures >2.5 for M and >3.5 for F ≥90 days apart. Patient characteristics were assessed across the 3 definitions.

Results

CKD prevalence progressively increased over the 10-year study period, irrespective of the method used to define CKD. The annual prevalence of CKD varied across the 3 CKD definitions, with definition 1 resulting in the highest estimates. In 2020, CKD prevalence in the study cohort was 8.4% (n=123,988), 4.7% (n=69,110) and 3.1% (n=45,360) using definitions 1, 2 and 3, respectively. The number of patients with UACR measurements was low such that, among those identified as having CKD in 2020, only 3.8%, 3.2% and 1.5% respectively, had both eGFR and UACR measures available in the corresponding year. Patients in whom both eGFR and UACR measurements were available mostly had moderate or high risk of CKD progression (83.6%, 80.6% and 76.2%, respectively). Comorbid burden in patients with CKD was also frequently observed.

Conclusion

In this large, nationally-representative study, we observed an increasing trend in CKD prevalence in primary care settings in Australia. Most patients with CKD were at moderate to high risk of CKD progression with a significant comorbid burden. These findings highlight the need for early detection and effective management to slow progression of CKD.

Funding

  • Commercial Support – This study was supported by an unrestricted research grant from Boehringer Ingelheim.