Prevalence, outcomes, and cost of chronic kidney disease in a contemporary population of 2·4 million patients from 11 countries: the CaReMe CKD study

Sundström, J. et al. (2022) Prevalence, outcomes, and cost of chronic kidney disease in a contemporary population of 2·4 million patients from 11 countries: the CaReMe CKD study. Lancet Regional Health - Europe, 20, 100438. (doi: 10.1016/j.lanepe.2022.100438) (PMID:36090671) (PMCID:PMC9459126)

Abstract

Background: Digital healthcare systems data could provide insights into the global prevalence of chronic kidney disease (CKD). We designed the CaReMe CKD study to estimate the prevalence, key clinical adverse outcomes and costs of CKD across 11 countries. Methods: Individual-level data of a cohort of 2·4 million contemporaneous CKD patients was obtained from digital healthcare systems in participating countries using a pre-specified common protocol; summarized using random effects meta-analysis. CKD and its stages were defined in accordance with current Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) criteria. CKD was defined by laboratory values or by a diagnosis code. Findings: The pooled prevalence of possible CKD was 10·0% (95% confidence interval 8.5‒11.4; mean pooled age 75, 53% women, 38% diabetes, 60% using renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system inhibitors). Two out of three CKD patients identified by laboratory criteria did not have a corresponding CKD-specific diagnostic code. Among CKD patients identified by laboratory values, the majority (42%) were in KDIGO stage 3A; and this fraction was fairly consistent across countries. The share with CKD based on urine albumin-creatinine ratio (UACR) alone (KDIGO stages one and two) was 29%, with a substantial heterogeneity between countries. Adverse events were common; 6·5% were hospitalized for CKD or heart failure, and 6·2% died, annually. Costs for renal events and heart failure were consistently higher than costs for atherosclerotic events in CKD patients across all countries. Interpretation: We estimate that CKD is present in one out of ten adults. These individuals experience significant adverse outcomes with associated costs. The prevalence of CKD is underestimated when using diagnostic codes alone. There is considerable public health potential in diagnosing CKD and providing treatments to those currently undiagnosed. Funding: The study was sponsored by AstraZeneca.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Mark, Professor Patrick
• Authors: Sundström, J., Bodegard, J., Bollmann, A., Vervloet, M. G., Mark, P. B., Karasik, A., Taveira-Gomes, T., Botana, M., Birkeland, K. I., Thuresson, M., Jäger, L., Sood, M. M., VanPottelbergh, G., and Tangri, N.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Cardiovascular & Metabolic Health
• Journal Name: Lancet Regional Health - Europe
• Publisher: Lancet Publishing Group
• ISSN: 2666-7762
• ISSN (Online): 2666-7762
• Published Online: 30 June 2022
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2022 The Authors
• First Published: First published in Lancet Regional Health - Europe 20: 100438
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced under a Creative Commons License