The long-term impact of eGFR reporting on referral patterns

Phillips, L.A., Phillips, Bethan, Meran, Soma ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3408-3978, Russell, J., Zouwail, S., Riley, Stephen and Phillips, Aled ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9744-7113 2014. The long-term impact of eGFR reporting on referral patterns. European Journal of Internal Medicine 25 (1) , pp. 97-101. 10.1016/j.ejim.2013.08.001

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Abstract

Background: The prognostic significance of CKD has driven the widespread introduction of automated estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) reporting, and the incorporation of CKD in the revised Quality Outcomes Framework (QOF) of the General Medical Services (GMS) contract in the U.K. Aims: To assess the long-term impact of the introduction of these two initiatives, on patient referral numbers to a nephrology service. Methods: Data was collected on the numbers and basic characteristics of all new patients referred from April 2005 to March 2011, to one NHS Health Board. Results: Introduction of eGFR reporting and CKD QOF domains was associated with a significant increase in the number of referrals, which was sustained. The initiatives also led to a sustained increase in the mean age of the patients at referral, predominantly due to an increase in the age of female patients referred. There was also an increase in the proportion of female patients referred. In the immediate aftermath of the introduction of change there was a transient decrease in the average eGFR at referral, a decrease in age of patients referred with an eGFR < 15 ml/min and an increase in the eGFR of patients > 70 yrs of age. Conclusions: The data demonstrates significant and sustained increase in numbers of referrals. In the short term this was associated with a reduction in referral of elderly patients with stage 5 CKD and an increase in elderly patients with mild renal impairment. In the longer term we saw an increase in referral of an older female population.

Item Type:	Article
Date Type:	Publication
Status:	Published
Schools:	Medicine
Subjects:	R Medicine > RC Internal medicine
Publisher:	Elsevier
ISSN:	0953-6205
Date of Acceptance:	2 August 2013
Last Modified:	13 Jun 2024 01:13
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/79188

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