The kidneys perform a vital function in the body by filtering the blood. Over time, they may become damaged and this can lead to deterioration in the way they work. Chronic kidney disease (CKD) develops when damage to the kidney results in reduced function. It is a common condition globally and is an important area of research. Kidney function can get worse over a period of time and for some people the kidneys stop working and they require dialysis or a kidney transplant. For most people with CKD this is not the case, but they are at a much higher risk of cardiovascular problems (like strokes and heart attacks) than people without CKD.
The kidneys perform a vital function in the body by filtering the blood. Over time, they may become damaged and this can lead to deterioration in the way they work. Chronic kidney disease (CKD) develops when damage to the kidney results in reduced function. It is a common condition globally and is an important area of research.
Kidney function can get worse over a period of time and for some people the kidneys stop working and they require dialysis or a kidney transplant. For most people with CKD this is not the case, but they are at a much higher risk of cardiovascular problems, such as like strokes and heart attacks, than people without CKD.
Although CKD is recognised as an increasing problem, there have been relatively few studies describing the people who have been diagnosed with the disease. The Oxford Renal study (OxRen) was a large cohort study which recruited 3,200 patients over the age of 60 years.
The study aimed to report how many people are diagnosed with CKD to provide a better understanding of how common it is in the general population.
The New Onset Kidney Impairment (NewKi) Study is the OxRen follow-up study. The cohort will be followed up for life to determine the incidence and progression CKD. The study will also examine factors that are associated with progression to CKD, treatments that might help to prevent it and the overall risk of cardiovascular disease in the cohort.
Achievements:
- Thirteen GP practices have consented 2,540 OxRen patients to NewKI.
- Follow-up of recruited participants will continue in face-to-face visits and remotely, using the Royal College of General Practitioners Research Surveillance Centre and NHS Digital.
- Hirst JA, et al. Prevalence and factors associated with multimorbidity among primary care patients with decreased renal function. PLoS One 2021;16(1):e0245131.
- Hirst JA, et al. Prevalence of chronic kidney disease in the community using data from OxRen: a UK population-based cohort study. BJGP 2020: 70(693), E285-E293.
- Hirst JA, et al. Impact of a single eGFR (estimate of glomerular filtration rate) and eGFR-estimating equation on chronic kidney disease reclassification a cohort study in primary care. BJGP 2018;68(673):e524-e530.
- We have determined the number of people who experience a rapid deterioration of kidney function through a decline in eGFR and factors associated with eGFR progression: Hirst, et al. Change in GFR over time in the Oxford Renal Cohort Study. BJGP 2021. Accepted
More information on the NewKi study.
Principal Investigators:
Prof Richard Hobbs & Dr Clare Taylor
Contact:
Address: Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, Radcliffe Primary Care Building, Radcliffe Observatory Quarter, Woodstock Road, Oxford OX2 6JJ