The KDOQI 2002 classification of chronic kidney disease: For whom the bell tolls

Abstract

The KDOQI 2002 classification system of CKD has several weaknesses and will very likely be revised in the near future. In our opinion, the new CKD classification system must be evidence-based, focus on the risk of progression to renal as well as cardiovascular end-points, combine all levels of eGFR with ACR measurements and condense the information into a simple nomenclature to facilitate cooperation with general practitioners and other non-nephrologists. Information on the background, key studies that will form the scientific basis for the revised CKD system and an example of a revised classification system for the definition of low-, medium- and high-risk CKD patients have been presented here. We are convinced that physicians should immediately start to evaluate renal and cardiovascular risk in their patients by adopting the combined eGFR-ACR approach, particularly in the large group of patients with eGFR 30-59 mL/min/1.73 m2. © The Author 2010. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of ERA-EDTA. All rights reserved.