Abstract
BACKGROUND: 2 valid and reliable estimated glomerular filtration rate (GFR) equations for the pediatric population have been developed from directly measured GFR data in the Chronic Kidney Disease in Children (CKiD) cohort: the full CKiD and bedside CKiD equations. Although adult GFR estimating equations replicate relationships of measured GFR with biomarkers, it is unclear whether similar patterns exist among children and adolescents with chronic kidney disease (CKD). STUDY DESIGN: Prospective cohort study in children and adolescents. SETTINGS & PARTICIPANTS: 730 participants contributed 1,539 study visits. PREDICTORS: Measured GFR by plasma iohexol disappearance (mGFR), estimated GFR by the full CKiD equation (eGFR(CKiDfull); based on serum creatinine, cystatin C, serum urea nitrogen, height, and sex), and estimated GFR by the bedside CKiD equation (eGFR(CKiDbed); calculated as 41.3 × height [m]/serum creatinine [mg/dL]) were predictors of CKD-related biomarkers. Deviations of mGFR from eGFR(CKiDfull) and deviations of eGFR(CKiDfull) from eGFR(CKiDbed) from linear regressions (ie, residuals) were included in bivariate analyses. OUTCOMES & MEASUREMENTS: CKD-related biomarkers included values for urine protein-creatinine ratio, blood hemoglobin, serum phosphate, bicarbonate, potassium, systolic and diastolic blood pressure z scores, and height z scores. RESULTS: The median age of 730 participants with CKD was 12.5 years, with median mGFR, eGFR(CKiDfull), and eGFR(CKiDbed) of 51.8, 54.0, and 53.2mL/min/1.73m(2), respectively. eGFR(CKiDfull) demonstrated as strong or stronger associations with CKD-related biomarkers than mGFR; eGFR(CKiDbed) associations were significantly attenuated (ie, closer to the null). Residual information in mGFR did not substantially increase explained variability. eGFR(CKiDbed) estimated faster GFR decline relative to mGFR and eGFR(CKiDfull). LIMITATIONS: Simple linear summaries of biomarkers may not capture nonlinear associations. CONCLUSIONS: eGFR(CKiDfull) closely approximated mGFR to describe relationships with CKD-severity indicators and progression in this pediatric CKD population. eGFR(CKiDbed) offered similar inferences, but associations were attenuated and rate of progression was overestimated. The eGFR(CKiDfull) equation from 2012 is preferred for pediatric research purposes.