Table 7.

Key questions for future research

Key Questions
1. What new endogenous filtration markers are not sensitive to social and demographic factors (e.g., race, ethnicity, sex)? How do they perform with regard to accuracy, bias, and precision in estimating GFR in representative populations that include multiethnic and racial groups across a spectrum of health, socioeconomic status, and geography?
2. For current (e.g., creatinine and cystatin C) and future endogenous filtration markers, what are the non-GFR determinants of their serum concentration?
3. What are the performance characteristics (accuracy, bias, and precision) of cystatin C in more heterogeneous (e.g., hospitalized) populations?
4. What is the effect of recommended approaches for estimation of GFR on all race and ethnic groups?
5. Are there sound new GFR approaches for real-time decision making (e.g., point of care)?
6. What are the criteria for, and consequences of, adding new filtration markers to the basic metabolic panel used in everyday inpatient and outpatient clinical practice?
7. What is the relation of kidney drug clearance with nonindexed mGFR and indexed and nonindexed eGFR across GFR categories in diverse populations, including the full spectrum of body size and composition?
8. What is the effect of using risk-based versus GFR threshold criteria for obtaining access to medical benefits, such as transplantation, nephrology referral, and nutrition services?
9. What interventions focus on the most important drivers and are effective in prevention and elimination of race and ethnic disparities?