Variability in Reporting eGFR at Dialysis Initiation in Canada: A Research Letter

Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) at dialysis initiation is increasingly recognized as a key quality indicator (QI) for patients with end-stage kidney disease (ESKD). Specifically, guidelines recommend assessing deferral of dialysis initiation until symptoms arise or if the eGFR is ≤6 mL/min/1.73 m². Despite the recognition of the importance of this QI, how eGFR at the time of dialysis initiation is defined, collected, and tracked at dialysis centers across Canada remains unknown.

To identify how provincial renal programs define eGFR at dialysis initiation, to compare practice across Canadian provinces, and to determine if there is a consistent benchmark for deferred dialysis start.

Cross-sectional survey distributed to the medical leads of each provincial renal program, administered from July 2021 to November 2021. Quebec was not included given it did not yet participate in Canadian Organ Replacement Register (CORR) data submission.

The survey was designed and distributed by the Canadian Society of Nephrology Quality Improvement & Implementation Science Committee (CSN-QUIS) Indicator Working Group.

The survey asked respondents on how eGFR is defined, collected, reported, and perceived barriers to QI data collection. The National Senior Renal Leaders Forum helped identify the key provincial medical leads to disseminate the survey for completion.

Surveys were distributed to the medical leads of the 9 provincial renal programs that participate in CORR. In total, there were 8 responses. Five provinces submit eGFR for all new dialysis starts and 3 provinces only submit this information for chronic patients. There is variation in determining when a patient with acute kidney injury requiring dialysis is classified as a chronic patient. Four provinces use a 30-day trigger, 3 provinces use a 90-day trigger, and the patient's nephrologist makes this determination in 1 province. The creatinine used for the eGFR at dialysis initiation was the value measured on the first dialysis session (ie, day 0) for 5 provinces; the last outpatient clinic creatinine value in 2 provinces, and 1 province did not have a standard definition. Three provinces did not have a benchmark target for eGFR at dialysis initiation, 1 province had a target of <9.5 mL/min/1.73 m², 3 provinces had a target of <10 mL/min/1.73 m², 1 province had a target of <15 mL/min/1.73 m². All 8 responding provincial medical leads support the establishment of a national benchmark for this measure.

This survey was restricted to provincial medical leads and therefore is unable to determine practice at individual dialysis sites. The survey was not anonymous, so it may be subject to conformity bias.

There is wide variability in how eGFR at dialysis initiation is measured and reported across Canada. Additionally, there is no consensus on a benchmark target for an intent-to-defer dialysis strategy. Standardization of target eGFR at dialysis initiation may facilitate national reporting and quality improvement initiatives.