ABSTRACT
Background: Knowledge about the variability in the request of calcium-phosphate metabolism laboratory tests in primary care is important to design strategies to improve health system efficiency. Aim: To compare the inter-practice variability in calcium-phosphate metabolism laboratory tests requested by general practitioners from diverse regions across Spain. Material and Methods: One hundred and forty one clinical laboratories were invited to participate in an observational cross-sectional study. They informed the number of serum calcium, phosphate, parathyroid hormone and 25-hydroxyvitamin D requested by general practitioners. Appropriateness indicators were calculated as number of test requests per 1,000 inhabitants and ratio of related tests requests. The differences according to hospital setting, region and type of management were analyzed. Results: We recruited 76 laboratories (17,679,195 inhabitants). General practitioners requested 3,260,894 calcium-phosphate metabolism tests. The rate of request ranged from 2.97 per 1,000 inhabitants for 25-hydroxyvitamin D to 98.89 per 1,000 inhabitants for calcium. The rates of request for calcium, phosphate, parathyroid hormone in some areas were 30, 100 and 340 times higher than in other areas. Parathyroid hormone and 25-hydroxyvitamin D were highly requested in private management areas. There were also differences in phosphate, parathyroid hormone and 25-hydroxyvitamin D requesting between regions across Spain. Conclusions: The high variability observed is difficult to explain by differences in patient case mix between regions. Depending on the area, calcium could be under requested to detect primary hyperparathyroidism.
Objetivo: Conocer la variabilidad en la solicitud de pruebas de laboratorio en atención primaria es importante para diseñar estrategias que mejoren la eficiencia del sistema de salud. La propuesta de este estudio fue comparar la variabilidad en la solicitud de pruebas para la evaluación del metabolismo fosfocálcico por médicos de atención primaria de diversas regiones de España. Material y Método: Se invitó a participar a 141 laboratorios clínicos de diversas regiones españolas. Completaron una encuesta con el número de determinaciones de calcio, fósforo, hormona paratiroidea y 25-hidroxivitamina D solicitadas por médicos de atención primaria de sus áreas. Se calcularon las tasas en relación a la población y se construyeron indicadores de adecuación. Los resultados se compararon por características del hospital, región y tipo de gestión. Resultados: Obtuvimos los datos de 76 laboratorios (17.679.195 habitantes). Los médicos de atención primaria solicitaron 3.260.894 pruebas de metabolismo fosfocálcico. La tasa de solicitud varió de 2,97 por 1.000 habitantes de 25-hidroxivitamin D a 98,89 por 1.000 habitantes de calcio. Las tasas de calcio, fósforo, hormona paratiroidea en algunas áreas fue 30, 100 y 340 veces más alta respecto a otras. Hormona paratiroidea y 25-hidroxivitamina D fueron más solicitadas significativamente en hospitales con gestión privada. También hubo diferencias en fósforo, hormona paratiroidea y 25-hidroxivitamina D solicitas entre distintas regiones de España. Discusión: La alta variabilidad observada es difícil de explicar por las diferencias de las características de los pacientes. Dependiendo de la región podría haber una infra solicitud para la detección del hiperparatiroidismo primario.
Subject(s)
Humans , Male , Female , Primary Health Care/statistics & numerical data , Practice Patterns, Physicians' , Calcium Metabolism Disorders/diagnosis , Mass Screening/methods , Clinical Laboratory Techniques/statistics & numerical data , General Practitioners , Parathyroid Hormone/blood , Phosphates/blood , Spain , Vitamin D/analogs & derivatives , Vitamin D/blood , Calcium Phosphates/metabolism , Calcium Phosphates/blood , Cross-Sectional Studies , Hypercalcemia/diagnosis , Hyperparathyroidism/diagnosisABSTRACT
To review the target levels of calcium [Ca], phosphate [P], calcium phosphate products [Ca x P] and intact parathyroid hormone [iPTH] levels in patients undergoing hemodialysis [HD] and peritoneal dialysis [PD] and compare them with the Kidney Disease Outcome Quality Initiative [K/DOQI] recommendations. Three hundred and fifty-seven patients who had been undergoing dialysis for more than 3 months were included. Patients who had undergone a parathyroidectomy were excluded. The levels of Ca, P, iPTH and Ca x P were monitored for the last 3 months. The Ca and P levels were measured by standard techniques, and iPTH was assessed by the intact molecule assay. Between HD and PD patients, there was no statistically significant difference for age, duration of dialysis or primary disease causing end-stage renal disease. The percentage of patients whose serum Ca, P, Ca x P product and iPTH were within K/DOQI recommended target ranges were 61.2, 66.4, 82.2 and 28.3% in HD patients, and 56.3, 60.6, 85.9 and 22.5% in PD patients, respectively. When all results for each group - HD and PD - were analyzed, 12.8% of patients had all 4 markers within the target range. Achieving target ranges of mineral markers is important in dialysis patients, but reaching K/DOQI target levels is difficult. Hence, physicians should be careful in using P binders and vitamin D analogs to achieve the normal ranges