The Burden of Chronic Kidney Disease

Aims

Recent population surveys suggest that 1 in 7 Australian adults have evidence of early chronic kidney disease (CKD ). This may progress to severe CKD requiring dialysis or a kidney transplant, and has been shown to increase the risk of heart attack and stroke, yet relatively simple interventions during the early stages of disease might slow CKD progression and significantly reduce associated cardiovascular disease. We aim to establish the human and financial burden of CKD in Australia and to explore the cost-effectiveness of intervention to prevent progression of disease.

Methods

The Epidemiology of Chronic Kidney Disease in the Australian General Population

Researchers from the Institute are exploring CKD epidemiology in Australia through collaboration with the International Diabetes Institute, and investigators from Royal Prince Alfred Hospital and Monash Medical Centre on the AusDiab study, a population-based study of the prevalence of diabetes, obesity, and chronic disease risk factors in Australia. Specific research questions include the impact of known and potential risk factors on CKD incidence and outcomes, knowledge and attitudes in the Australian community towards kidney disease, and assessment of the association between socio-economic status and CKD .

The 3CKD Study

A new collaboration between researchers at The George Institute, The University of Sydney School of Public Health, and the University of Southampton in the United Kingdom, the Three Country Kidney Disease study (3CKD), is looking at risk factors for chronic kidney disease comparatively across 3 countries (Australia, United States and Thailand) based on data from The AusDiab, NHANES III and InterASIA population-studies. The first in a planned series of analyses looks at the effect of individual-level socio-economic factors including household income, employment status, and education level, on chronic kidney disease prevalence across the 3 countries.

The Burden of Chronic Kidney Disease in Australia

In 2004, collaborators from The George Institute, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, University of Sydney School of Public Health, and the Australia and New Zealand Dialysis and Transplant Registry, submitted a successful proposal to Kidney Health Australia (KHA ) to perform a study of the economic impact of the burden of kidney disease in Australia. This study addresses the impact of improved treatment on CKD outcomes and costs of intervention programs, the costs of end-stage kidney disease (ESKD ) treatment, and the effect of changing ESKD treatment and organ donation practices.

Status/Results

The first report of the KHA commissioned 'Study of the Economic Impact of the Burden of Kidney and Urinary Tract Disease in Australia', detailing the economic impact of end-stage kidney disease in Australia, was released by KHA in April 2006 (available at: http://www.kidney.org.au).

The second report, which explores the cost-effectiveness of a control strategy for chronic kidney disease of screening and intensive management of diabetes, high blood pressure and urinary protein, was released in October 2006 and is also available on the Kidney Health Australia website.

Publications

  1. White SL, Cass A, Atkins RC, Chadban SC. Chronic Kidney Disease in the General Population. Advances in Chronic Kidney Disease, 2005;12(1):5-13
  2. Cass A, Chadban S, Craig J, Howard K, McDonald S, Salkeld G, White S. The Economic Impact of End-Stage Kidney Disease in Australia: Part 1 of the 'Study of The Economic Impact of The Burden of Kidney and Urinary Tract Disease in Australia'. Report to Kidney Health, Australia; April 2006. [report available from Kidney Health Australia]
  3. Howard K, Salkeld G, White S, Chadban S, Craig J, McDonald S, Perkovic V, Cass A. Cost-Effectiveness of Early Detection and Intervention to Prevent Progression of Chronic Kidney Disease in Australia: Part II of the ‘Study of The Economic Impact of The Burden of Kidney and Urinary Tract Disease in Australia’. Report to Kidney Health Australia; October 2006. [report available from Kidney Health Australia]

Institute Investigators:

Collaboration:

Funding Agencies: