KoreaN Cohort Study for Outcome in Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease: A Longitudinal Cohort Study of the Chronic Kidney Disease (KNOW-CKD), Phase II Study

The goals of KNOW-CKD (KoreaN cohort study for Outcome in patients With Chronic Kidney Disease) study are 1) to establish a CKD cohort representing Korean CKD population for up to 10-year follow-up, and 2) to investigate the renal progression, mortality, complications, risk factors, role of biochemical parameters and the genetic influence. KNOW-CKD Phase I has enrolled 2,238 patients and these patients were divided into four major subgroups depending on the specific causes of CKD : glomerulonephritis, diabetic nephropathy, hypertensive nephropathy, and polycystic kidney disease. In progress, renal progression, complications, and cardiovascular disease of these patients are followed up now.

Since there was a lack of information related to patients' lifestyle, it is necessary to conduct various studies that can be applied to actual clinical status through evaluation of nutrition, cognitive functions, and lifestyles of patients with CKD in South Korea. In addition, researches for high risk patients including diabetic nephropathy, advanced CKD and elderly patients are needed. Thus, KNOW-CKD phase II will enroll the CKD subjects at a more advanced-stage, and older patients than KNOW-CKD phase I subjects.

KNOW-CKD phase II Investigator Group comprises nephrologists, epidemiologists and statisticians from multi-centers in South Korea. KNOW-CKD phase II will enroll 1,500 individuals with estimated glomerular filtration rate between 20 and 60mL/min/1.73m2 (CKD-EPI[Cr] equation) between 2019 and 2021 and follow them until 2016 (for 5~7 years). Unlike phase I, patients diagnosed with glomerulonephritis and ADPKD will be excluded in Phase II.