Does reporting estimated glomerular filtration rate affect ordering of timed urine collections?
BACKGROUND
The National Kidney Foundation recommends reporting estimates of glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) rather than timed urine collections. When 2 of the 3 major hospitals in our region began reporting eGFR at different times we recognized a natural experiment.


METHODS
We conducted a retrospective, observational study at the 3 major hospitals in Chattanooga, Tennessee. Data were collected on the frequency of timed urines during a 41/2-year period. Regression analysis was used to study the association of the rate of ordering timed urines adjusted for other factors.


RESULTS
There was a marked drop in the rate of ordering of timed urines at all 3 hospitals from a mean of 21.8 per 1000 admissions in the first 4 quarter years of the study to 10.9 in the last 4 (15th-18th) quarter years. The drop began before the reporting of eGFR at any hospital. The reporting of eGFR had a small effect (-1.7 per 1000 hospital admissions) that was not statistically significant (P = 0.15).


CONCLUSIONS
There has been a marked drop in the ordering of timed urines in our region. The decline began before the reporting of eGFR at 2 of the hospitals and therefore is attributable to other factors.
Patel
Vikul
V
Division of Nephrology, University of Tennessee College of Medicine, Memphis, TN 37379, USA.
Yalavarthy
Umesh
U
Desbiens
Normans A
NA
D005919:Glomerular Filtration Rate; D006801:Humans; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013048:Specimen Handling; D014556:Urine