From 2006 to 2015, the percent of Medicare patients under the care of a nephrologist increased significantly for both males and females (P trend<0.001).
Chart Explanation: In 2015, the prevalence of Medicare patients reported seeing a nephrologist prior to ESRD, was around the same for both males (62.5%) and females (63.6%). From 2006 to 2015, the prevalence of nephrology care gradually increased for both genders (9.7% increase for females and 8.7% increase for males) (P trend<0.001).
These results were taken from analyses using the national ESRD population data.
Beginning in June 2005, information related to pre-ESRD care was collected on all new ESRD patients via the
Medical Evidence Form (CMS-2728). Timing of pre-ESRD nephrology care, dietitian care, and erythropoietin (EPO) treatment were investigated using national data collected on the form CMS-2728 for 1,106,236 incident ESRD patients between January 1, 2006, and December 31, 2015. A patient was considered under the care of a nephrologist, under the care of a kidney dietitian, or under EPO treatment if their form indicated "Yes" in the check box for the corresponding question. If the box "No" was checked, the patient was classified as none; if the box "Unknown" was checked, the patient was classified as "No." Timing of pre-ESRD care was assigned according to the check box on the form indicating "6–12 months" or ">12 months." If the form indicated treatment but the length of treatment box was left unchecked "<6 months" was assigned.
| Field | Data |
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| Description of Measure | Pre-ESRD care |
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| Data Source | Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Medical Evidence Form (CMS-2728) |
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| Type of Data Source | Administrative |
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| Data Set | USRDS |
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| Health Care System Data | No |
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| Regional or National? | National |
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| Demographic Grouop | Incident dialysis patients |
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| Numerator | All individuals in denominator |
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| Denominator | 1,106,236 ESRD patients incident 1/1/06 and 12/31/15 |
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| Definition of diagnosed CKD | Stage 5 with Medicare-eligibility for ESRD treatment |
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| Primary Data Source Indicator | Nephrology care, Dietitian care and Erythropoietin (EPO) treatment prior to ESRD |
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| Primary Indicator Method of Measurement | Reported on CMS-2728 form |
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| Secondary (1) Variable | Demographics (e.g. age, gender, race/ethnicity), Health (e.g. BMI, diabetes status, dialysis modality), Labs (e.g. serum creatinine, urine albumin, hemoglobin) |
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| Secondary (1) Variable Method of Measurement | All as reported on CMS 2728 form |
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| Secondary (2) Variable | eGFR |
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| Secondary (2) Variable Method of Measurement | Calculated using 4-variable, CKD-EPI equation using data from CMS 2728 form |
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| Frequency of Measurement (Primary) | Once |
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| Period Currently Available | 2015 |
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| Additional Data Items of Interest | Tracking of care immediately prior to ESRD registration began in 2006. |
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| Limitations of Indicator | Information on the source is unknown. |
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