The Usefulness of Diagnostic Testing in the Initial Evaluation of Chronic Kidney Disease

Abstract

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) affects approximately 13% of adults in the United States and is associated with significant morbidity, mortality, and costs.1–3 There is a broad differential for CKD, including diabetes mellitus, hypertension, glomerulonephritis, tubulointerstitial disease, urologic causes, and unknown causes.2 To our knowledge, a comprehensive assessment of the tests used in CKD evaluation has not been conducted. We determined how often laboratory and imaging tests were obtained in the initial evaluation of CKD and whether these tests affected diagnosis and/or management.