Back to home page - Indigenous Resources
|
|
An overview of chronic kidney disease in Australia, 2009
Authored by Green F & Ryan C. Published 27 May 2009; ISBN-13 978 1 74024 928 7; AIHW cat. no. PHE 111; 36pp.; Free to download - hard copy $20
Chapter 6 - CKD in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People
Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) is a significant contributor to morbidity and mortality among Indigenous Australians (ABS & AIHW 2008). It has been well-established that the overall incidence rate of End-Stage Kidney Disease (ESKD) in Indigenous Australians is significantly higher than for non-Indigenous Australians (McDonald et al 2008). A number of factors contribute to this, including the generally poorer socioeconomic situation of Indigenous Australians, their higher rates of risk factors, time to diagnosis and access to ESKD treatment centres (Cass et al. 2002a; 2002b; 2001b). However, although Indigenous Australians as a whole have higher rates of ESKD, vast differences are observed in rates between Indigenous communities (Cass et al 2001a).
In addition to the risk factors peviously outlined in this report, it is important to acknowledge that Indigenous Australians are also at increased risk of developing CKD from other risk factors (McDonald & Hoy 2005). These factors are less common in non-Indigenous Australians, and include low birthweight, which is linked to reduced nephron development and lower GFRs, and inflammation, among others (Hoy et al 2006; Hughson et al 2003).
Sources: 2004 - 05 National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Survey
ANZDATA Registry
AIHW National Hospital Morbidity Database
AIHW National Mortality Database
|
| |
|
|
|
Prevalence
An estimated 1.5% (7,500) of Indigenous Australians have kidney disease as a long-term health condition based on self-reported data (AIHW: Penm 2008).
Of the 2,311 people commencing kidney replacement therapy in 2007, 218 (9%) identified as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander, although Indigenous Australians made up only 2.5% of the total population.
At the end of 2007, there were 1,213 Indigenous Australians receiving treatment for their ESKD (7.2% of all treated ESKD and 6 times the rate of other Australians).
Hospitalisations
In 2006–07 there were 104,727 dialysis hospitalisations for Indigenous Australians, representing around 11.5% of all dialysis hospitalisations (data presented for six states and territories only—see Appendix 1).
There were also 10,684 other hospitalisations where CKD was the principal or additional diagnosis, a rate almost 7 times higher than for other Australians.
Mortality
Between 2004 and 2006 in Queensland, Western Australia, South Australia and the Northern Territory, CKD was recorded as the underlying cause of death in nearly 4% of all Indigenous deaths (177 of 4,716 deaths).
In the same period CKD was an associated cause in a further 557 Indigenous deaths.
Rates where CKD was the underlying cause of death were 7 and 11 times as high as those for non-Indigenous males and females respectively in 2004–2006.
The median age at death from CKD as the underlying cause among Indigenous Australians was 60 years for males and 62 years for females, compared with 82 years and 84 years among non-Indigenous Australian males and females respectively.
|
| |
|
Updated 11 March 2010