Evidence map›Paper›PMID 31961894›Full record

SynthesisPloS one2020

Can a semi-quantitative method replace the current quantitative method for the annual screening of microalbuminuria in patients with diabetes? Diagnostic accuracy and cost-saving analysis considering the potential health burden.

Yaerim Kim, Seokwoo Park, Myung-Hee Kim, Sang Hoon Song, Won Mok Lee, Hye Soon Kim, Kyubok Jin, Seungyeup Han, Yong Chul Kim, Seung Seok Han and 6 more

Open access · goldAbstract readMeta-AnalysisSystematic ReviewValidation Study
In one paragraph

Synthesis in PloS one, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
5citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
0.6field-weighted citation impact, top 35% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

5 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 11 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Review
  3. Review
  4. Article
  5. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

16 authors at 4 institutions in 1 country.

Yaerim KimDivision of Nephrology, Department of Internal Medicine, Keimyung University School of Medicine, Daegu, Korea.
Seokwoo ParkDivision of Nephrology, Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
Myung-Hee KimDepartment of Dental Hygiene, College of Health Science, Eulji University, Gyeonggi-do, Korea.
Sang Hoon SongDepartment of Laboratory Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
Won Mok LeeDepartment of Laboratory Medicine, Keimyung University School of Medicine, Daegu, Korea.
Hye Soon KimDivision of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, Keimyung University School of Medicine, Daegu, Korea.
Kyubok JinDivision of Nephrology, Department of Internal Medicine, Keimyung University School of Medicine, Daegu, Korea.
Seungyeup HanDivision of Nephrology, Department of Internal Medicine, Keimyung University School of Medicine, Daegu, Korea.
Yong Chul KimDivision of Nephrology, Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
Seung Seok HanDivision of Nephrology, Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
Hajeong LeeDivision of Nephrology, Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea.ORCID 0000-0002-1873-1587
Jung Pyo LeeDivision of Nephrology, Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
Kwon Wook JooDivision of Nephrology, Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
Chun Soo LimDivision of Nephrology, Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
Yon Su KimDivision of Nephrology, Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
Dong Ki KimDivision of Nephrology, Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea.ORCID 0000-0002-5195-7852
Seoul National University · KRKeimyung University · KRSeoul National University Hospital · KREulji University · KR

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectivesDiabetes is a global epidemic, and the high cost of annually and quantitatively measuring urine albumin excretion using the turbidimetric immunoassay is challenging. We aimed to determine whether a semi-quantitative urinary albumin-creatinine ratio test could be used as a screening tool for microalbuminuria in diabetic patients.

methodsWe assessed the diagnostic accuracy of the semi-quantitative method. The costs of false results in the semi-quantitative method were calculated based on the annual probability of disease progression analyzed through a systematic literature review and meta-analysis. The pooled long-term cost-saving effect of the semi-quantitative method compared with the quantitative test was assessed using a Markov model simulating a long-term clinical setting. Diagnostic accuracy and the cost-saving effect were also validated in an independent external cohort.

resultsCompared with the quantitative test, the semi-quantitative method had sensitivities of 93.5% and 81.3% and specificities of 61.4% and 63.1% in the overall sample of diabetic patients (n = 1,881) and in diabetic patients with eGFR ≥60 ml/min/1.73 m2 and a negative dipstick test (n = 1,110), respectively. After adjusting for direct and indirect medical costs, including the risk of disease progression, which was adjusted by the meta-analyzed hazard ratio for clinical outcomes, it was determined that using the semi-quantitative method could save 439.4 USD per person for 10 years. Even after adjusting the result to the external validation cohort, 339.6 USD could be saved for one diabetic patient for 10 years.

conclusionsThe semi-quantitative method could be an appropriate screening tool for albuminuria in diabetic patients. Moreover, it can minimize the testing time and inconvenience and significantly reduce national health costs.

Indexed as

AlbuminuriaCohort StudiesCost SavingsDiabetes MellitusDiabetic NephropathiesHumansMass ScreeningReproducibility of ResultsRepublic of KoreaUrinalysis

Identifiers

PMID31961894
PMCPMC6974274
OpenAlexW3001164618

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.