Comparison of chronic kidney disease prevalence examined by the chronic kidney disease epidemiology collaboration equation with that by the modification of diet in renal disease equation in Korean adult population

Background: The new estimated glomerular filtration (eGFR) equation, Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration (CKD-EPI) equation, was recently introduced. We compared the prevalence of CKD examined by the CKD-EPI equation with that by the Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD) equation.

Methods: We analyzed the data from a total of 14,605 Korean adults (age ≥20 years), who were enrolled in the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey in 2007, 2009, and 2010. CKD stages 1 and 2 were defined as eGFR ≥60 mL/min/1.73 m(2) with proteinuria measured by dipstick. CKD stages 3-5 were defined as eGFR <60 mL/min/1.73 m(2) .

Results: The eGFRs calculated by the CKD-EPI equation were higher than those calculated by the MDRD equation (P < 0.001), especially in women and young people. The prevalence of CKD stages 3-5 calculated by the MDRD equation was 6.8%, 3.0%, and 3.0% in 2007, 2009, and 2010, respectively. The prevalence of CKD stages 3-5 calculated by CKD-EPI equation was 7.7%, 2.7%, and 2.6% in 2007, 2009, and 2010, respectively. When defining the CKD using the CKD-EPI equation, 55 (32.7%) of 350 cases were reclassified into more advanced stages and 295 cases (67.3%) were reclassified into less-advanced stages.

Conclusion: The CKD-EPI equation caused an overall low prevalence of CKD compared to the MDRD. Therefore, CKD-EPI equation might be helpful to prevent an overestimation of CKD.