Aims of eGFR3
  • What is the long-term change in kidney function since the first kidney health assessment in 2007-2011?
  • Was there any major change in kidney function for people who were healthy, or had diabetes, or had mild-moderate kidney damage since the first kidney health assessment?
  • What are common reasons people with kidney disease access hospital care?
  • What are the impacts of an Indigenous-led eGFR3 study governance model for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander kidney health?

Aims of eGFR2 
  • To assess the evolution of kidney disease in an Indigenous Australian cohort from the regions of Australia with the greatest burden of End Stage Kidney Disease
  • To perform community consultation and design appropriate interventions to reduce progression of chronic kidney disease in Indigenous Australians.
Aim of eGFR1

  • To determine an accurate and reliable test of kidney function in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults.

Summary:

The eGFR study is a longitudinal study of kidney damage in a cohort of 600 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults from across the Northern Territory (NT), Western Australia (WA) and Far North Queensland.

Phase 1 of the study (2008-2011) assessed the accuracy of estimated measures of kidney function in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults. Determining the accuracy of measures of eGFR in this population with a high burden of chronic kidney disease is particularly important both to underline the validity of other clinical research and to confirm or modify current clinical practice, because levels of kidney function correspond to pathophysiological changes which determine current clinical care pathways.

Phase 2 of the study (2012-2014) assessed the progression of markers of kidney damage (urine protein and eGFR) in this high-risk cohort of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults. The latter part of Phase 2 will also involve design of interventions in collaboration with communities and service providers and based on our findings of key factors contributing to rapid progression of chronic kidney disease. 

Phase 3 of the study (2020-2025) will partner researchers with community leaders and clinician leaders to report the long-term health outcomes and long-term changes in kidney function among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults who were previously assessed at baseline (between 2007- 2011), and follow-up (between 2012- 2015). Using a third direct health assessment and linkage to health datasets, the eGFR3 Study outcomes will inform the health action response needed for optimal and sustained kidney health among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Our research has found:

Phase 1 of this study validated the kidney function test for use in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults, known as the CKD-EPI eGFR blood test. 

We reported this kidney function blood test was an accurate and reliable test of kidney function in Indigenous Australians, similar to reports that it is accurate and reliable in non-Indigenous Australians. We also showed that differences in body builds of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults, and between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians did not affect the accuracy of the kidney function blood test. 

Since 2012, health professionals have been confidently using the kidney function test nationwide.

Chief investigator eGFR3
Chief investigator eGFR2 and eGFR1
Project Manager:
  • Diana Mosca
Contact information:
Project dates:
  • eGFR1 Study (2008-2011)
  • eGFR2 Study (2012-2014)
  • eGFR3 Study (2020-2025)
Information for study participants:
  • The eGFR3 Study team are planning to follow up participants in late 2021 in the Top End region.
Funders:
  • National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC)
Collaborators:
  • Austin Health
  • University of Melbourne
  • University of Queensland
  1. Barr EL, Maple-Brown LJ, Barzi F, Hughes JT, Jerums G, Ekinci EI, Ellis AG, Jones GR, Lawton PD, Sajiv C, Majoni SW, Brown AD, Hoy WE, O'Dea K, Cass A, MacIsaac RJ. Comparison of creatinine and cystatin C based eGFR in the estimation of glomerular filtration rate in Indigenous Australians: The eGFR Study. Clinical Biochemistry 2016 Nov 25. pii: S0009-9120(16)30377-0 [Epub ahead of print]
  2. Hughes, Maple-Brown, Thomas, Lawton, Sinha, Cass, Barzi, Jones, Jerums, MacIsaac, O'Dea, Hoy.  Cross-sectional associations of albuminuria among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander adults: the eGFR Study. Nephrology November 2016, doi: 10.1111/nep.12956
  3. Hughes JT, K O’Dea, K Piera, F Barzi, A Cass, WE Hoy, RJ MacIsaac, LJ Maple-Brown. Associations of serum adiponectin with markers of cardio-metabolic disease risk in Indigenous Australian adults with good health, diabetes and chronic kidney disease. Obes Res Clin Prac, 2016 Nov - Dec;10(6):659-672. 
  4. Ekinci E, Hughes J, Chatfield M, Lawton PD, Jones GRD, Ellis A, Cass A, Thomas M, MacIsaac RJ, O'Dea K, Jerums G, Maple-Brown L. Hyperfiltration in Indigenous Australians with and without diabetes. Nephrology, Dialysis, Transplantation, 2015 Nov; 30(11):1877-84.
  5. Maple-Brown L, Hughes J, Chatfield M, Ward LC, Piers LS, Jones GD, Lawton P, Ellis AE, Cass A, Hoy W, O’Dea K, MacIsaac R, Jerums G. Adding Measures of Body Composition to the CKD-EPI GFR Estimating Equation in Indigenous Australians: The eGFR Study. American Journal of Kidney Diseases, 2015, Apr; 65(4):632-4.
  6. Maple-Brown LJ, Ekinci EI, Hughes JT, Chatfield M, Lawton PD, Jones GRD, et al.  Performance of formulas for estimating Glomerular Filtration Rate in Indigenous Australians with and without Type 2 diabetes: The eGFR Study.  Diabetic Medicine, 2014, 31(7):829-38.
  7. Maple-Brown LJ, Hughes JT, Lawton PD, Jones GR, Ellis AG, Drabsch K, Brown AD, Cass A, Hoy WE, Macisaac RJ, O'Dea K, Jerums G. Accurate Assessment of Kidney Function in Indigenous Australians: the eGFR Study. American Journal of Kidney Diseases, 2012; 60(4): 680-2.
  8. Maple-Brown L, P Lawton, J Hughes, SK Sharma, G Jones, A Ellis, W Hoy, A Cass, R MacIsaac, A Sinha, M Thomas, LS Piers, L Ward, K Drabsch, S Panagiotopoulos, R McDermott, K Warr, S Cherian, A Brown, G Jerums, K O’Dea. Study Protocol - Accurate assessment of kidney function in Indigenous Australians: aims and methods of the eGFR Study. BMC Public Health 2010; 10:80. 

​

 

  1. Majoni, S. W., Barzi, F., Hoy, W., MacIsaac, R. J., Cass, A., Maple-Brown, L., & Hughes, J. T. (2020). Baseline liver function tests and full blood count indices and their association with progression of chronic kidney disease and renal outcomes in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people: the eGFR follow- up study. BMC nephrology, 21(1), 523. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12882-020-02185-x
  2. Ekinci, E. I., Barr, E., Barzi, F., Hughes, J. T., Lawton, P. D., Jones, G., Hoy, W., Cass, A., Thomas, M., Sinha, A., Jerums, G., O'Dea, K., MacIsaac, R. J., & Maple-Brown, L. J. (2019). Is hyperfiltration associated with higher urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio at follow up among Indigenous Australians? The eGFR follow-up study. Journal of diabetes and its complications, 33(5), 343–349. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jdiacomp.2019.02.005
  3. Barr, E. L., Barzi, F., Hughes, J. T., Jerums, G., O'Dea, K., Brown, A. D., Ekinci, E. I., Jones, G. R., Lawton, P. D., Sinha, A., MacIsaac, R. J., Cass, A., & Maple-Brown, L. J. (2018). Contribution of cardiometabolic risk factors to estimated glomerular filtration rate decline in Indigenous Australians with and without albuminuria - the eGFR Follow-up Study. Nephrology (Carlton, Vic.), 23(7), 682–689. https://doi.org/10.1111/nep.13073
  4. Barzi, F., Jones, G., Hughes, J. T., Lawton, P. D., Hoy, W., O'Dea, K., Jerums, G., MacIsaac, R. J., Cass, A., & Maple-Brown, L. J. (2018). Trajectories of eGFR decline over a four year period in an Indigenous Australian population at high risk of CKD-the eGFR follow up study. Clinical biochemistry, 53, 58–64. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clinbiochem.2018.01.011
  5. Barr, E., Barzi, F., Hughes, J. T., Jerums, G., Hoy, W. E., O'Dea, K., Jones, G., Lawton, P. D., Brown, A., Thomas, M., Ekinci, E. I., Sinha, A., Cass, A., MacIsaac, R. J., & Maple-Brown, L. J. (2018). High Baseline Levels of Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor 1 Are Associated With Progression of Kidney Disease in Indigenous Australians With Diabetes: The eGFR Follow-up Study. Diabetes care, 41(4), 739–747. https://doi.org/10.2337/dc17-1919
  6. Maple-Brown, L. J., Hughes, J. T., Ritte, R., Barzi, F., Hoy, W. E., Lawton, P. D., Jones, G. R., Death, E., Simmonds, A., Sinha, A. K., Cherian, S., Thomas, M. A., McDermott, R., Brown, A. D., O'Dea, K., Jerums, G., Cass, A., & MacIsaac, R. J. (2016). Progression of Kidney Disease in Indigenous Australians: The eGFR Follow-up Study. Clinical journal of the American Society of Nephrology : CJASN, 11(6), 993–1004. https://doi.org/10.2215/CJN.09770915

 

 

  1. eGFR Study News - 2021 Annual Report

    eGFR Study News - 2021 Annual Report

    Date

    The study is led by Research, Clinical and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Governance groups.

  2. eGFR Study News - 2020 Annual Report

    eGFR Study News - 2020 Annual Report

    Date

    In this edition of eGFR Study News, we highlight key activities during 2020.

  3. Territorian recognised for research excellence

    Territorian recognised for research excellence

    Date

    Menzies School of Health Research Associate Prof Hughes received the 2019 NHMRC Clinical Trials and Cohort Studies Award for the top-ranked application in the 2019 funding round at NHMRC’s annual awards in Canberra.

  4. eGFR Study news - January 2020

    eGFR Study news - January 2020

    Date

    In this edition of eGFR Study News, we summarise the key 2019 activities of the study team.

  5. $440 million funding boost for vital health and medical research for all stages of life

    $440 million funding boost for vital health and medical research for all stages of life

    Date

    $6 million in research funding for three Indigenous health grants in the Northern Territory. This includes $2.5 million for an NHMRC Centre of Research Excellence at the Menzies School of Health Research to prevent and manage bronchiectasis, a lung disease which results in recurrent chest infections and is particularly common in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

  6. Senator reveals personal story of kidney disease

    Senator reveals personal story of kidney disease

    Date

    Nephrologist at the Menzies School of Health Research, Paul Lawton, said his research team had been investigating key causes that dramatically impact upon remote Aboriginal communities.

  7. Sunday Territorian | Gift of life

    Sunday Territorian | Gift of life

    Date

    Senator Malarndirri McCarthy discusses her kidney diseaese and treatment by Dr Paul Lawton

  8. SMH | Hope and healing

    SMH | Hope and healing

    Date

    A new approach to treatment is helping Indigenous Australians fight kidney disease

  9. Nursing review interview

    Date

  10. Research endorses national standard for assessment of kidney function

    Research endorses national standard for assessment of kidney function

    Date