Genomic First Testing in Chronic Kidney Disease

This multi-center study examines the role of genetic testing in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) who are identified as being at risk for genetic kidney disease, based on Ontario Health's Provincial Genetic Program (OH-PGP) guidelines. Participants will be assigned to either genome-wide sequencing or standard genetic testing, depending on when they were initially diagnosed with kidney disease.

To evaluate the impact of genetic testing, patients and caregivers will complete quality-of-life questionnaires before and after testing. Participants may also choose to take part in a one-on-one interview at the end of the study to provide additional insights. They will have the option to link their data to the Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences (ICES), allowing researchers to explore health outcomes such as the costs of genetic testing and healthcare resource use.

Family members of participants will be invited to provide DNA samples to help identify genetic changes in the affected individual. Referring physicians will complete a survey to assess the clinical value of genetic testing for each patient they refer. We will perform an economic analysis comparing the genome wide sequencing to the standard genetic testing group.

The study's findings will offer important guidance on how genetic testing influences patient care, clinical outcomes, and the timing of genomic assessments in managing CKD.