a Includes CKD subgroups from general population studies (not exclusively in CKD patients). Table 6 | Hierarchy of outcomes Hierarchya Outcomesb Critical importance Mortality, cardiovascular mortality, cardiovascular events, kidney failure, composite including clinical events High importance Doubling of SCr or halving of GFR, proteinuria (categorical) Moderate importance Kidney function (continuous), urine protein level (continuous) Importance dependent on severity Adverse events: drug discontinuation or dose decrease, hyperkalemia, early rise of SCr or decrease of GFR GFR, glomerular filtration rate; SCr, serum creatinine. a Doubling of SCr or halving of GFR is of critical importance in those studies with or SCr 42 mg/dl (177 mmol/l). b The lists are not meant to reflect outcome ranking for other areas of kidney disease management. The Work Group acknowledges that not all clinicians, patients or families, or societies would rank all outcomes the same. methods for guideline development Table 7 | Relevant systematic reviews and meta-analyses Title Reference Databases and cut-off dates of literature search Use in Work Group deliberation Topic 1. Low sodium diet or lifestyle modification and change in BP Lifestyle interventions to reduce raised blood pressure: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials Dickinson et al.53 Cochrane CENTRAL MEDLINE Embase References used to check and supplement reference list of ERT systematic review Systematic review of long term effects of advice to reduce dietary salt in adults Hooper et al.62 Cochrane CENTRAL MEDLINE Embase CAB abstracts CVRCT registry SIGLE Further search on sodium restriction and BP: Cochrane CENTRAL MEDLINE Embase Up to July 2002 References used to check and supplement reference list of ERT systematic review Topic 2. 