Nephrology Guideline Database

Introduction

This guideline database was created to foster KDIGO’s mission to “promote worldwide coordination, collaboration, and integration of initiatives to develop and implement clinical practices in nephrology”. It was developed as a collaborative effort with the five primary English speaking guideline development groups:

• Australian and New Zealand Society of Nephrology (ANZSN) - Caring for Australians with Renal Impairment (CARI) Clinical Practice Guidelines
• Canadian Nephrology Society (CSN) - Professional Practice Guidelines
• European Renal Association/European Dialysis and Transplant Association (ERA/EDTA) - European Best Practice Guidelines (EBPG)
• National Kidney Foundation (NKF) - Kidney Disease Outcomes Quality Initiative (KDOQI)- Clinical Practice Guidelines
• United Kingdom Renal Association - Clinical Practice Guidelines

The intent here is to provide an interactive, easily accessible database of existing clinical practice guidelines in nephrology, which can be used as a tool to harmonize and standardize future CKD guideline recommendations and as a resource for clinicians seeking guidance for the care of their CKD patients.

While the database focuses on the five guideline groups noted above, it is the intent of KDIGO to expand the scope of the website by the gradual addition of guidelines developed in other countries, written in English or other languages. The principal requirement for inclusion would be that they be evidence-based, the methodology used in developing them explicitly stated and their evidence reports accessible.

The database is divided into four sections that provide extensive links to published nephrology guidelines:

Section 1: Guideline Overviews
This section provides information on each of the guideline development organization including links to all currently available guidelines from each group. Tables are divided based on guideline development organization.

Section 2: Guideline Summaries by Topic
This area of the database provides a tabulation of international CKD guidelines by topic (anemia, hypertension, vascular access, etc), providing links to each guideline and guideline sub-topics. Tables are divided based on guideline topic area.

Section 3: Compare Guideline Targets
The compare target section provides a direct comparison of some of the critical guideline targets, such as hemoglobin and blood pressure, across the five participating guideline groups. Tables are divided based on specified clinical target.

Section 4: Guideline Target Rationales
Representatives of work groups that developed the guidelines have provided a brief report on the rationale for defining certain specified targets different from those recommended in other guidelines. Controversies conferences will be organized subsequently to bring together selected international experts to explore the possibility of reaching a consensus in adopting uniform targets worldwide.