Can Kidney Failure Risk Equation (KFRE) Predict ESRD in The Norwegian Population? Validation of the KFRE Equation, 10 Years Data from Vestfold, Norway

Background: Chronic kidney disease occurs in approximately 11% of the adult population, and about 0.3% develops end-stage renal disease (ESRD) requiring kidney replacement therapy. The Kidney Failure Risk Equation (KFRE) can predict 2 and 5-year risk of dialysis in patients with CKD stages 3 to 5. Having a tool to predict ESRD within 2-5 years is of value to prioritize health resources for patients with moderate to high risk. The method has been validated in several other countries. Objective: To validate the KFRE method in a Norwegian population with CKD stages 3-5. Patients and Methods: A retrospective cohort study with 118 patients from Vestfold Hospital Trust, Norway. Results: The number of observed cases of ESRD requiring dialysis corresponded to increased KFRE-predicted risk. The KFRE predictions for 2 and 5-year risk of ESRD show an AUC of 0.66 (95% CI 0.53-0.77) and 0.62 (95% CI 0.52-0.74), respectively. This is consistent with findings from other countries. The results indicate that the KFRE method can also be very useful in clinical practice in Norway. Conclusion: KFRE can predict ESRD requiring dialysis in the Norwegian population. It is desirable to validate the method in a larger Norwegian population for more reliable results