Creatinine-Based Definition of Kidney Disease in the Charlson Comorbidity Index May Underestimate Prognosis in Males Compared to an Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate Definition

(1) Background: The Charlson comorbidity index allocates two points for chronic kidney disease (CKD) if serum creatinine is above 3.0 mg/dL (270 µmol/L). However, contemporary CKD staging is based on the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) derived from population-based equations. The aim of this study was to determine the correlation between eGFR and the creatinine threshold of the Charlson comorbidity index for defining CKD. (2) Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study of 664 patients with established CKD attending general nephrology clinics over 6 months. Dialysis patients and kidney transplant recipients were excluded. (3) Results: The median age was 68 years, and 58% of the participants were male. By modeling with fractional polynomial regression, we estimated that a creatinine of 270 µmol/L corresponded with an eGFR of 14.8 mL/min/1.73 m2 for females and 19.4 mL/min/m2 for males. We also estimated that an eGFR of 15 mL/min/1.73 m2 (threshold which defines Stage 5 CKD) corresponded to a serum creatinine of 275 µmol/L for females and 342 µmol/L for males. After applying these sex-specific creatinine thresholds, 39% of males and 3% of females in our CKD study population who scored points for CKD in the Charlson comorbidity index had not yet reached Stage 5 CKD. (4) Conclusions: There is a significant difference in the creatinine threshold to define Stage 5 CKD between males and females, with a bias for greater allocation of Charlson index points for CKD to males despite similar eGFR levels between the sexes. Further research could examine if replacing creatinine with eGFR improves the performance of the Charlson comorbidity index as a prognostic tool.

Medienart:

E-Artikel

Erscheinungsjahr:

2024

Erschienen:

2024

Enthalten in:

Zur Gesamtaufnahme - volume:13

Enthalten in:

Journal of clinical medicine - 13(2024), 4 vom: 09. Feb.

Sprache:

Englisch

Beteiligte Personen:

Lim, Andy K H [VerfasserIn]
Kerr, Peter G [VerfasserIn]

Links:

Volltext

Themen:

Charlson comorbidity index
Chronic kidney disease
Epidemiology
Estimated glomerular filtration rate
Journal Article
Kidney function
Prognosis
Public health
Serum creatinine

Anmerkungen:

Date Revised 27.02.2024

published: Electronic

Citation Status PubMed-not-MEDLINE

doi:

10.3390/jcm13041007

funding:

Förderinstitution / Projekttitel:

PPN (Katalog-ID):

NLM368883043