OBJECTIVES: To determine how many kidney function tests are done, on whom, how frequently they are performed and how they have changed over time. DESIGN: Retrospective study of all serum @entity1011 , urine albumin and urine @entity1011 tests. SETTING: Primary and secondary care in Oxfordshire from 1993 to 2013. @entity1 : Unselected population of 1   220   447 @entity1 . MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The total number of @entity1011 and urinary protein tests ordered from primary and secondary care and the number of tests per year stratified by categories of estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). The frequency of testing in @entity1 having their kidney function monitored. RESULTS: @entity1011 requests from primary care increased steadily from 1997 and exceeded 220   000 requests in 2013. Tests corresponding to normal kidney function (eGFR >60/mL/ @entity1009 .73   m(2)) constituted 59% of all kidney function tests in 1993 and accounted for 83% of all tests in 2013. Test corresponding to @entity740 ( @entity740 ) stages 3-5 declined after 2007. Reduced kidney function, @entity633 , male gender, @entity6 and age were independently associated with more frequent monitoring. For a female @entity1 between 61 and 80   years and with stage 3a @entity740 , the average number of serum @entity1011 tests (95% CI) was 3.23/year (3.19 to 3.26) and for a similar @entity1 with @entity6 , the average number of tests was 5.50 (5.44 to 5.56) tests per year. CONCLUSIONS: There has been a large increase in the number of kidney function tests over the past two decades. However, we found little evidence that this increase is detecting more @entity740 . Tests are becoming more frequent in @entity1 with and without evidence of @entity8 . Future work using a richer data source could help unravel the underlying reasons for the increased testing and determine how much is necessary and useful.

Trends in serum XXXX testing in Oxfordshire, UK, 1993-2013: a population-based cohort study.

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['woman', 'patients', 'patient', 'PARTICIPANTS', 'people'] @entity8 :: ('MESH:D007674', 'Disease') :: ['renal impairment'] @entity6 :: ('MESH:D003920', 'Disease') :: ['diabetes'] @entity1009 :: ('966', 'Gene') :: ['min/1'] @entity740 :: ('MESH:D051436', 'Disease') :: ['CKD', 'chronic kidney disease'] @entity633 :: ('MESH:D000419', 'Disease') :: ['albuminuria'] @entity1011 :: ('MESH:D003404', 'Chemical') :: ['creatinine', 'Creatinine']
@entity1011 :: (MESH:D003404,Chemical) :: ['creatinine']
