A Core Outcome Set for Trials in CKD: Report of the Standardized Outcomes in Nephrology–Chronic Kidney Disease (SONG-CKD) Stakeholder Workshops

Omitting outcomes of importance to patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) and their caregivers from trials can impede decision making based on patient-centered outcomes. As part of the global Standardized Outcomes in Nephrology-Chronic Kidney Disease (SONG-CKD) initiative, we established a consensus-based set of core outcomes for trials in CKD (prior to the need for kidney replacement therapy). To finalize the proposed set of core outcomes that were identified through focus groups and an international Delphi survey, we convened 2 international stakeholder workshops in English and Spanish languages that involved 61 patients/caregivers and 75 health professionals from 18 countries. Participants were asked to discuss and endorse the potential core outcomes (mortality, kidney function, life participation, and cardiovascular disease), and to provide suggestions for implementing the core outcomes. The discussions were summarized into 4 themes: reflecting a comprehensive approach to health, facilitating patient empowerment in their own care, ensuring applicability to broad geographic areas and populations, and feasibility for implementation. Patients, caregivers, and health professionals agreed that mortality, kidney function, life participation, and cardiovascular disease should be established as core outcomes for trials in CKD.

Aim

The Standardised Outcomes in Nephrology – Chronic Kidney Disease (SONG-CKD) aims to establish a consensus-based core outcome set for all trials in patients with CKD not yet requiring kidney replacement therapy to ensure outcomes of relevance to patients, caregivers an health professionals are consistently reported in trials. SONG-CKD involves four phases: a systematic review to identify outcomes (domains and measures) that have been reported in randomised controlled trials involving adults with CKD who do not require kidney replacement therapy; stakeholder key informant interviews with health professionals involved in care of adults with CKD to ascertain their views on establishing core outcomes in CKD; an international two-round online Delphi survey with patients, caregivers, clinicians, researchers, policy makers and industry representatives to obtain consensus on critically important outcome domains; and a stakeholder workshop to review and finalise the set of core outcome domains for trials in CKD.

Contributors

Andrea Matus Gonzalez, Rosanna Cazzolli, Magdalena Madero, Nicole Evangelidis, Martin Howell, Benedicte Sautenet, Amelie Bernier-Jean, Yeoungjee Cho, Laura Cortes Sanabria, Jonathan C Craig, Ian H de Boer, Samuel Fung, Daniel Gallego, Chandana Guha, Jenny I Shen, Andrew S Levey, Adeera Levin, Eduardo Lorca, Sebastian Cabrera, Haydee Mellado, Soledad Molina, Ximena Atilano, Lorena Sandino, Macarena Arancibia, Alejandro Sepulveda, Marcelo Urra, Maria de Los Angeles Bravo, Karine Manera, Javier Recabarren, Ikechi G Okpechi, Patrick Rossignol, Nicole Scholes-Robertson, Laura Sola, Armando Teixeira-Pinto, Tim Usherwood, Andrea K Viecelli, David C Wheeler, Katherine Widders, Allison Jaure; SONG-CKD Stakeholder Workshop Investigators

Publication

Journal: American Journal of Kidney Diseases
Volume: 85
Issue: 6
Pages: -
Year: 2025
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1053/j.ajkd.2024.10.013

Further Study Information

Current Stage: Completed
Date: August 2020 - December 2020
Funding source(s): This project is supported by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Program Grant 1092597. AT is supported by The University of Sydney Robinson Fellowship. The funding bodies do not have a role in the design, collection, analysis, and interpretation of data; in the writing of the manuscript; and in the decision to submit the manuscript for publication.


Health Area

Disease Category: Kidney disease

Disease Name: Chronic kidney disease

Target Population

Age Range: 18 - 120

Sex: Either

Nature of Intervention: Any

Stakeholders Involved

- Clinical experts
- Consumers (caregivers)
- Consumers (patients)
- Families
- Governmental agencies
- Patient/ support group representatives
- Policy makers
- Researchers

Study Type

- Prioritising

Method(s)

- Consensus meeting
- Delphi process
- Interview
- Systematic review

SONG-CKD involves four phases: a systematic review, stakeholder key informant interviews, an online international Delphi survey, and a consensus workshop.