title: Screening for chronic kidney disease in Australia: a pilot study in the community and workplace.
abstract: The pilot program Kidney Evaluation for You (KEY) was conducted in Australia to screen for chronic kidney disease (CKD). Targeting people at high risk (those with diabetes, hypertension, a first-degree relative with kidney failure, or age >50 years), KEY aimed to establish community-based screening protocols, assess efficacy in promoting changes in risk-factor management, and explore participant CKD awareness. KEY offered free cardiovascular and kidney checks using point-of-care testing for on-site pathology measurements (estimated glomerular filtration rate, hemoglobin A1c, cholesterol, hemoglobin, albuminuria), lifestyle assessment, and exit interviews. Participants were telephoned at 3 months to ascertain whether KEY advice had been followed. Community and health professional support was strong; 99% of participants rated involvement as beneficial. Of 402 high-risk individuals recruited, findings were suggestive of CKD in 20.4%. Of these, 69% had hypertension, 30% diabetes, and 40% elevated total cholesterol. All participants with CKD stage 3b or higher were aged >61 years. Overall, 58% of participants were referred to their primary care providers for further action; of these, 82% saw their doctors in the next 3 months and 94% discussed KEY results. Follow-up telephone contact was successful for 82% of participants. A change in management occurred for 67%. Thus, the KEY approach to early detection of CKD and selected referral of participants was largely successful.
authors.affiliation: Kidney Health Australia, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia. tim.mathew@kidney.org.au
authors.forename: Timothy H
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Mathew
authors.forename: Olivia
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Corso
authors.forename: Marie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ludlow
authors.forename: Adam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Boyle
authors.forename: Alan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cass
authors.forename: Steven J
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Chadban
authors.forename: Beres
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Joyner
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Shephard
authors.forename: Tim
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Usherwood
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D048909:Diabetes Complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D005260:Female; D005919:Glomerular Filtration Rate; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000175:diagnosis; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011507:Proteinuria / Q000175:diagnosis; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D051436:Renal Insufficiency, Chronic / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012307:Risk Factors; D017132:Workplace