The Implication of Dropping Race from the MDRD Equation to Estimate GFR in an African American-Only Cohort.

The widely used Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD) formula adapts a 1.212 multiplier for individuals who are identified as African Americans (AAs) or Blacks, which leads to a higher GFR estimation. As it stands, AAs have a lower prevalence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) but higher incidence of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) compared with Whites. Many hypotheses have been postulated to explain this paradox, but the imprecision of the GFR estimation with race-adaptation could be contributory. We performed a single-center, longitudinal, retrospective study on a cohort of outpatient AA patients using the MDRD and MDRD_{race removed} and CKD-EPI and CKD-EPI_{race removed} and their progression to CKD G5 (eGFR <15 ml/min/1.73 m²). 327 patients were analyzed. Median follow-up was 88.1 months (interquartile range, 34.4-129.1). When race was removed from MDRD, 39.9% of patients in CKD G1/2 were reclassified to CKD G3a, 72.6% of patients in CKD G3a would be reclassified to CKD G3b, and 54.1% and 36.4% of patients would be reclassified from CKD 3b to CKD G4 and CKD G4 to CKD G5, respectively (p < 0.0001). Comparing the CKD-EPI formula against the MDRD in our cohort, we found that 8.2%, 18.8%, and 11.4% of patients were reclassified from CKD G1/2 to CKD G3a, CKD G3a to G3b, and CKD G3b to CKD G4 respectively. Overall median time to progression to CKD G5 was 137.4 (131.9-142.8) months in patients who were not reclassified and 133.6 (127.6-139.6) months for patients who were reclassified by MDRD_{race removed}(p < 0.288). Concerns of inequitable access to healthcare have elicited calls to review race-corrected eGFR equations. A substantial number of individuals would have their CKD stage reclassified should have the MDRD_{race removed} equation be adopted en masse on an AA-only population. The discrepancy is highest at the 45-59 and >60 ml/min/1.72 min² ranges. This will have tremendous impact on our center's approach to pharmacological dosing, referral system, best practices, and outcome surveillance. Comprehensive review of the current "race-corrected" eGFR will require a multifaceted approach and adjunctive use of noncreatinine-based approach.