title: The prevalence of chronic kidney disease in a primary care setting: a Swiss cross-sectional study.
abstract: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) often remains clinically silent and therefore undiagnosed until a progressed stage is reached. Our aim was to estimate the prevalence of CKD in a primary care setting in Switzerland. A multicenter, cross-sectional study with randomly selected general practitioners was performed. Adults visiting their general physician's cabinet during defined periods were asked to participate. Baseline information was reported on a questionnaire, urine and blood samples were analyzed in a central laboratory. Renal status was assessed using the Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) classification. Extrapolation of results to national level was adjusted for age and gender. One thousand individuals (57% females) with a mean age of 57 ± 17 years were included. Overall, 41% of the patients had normal estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and albumin creatinine ratio (ACR), whereas 36% of the subjects had slightly reduced excretory renal function with physiological albuminuria based on normal ACR. Almost one fourth of the subjects (23%) had either a substantially reduced eGFR or high levels of ACR. About 10% of the patients had a substantially reduced eGFR of <60 ml/min/1.73 m(2), and 17% showed relevant proteinuria (ACR >30 mg/g creatinine). Extrapolation to national level suggests that about 18% of primary care patients may suffer from CKD. CKD prevalence in a primary care population is therefore high, and preventive interventions may be advisable, in particular as CKD prevalence is likely to rise over the next decades.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine, Medical Economics, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland. yuki.tomonaga@uzh.ch
authors.forename: Yuki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tomonaga
authors.forename: Lorenz
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Risch
authors.forename: Thomas D
authors.initials: TD
authors.lastname: Szucs
authors.forename: Patrice M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Ambühl
authors.forename: Patrice M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Ambuehl
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007677:Kidney Function Tests; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D051436:Renal Insufficiency, Chronic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D013557:Switzerland / Q000453:epidemiology