Progressive chronic kidney disease in primary care: Modifiable risk factors and predictive model

• Prevalence and incidence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and the rate of progressive CKD were high in primary care.
• Progressive CKD was associated with obesity, proteinuria, heart failure, dual RAAS blockade and radio contrast.
• Adequate hypertension and diabetes control, and ACEI or ARB protected against progressive CKD.
• We developed a risk model, which performed well predicting patients at high risk of progressive CKD in primary care.

ObjectiveTo determine the incidence and prevalence of CKD and of progressive GFR decline, to identify modifiable risk factors of and to develop a predictive risk model for progressive GFR decline in high risk primary care patients.MethodsRetrospective observational study of 803 patients with or at high risk of CKD exclusively managed in primary care. Baseline data was collected in 2003, follow-up data in 2006. High risk was defined as inadequately controlled hypertension or diabetes, and GFR < 60, progressive GFR decline as annual GFR decline > 2.5 ml min− 1 1.73 m− 2.ResultsCKD was present in 25.4% at baseline and developed in further 13.7% during follow-up, 42.5% demonstrated progressive GFR decline. Obesity, proteinuria, heart failure, inadequate hypertension and diabetes control, lacking angiotensin-converting-enzyme-inhibitors or angiotensin-receptor-blockers, radio contrast, and dual renin–angiotensin-aldosterone-system blockade were identified as modifiable, independent risk factors of progressive GFR decline. The risk model, containing 7 readily obtainable variables, showed good discriminative ability.ConclusionsHigh risk primary care patients demonstrated high CKD prevalence and incidence, and rate of progressive GFR decline. Identified risk factors can be modified in primary care. Our risk model may aid primary care physicians to predict patients at high risk of progressive GFR decline.