Strategies for Kidney Outcomes Prevention and Evaluation - The SKOPE Study

Background: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a major public health threat associated with significant morbidity, high mortality, and reduced quality of life. However, empirical evidence is limited on strategies to enhance the effectiveness of care for CKD. The objective of the trial is to evaluate the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of multicomponent primary care strategies in preserving kidney function among patients with CKD at primary care clinics in Singapore.

Methods: A pragmatic, randomized controlled trial, in 4 socioeconomically diverse primary care clinics (polyclinics) in Singapore over 3 years. A total of 896 participants with CKD Stage 3 or worse aged ≥40 and <80 years will be enrolled, with 224 from each polyclinic. Participants enrolled in each polyclinic will be randomly allocated to the intervention or usual care group in a 1:1 ratio.

Intervention includes four components 1) training nurses as health coaches for motivational conversation and CKD specific lifestyle counseling on diet and exercise, using hybrid follow-up approach of in-person, telephone, and secure WhatsApp video meetings; 2)Training physicians in algorithm-based standardized management of CKD and hybrid care delivery;3) subsidy on sodium-glucose transport protein-2 inhibitors (SGLT-2i) for CKD; and 4) regular CKD case review meetings.

Patients in the usual care arm will be treated by physicians and nurses who and are not trained in SKOPE treatment algorithms.

Study outcomes:

The primary outcome will be the eGFR total slope from randomization to final follow-up at 36 months. secondary effectiveness outcomes will be 1) Change in CVD risk score as measured by The Million Hearts Longitudinal ASCVD Risk Assessment score 2) Change in CKD quality of life measured by KDQOL-36TM