Approved Research
The European Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) Burden Consortium
Lay summary
1 in 10 individuals are diagnosed with chronic kidney disease (CKD), which is a disease where kidney function is reduced. CKD can impact someone's quality of life and increases their chance of other health outcomes, such as heart disease. If the diseases progresses, dialysis or kidney transplantation might be required. CKD is diagnosed by estimating kidney function using an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). If kidney function is below a certain eGFR threshold, then the individual will be diagnosed with CKD.
However, kidney function declines with age and it is not well-known what 'normal' and 'abnormal' kidney function looks like across the full age-spectrum. We aim to describe kidney function using existing data from general population studies, such as the UK Biobank, to better understand kidney function in adults. Doctors can then use this information to make more informed decisions regarding the diagnosis, management, and treatment of their patients with kidney dysfunction.
The standard definition for CKD diagnosis does not account for age-related decline in kidney function. Therefore, is it speculated that CKD is under-diagnosed in younger individuals and over-diagnosed in older individuals. To overcome this pitfall, some nephrologists and researchers have proposed the use of an age-adapted definition for CKD diagnosis. We will estimate the prevalence of CKD in European countries using three definitions. One definition is the 'standard' definition and the remaining two definitions adjust for age-related decline in kidney function. By comparing these definitions, we can see how accounting for age-related kidney decline in the diagnosis of CKD will affect the prevalence of this disease in adult European populations.
The prevalence of CKD is growing and CKD is projected to become the fifth largest cause of death globally by 2040. Therefore, it is important that we have information on kidney function across a full age-range, which can be useful in clinical settings and help us decide how we diagnose CKD. We believe this research will provide invaluable information to doctors, nephrologists, and researchers that will result in more informed decision making regarding CKD that can improve the way in which we address CKD at both the individual and population level.