Using datasets to ascertain the Generalisability of clinical cohorts: the example of European QUALity Study on the treatment of advanced chronic kidney disease (EQUAL)

Anirudh Rao*, Stephanie J Macneill, Fergus J Caskey, Yoav Ben-Shlomo, et al.

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticle (Academic Journal)peer-review

1 Citation (Scopus)
121 Downloads (Pure)

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 (generalisability) in the European QUALity (EQUAL) study, a cohort study of people over 65 years 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 (secondary care cohort-SCC) and not (primary care cohort-PCC). Survival, progression to renal replacement therapy (RRT), and hospitalisation were compared. Results: The analysis included 250, 633, and 2,464 patients in EQUAL, PCC, and SCC. EQUAL had a higher proportion of men in comparison to PCC and SCC (60.0% vs. 34.8% vs. 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 (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 to SCC (8.1% vs. 2.1%%, p <0.001). Patients in the PCC and SCC had increased risk of Hospitalisation (incidence rate ratio=1.76 (95% CI 1.27-2.47) & 2.13 (95% CI 1.59-2.86)) and mortality at one year (hazard ratio=3.48 (95% CI 2.1-5.7) & 1.7 (95% CI 1.1-2.7)) compared to 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 applying to local practice.
Original languageEnglish
Article numbergfab002
Number of pages8
JournalNephrology Dialysis Transplantation
Early online date11 Jan 2021
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 11 Jan 2021

Keywords

  • cohort study
  • EQUAL
  • external validity
  • Generalizability
  • THIN

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