National Kidney Foundation K-DOQI: Clinical practice guidelines for bone metabolism and disease in chronic kidney disease

In 1995, the National Kidney Foundation (NKF) launched the Dialysis Outcomes Quality Initiative (DOQI) with the objective of developing evidence-based clinical practice guidelines for the diagnosis and management of chronic kidney disease. Since its first publication in 1997, the DOQI Guidelines have had a significant impact on the care and outcomes of patients diagnosed with chronic kidney disease. In this final chapter of this issue, we present the K/DOQI Clinical Practice Guidelines for Bone Metabolism and Disease in Chronic Kidney Disease. These guidelines were based on a systematic review of the literature pertaining to bone and mineral metabolism. These guidelines were geared toward patients, aged 18 years and above, who were diagnosed to have chronic kidney disease. Guidelines labeled "Evidence" pertain to those that were based on published evidence; on the other hand, when no definite evidence was available, and the formulated guidelines were based primarily on judgment, they were labeled as "Opinion." Overall, 111 recommendations are made in these guidelines. Majority of these guidelines (2/3) are "opinionbased." With this in mind, it becomes imperative that evaluation of their clinical outcomes be considered as a component of their implementation. At present, further research is recommended to address the remaining multitude of yet unanswered questions. The results of such research activities will be pivotal in the future updating of these guidelines. © Copyright 2007 by Humana Press Inc. All rights of any nature whatsoever reserved.