Examining chronic kidney disease management in a single center

AIMS: The management of patients with chronic kidney disease in outpatient clinics was assessed for the ability to achieve targets of care advocated in clinical practice guidelines. METHODS: 272 records of outpatients with increased serum creatinine (> or = 1.5 mg/dl for women, > or = 2.0 mg/dl for men) were reviewed for details of their assessment and management. Prevailing data on blood pressure, anemia, bone disease and lipid status as well as therapeutic changes were evaluated. RESULTS: The subjects were aged 64 +/- 18 years, serum creatinine 2.6 +/- 1.1 mg/dl, and calculated GFR (MDRD formula) 19.2 +/- 9.9 ml/min. Median UproV was 1.0 (0.024 - 12.4) g/day. Causes of CKD were diabetes (33.5%), HTN (8.8%), GN (19.5%), and adult PKD (3.3%). Treatment targets were BP < 130/85 mmHg, Hct > or = 36%, serum Ca++ > or = 8.5 mg/dl, serum Po4 < 4.5 mg/dl and cholesterol < 200 mg/dl. Of the patients with abnormal findings, mean values for SBP were 153 +/- 17 mmHg, DBP 93 +/- 6 mmHg, Hct 31.7 +/- 2.9%, Ca++ 8.0 +/- 0.7 mg/dl, PO4 5.6 +/- 1.0 mg/dl, and cholesterol 236 +/- 37 mg/dl. Only a minority of patients with abnormal values had their treatment altered. Furthermore, only 54% of patients with hypertension were treated with either ACEi or ARB therapy. Finally, only 6% of patients with hypercholesterolemia had fasting lipid levels measured. CONCLUSION: This data suggests that treatment of patients with CKD has improved, but that many opportunities exist to optimize their care.