News Update: Download the Quality Improvement Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD): A significant Challenge for Primary Care- Scroll down to the end of the page.
CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE
Optimal management (mostly in primary care) should improve outcomes, resulting in fewer people requiring dialysis treatment in the future.
In support of this aim it has recently been announced that CKD management will be part of the Quality Outcomes Framework contracting process for primary care.
Local Guidelines have been produced to allow the appropriate management and referral of adult patients with CKD. These are based on nationally agreed guidelines which are available at www.renal.org/CKDguide/ckd.html
The renal NSF identified measurement of eGFR as one of the markers of good practice for the identification and monitoring of patients with chronic kidney disease. eGFR is internationally accepted as a more appropriate test for the assessment of renal function than currently available routine investigations and is essential to allow the classification of CKD according to nationally adopted criteria.
Automated eGFR reporting is already provided by the pathology laboratories of United Hospitals of Lincolnshire and University Hospitals of Leicester and is provided by all pathology laboratories within the East Midlands Renal Network from April 1st 2006.
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a long-term condition. For the majority of people with CKD the main risk is cardiovascular disease. However an important minority of people will go on to develop established renal failure (ERF), which is fatal without treatment by dialysis or a kidney transplant.
The importance of early detection of CKD has recently been highlighted by the renal NSF.
A rational and systematic approach to this is essential to ensure the delivery of high quality patient care across the whole health community. Early identification of at-risk patients and helping them to make medical and lifestyle changes to prevent CKD or minimise its progression, has great potential impact.
Promoting Good CKD Management PDF (710KB)