CKD risk factors reported by primary care physicians: do guidelines make a difference?

Am J Kidney Dis. 2006 Jan;47(1):72-7. doi: 10.1053/j.ajkd.2005.09.027.

Abstract

Background: End-stage renal disease is epidemic within the United States among certain high-risk groups. The National Kidney Disease Education Program examined the awareness of chronic kidney disease (CKD) risk factors among primary care physicians who treat high-risk populations, such as African Americans, persons with diabetes, persons with hypertension, and family members of dialysis patients.

Methods: We conducted a survey of 465 primary care physicians in 4 communities with high-risk populations. Respondents were asked to score 9 potential CKD risk factors on a 4-point scale graded from "Does not increase risk at all" to "Increases risk greatly." Potential risk factors included African-American race, diabetes, hypertension, and family history of CKD.

Results: Respondents saw a mean of 414 +/- 222 (SD) patients/mo. Primary care physicians were more likely to report that diabetes and hypertension were significant risk factors for CKD. Conversely, 34.4% did not consider family history of kidney disease to increase the risk for CKD, and 22% of respondents did not consider African-American race a CKD risk factor.

Conclusion: Primary care physicians need targeted education to increase awareness of populations at high risk for CKD.

Publication types

  • Multicenter Study
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Baltimore / epidemiology
  • Black People / statistics & numerical data*
  • Black or African American
  • Chronic Disease
  • Comorbidity
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Diabetes Mellitus / epidemiology
  • Diabetic Nephropathies / epidemiology
  • Disease Susceptibility
  • Family Practice / statistics & numerical data
  • Female
  • Georgia / epidemiology
  • Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice
  • Humans
  • Hypertension / epidemiology
  • Internal Medicine / statistics & numerical data
  • Kidney Diseases / epidemiology*
  • Kidney Diseases / ethnology
  • Kidney Failure, Chronic / epidemiology
  • Kidney Failure, Chronic / ethnology
  • Kidney Failure, Chronic / prevention & control
  • Male
  • Mississippi / epidemiology
  • Ohio / epidemiology
  • Physicians, Family / psychology*
  • Pilot Projects
  • Practice Guidelines as Topic*
  • Practice Patterns, Physicians' / statistics & numerical data
  • Primary Health Care / statistics & numerical data*
  • Renal Dialysis
  • Risk Factors
  • White People / statistics & numerical data