Impact of estimated GFR reporting on late referral rates and practice patterns for end-stage kidney disease patients: a multilevel logistic regression analysis using the Australia and New Zealand Dialysis and Transplant Registry (ANZDATA).
BACKGROUND
Late referral for renal replacement therapy (RRT) leads to worse outcomes. In 2005, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) reporting began in Australasia, with an aim of substantially increasing earlier disease detection.


METHODS
Observational cohort study using the Australia and New Zealand Dialysis and Transplant Registry (ANZDATA) data.


METHODS
All patients commencing RRT in Australasia between January 1, 1999, and December 31, 2010. We excluded the period between December 31, 2004, and January 1, 2007, to allow for practice change.


METHODS
Introduction of eGFR reporting.


RESULTS
Primary outcome was late referral defined as commencing RRT within 3 months of nephrology referral. Secondary outcomes included initial RRT modality and prepared access at hemodialysis therapy initiation.


METHODS
Late referral rates per era were determined and multilevel logistic regression was used to identify late referral predictors.


RESULTS
We included 25,009 patients. Overall, 3,433 (25.3%) patients were referred late in the pre-eGFR era compared with 2,464 (21.6%) in the post-eGFR era, for an absolute reduction of 3.7% (95% CI, 2.7%-4.8%; P<0.001). After adjustments for age, body mass index, race, comorbid conditions, and primary kidney disease, adjusted late referral rates were 25.8% (95% CI, 23.3%-28.3%) and 21.8% (95% CI, 19.2%-24.4%) in the pre- and post-eGFR eras, respectively, for a difference of 4.0% (95% CI, 1.2%-6.8%; P=0.005). Late referral risk was attenuated significantly post-eGFR reporting (OR, 1.30; 95% CI, 1.12-1.51) compared to pre-eGFR reporting (OR, 2.15; 95% CI, 1.88-2.46) for indigenous patients. Late referral rates decreased for older patients but increased slightly for younger patients (P=0.001 for interaction between age and era). There was no impact on initial RRT modality or prepared access rates at hemodialysis therapy initiation between eras.


CONCLUSIONS
Residual confounding could not be excluded.


CONCLUSIONS
eGFR reporting was associated with small reductions in late referral, but more than 1 in 5 patients are still referred late. Other initiatives to increase timely referral warrant investigation.
The George Institute for Global Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia; Department of Renal Medicine, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, Australia. Electronic address: cfoote@georgeinstitute.org.au.
Celine
C
Foote
Department of Renal Medicine, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, Australia; Australian and New Zealand Dialysis and Transplant Registry (ANZDATA), Adelaide, Australia; Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia.
Philip A
PA
Clayton
Department of Nephrology, University of Queensland at Princess Alexandra Hospital, Brisbane, Australia.
David W
DW
Johnson
The George Institute for Global Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia; Department of Nephrology, Concord Repatriation General Hospital, Sydney, Australia.
Meg
M
Jardine
Department of Renal Medicine, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, Australia.
Paul
P
Snelling
The George Institute for Global Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia; Menzies School of Health Research, Darwin, Australia.
Alan
A
Cass
D000368:Aged; D001315:Australia; D015331:Cohort Studies; D057210:Delayed Diagnosis / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D005919:Glomerular Filtration Rate; D006801:Humans; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009520:New Zealand; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012042:Registries; D006435:Renal Dialysis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors
Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR); automatic; late referral; nephrology referral; practice patterns; registry study; renal replacement therapy (RRT)