Using datasets to ascertain the generalizability of clinical cohorts: the example of the European QUALity study on the treatment of advanced chronic kidney disease.
Nephrol Dial Transplant
; 37(3): 540-547, 2022 02 25.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-33426560
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Cohort studies are among the most robust of observational studies but have issues with external validity. This study assesses threats to external validity (generalizability) in the European QUALity (EQUAL) study, a cohort study of people >65 years of age with Stage 4/5 chronic kidney disease.METHODS:
Patients meeting the EQUAL inclusion criteria were identified in The Health Improvement Network database and stratified into those attending renal units, a secondary care cohort (SCC) and a not primary care cohort (PCC). Survival, progression to renal replacement therapy (RRT) and hospitalization were compared.RESULTS:
The analysis included 250, 633 and 2464 patients in EQUAL, PCC and SCC. EQUAL had a higher proportion of men compared with PCC and SCC (60.0% versus 34.8% versus 51.4%). Increasing age ≥85 years {odds ratio [OR] 0.25 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.15-0.40]} and comorbidity [Charlson Comorbidity Index ≥4, OR 0.69 (95% CI 0.52-0.91)] were associated with non-participation in EQUAL. EQUAL had a higher proportion of patients starting RRT at 1 year compared with SCC (8.1% versus 2.1%; P < 0.001). Patients in the PCC and SCC had increased risk of hospitalization [incidence rate ratio 1.76 (95% CI 1.27-2.47) and 2.13 (95% CI 1.59-2.86)] and mortality at 1 year [hazard ratio 3.48 (95% CI 2.1-5.7) and 1.7 (95% CI 1.1-2.7)] compared with EQUAL.CONCLUSIONS:
This study provides evidence of how participants in a cohort study can differ from the broader population of patients, which is essential when considering external validity and application to local practice.Palavras-chave
Texto completo:
1
Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Insuficiência Renal Crônica
/
Injúria Renal Aguda
Tipo de estudo:
Etiology_studies
/
Incidence_studies
/
Observational_studies
/
Prognostic_studies
/
Risk_factors_studies
Limite:
Aged80
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Humans
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Male
Idioma:
En
Ano de publicação:
2022
Tipo de documento:
Article