Comparisons between the 2012 new CKD-EPI (Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration) equations and other four approved equations.

objectiveThe Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration (CKD-EPI) reported two equations in 2012: one based on cystatin C concentration (CKD-EPI2012cys) and the other using both serum creatinine and cystatin C concentrations (CKD-EPI2012Scr-cys). We compared the adaptability of new formulae with other four equations.

methodsParticipants (n = 788; median age, 54 [range, 19-94] years) were recruited from the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University. The reference glomerular filtration rate (rGFR) was measured by a (99)mTc-DTPA renal dynamic imaging method, and the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was calculated separately by the Chinese adapted Modification of Diet in Renal Disease equation (C-MDRD), MacIsaac, Ma, serum creatinine-based CKD-EPI equation (CKD-EPI2009Scr), CKD-EPI2012cys and CKD-EPI2012Scr-cys equations. We compared the performance of six equations with rGFR.

resultsMedian rGFR was 76.35 (interquartile range, 59.03-92.50) mL/min/1.73 m(2). Compared with CKD-EPI2009Scr, CKD-EPI2012Scr-cys formula had better diagnostic value with larger area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC(AUC), 0.879, p = 0.006), especially in young participants (ROC(AUC), 0.883, p = 0.005). CKD-EPI2012cys equation did not perform better than other available equations. Accuracy (the proportion of eGFR within 30% of rGFR [P30]) of the CKD-EPI2012Scr-cys equation (77.03%) was inferior only to MacIsaac equation (80.2%) in the entire participants, but performed best in young participants with normal or mildly-injured GFR. Neither of the two new CKD-EPI equations achieved any ideal P30 in the elderly participants with moderately-severely injured GFR. Linear regression analysis demonstrated a consistent result. In this study, CKD-EPI2012Scr-cys had a relatively better diagnosis consistency of GFR stage between the eGFR and rGFR in the whole cohort.

conclusionCKD-EPI2012Scr-cys appeared less biased and more accurate in overall participants. Neither of the new CKD-EPI equations achieved ideal accuracy in senior participants with moderately-severely injured GFR. A large-scale study with more subjects and cooperating centers to develop new formulae for the elderly is assumed to be necessary.