Examining Referral Pathways for Patients with Hematuria: A Real-World Retrospective Analysis

Area of Science:

• Nephrology
• Urology
• Internal Medicine

Background:

• Hematuria, detected via urinalysis, can signal serious conditions like glomerular disease or malignancy.
• Effective follow-up is essential for timely diagnosis and treatment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate nephrology and urology referral patterns for outpatients with hematuria.
• To identify factors associated with these referrals.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective observational cohort study using electronic health records.
• Included outpatients with hematuria (≥1+ blood) from January 2022 to September 2022.
• Assessed referrals within 6 months of initial presentation, alongside proteinuria and follow-up testing.

Main Results:

• Of 5,475 patients, only 14.1% received nephrology/urology referrals within 6 months.
• Male sex and higher red blood cell (RBC) counts on microscopy increased referral likelihood.
• For patients with both hematuria and proteinuria, referral rates remained low at 15.7%.

Conclusions:

• Current outpatient hematuria management shows low referral rates.
• Concurrent hematuria and proteinuria present a significant opportunity for improved specialist referral and patient care.