Placing Aboriginal kidney disease in context

A comprehensive exploration of chronic kidney disease and dialysis in Canada's Indigenous population: from epidemiology to genetic influences

PURPOSE

This study aims to review the escalating prevalence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and end-stage renal disease (ESRD) among Canada's Indigenous population, focusing on risk factors, hospitalization and mortality rates, and disparities in kidney transplantation. The study explores how these factors contribute to the health outcomes of this population and examines the influence of genetic variations on CKD progression.

METHODS

The review synthesizes data on prevalence rates, hospitalization and mortality statistics, and transplantation disparities among Indigenous individuals. It also delves into the complexities of healthcare access, including geographical, socioeconomic, and psychological barriers. Additionally, the manuscript investigates the impact of racial factors on blood characteristics relevant to dialysis treatment and the genetic predispositions influencing disease progression in Indigenous populations.

RESULTS

Indigenous individuals exhibit a higher prevalence of CKD and ESRD risk factors such as diabetes and obesity, particularly in regions like Saskatchewan. These patients face a 77% higher risk of death compared to their non-Indigenous counterparts and are less likely to receive kidney transplants. Genetic analyses reveal significant associations between CKD and specific genomic variations. Through analyses, we found that healthy Indigenous individuals may have higher levels of circulating inflammatory markers, which could become further elevated for those with CKD. In particular, they may have higher levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) fibrinogen, as well as genomic variations that affect IL-6 production and the function of von Willebrand Factor (vWF) which has critical potential influence on the compatibility with dialysis membranes contributing to complications in dialysis.

CONCLUSION

Indigenous people in Canada are disproportionately burdened by CKD and ESRD due to socioeconomic factors and potential genetic predispositions. While significant efforts have been made to assess the socioeconomic conditions of the Indigenous population, the genetic factors and their potential critical influence on compatibility with dialysis membranes, contributing to treatment complications, remain understudied. Further investigation into these genetic predispositions is essential.

Epidemiology of haemodialysis outcomes

Haemodialysis (HD) is the commonest form of kidney replacement therapy in the world, accounting for approximately 69% of all kidney replacement therapy and 89% of all dialysis. Over the last six decades since the inception of HD, dialysis technology and patient access to the therapy have advanced considerably, particularly in high-income countries. However, HD availability, accessibility, cost and outcomes vary widely across the world and, overall, the rates of impaired quality of life, morbidity and mortality are high. Cardiovascular disease affects more than two-thirds of people receiving HD, is the major cause of morbidity and accounts for almost 50% of mortality. In addition, patients on HD have high symptom loads and are often under considerable financial strain. Despite the many advances in HD technology and delivery systems that have been achieved since the treatment was first developed, poor outcomes among patients receiving HD remain a major public health concern. Understanding the epidemiology of HD outcomes, why they might vary across different populations and how they might be improved is therefore crucial, although this goal is hampered by the considerable heterogeneity in the monitoring and reporting of these outcomes across settings.

This Review examines the epidemiology of haemodialysis outcomes — clinical, patient-reported and surrogate outcomes — across world regions and populations, including vulnerable individuals. The authors also discuss the current status of monitoring and reporting of haemodialysis outcomes and potential strategies for improvement.

Nearly 4 million people in the world are living on kidney replacement therapy (KRT), and haemodialysis (HD) remains the commonest form of KRT, accounting for approximately 69% of all KRT and 89% of all dialysis.

Dialysis technology and patient access to KRT have advanced substantially since the 1960s, particularly in high-income countries. However, HD availability, accessibility, cost and outcomes continue to vary widely across countries, particularly among disadvantaged populations (including Indigenous peoples, women and people at the extremes of age).

Cardiovascular disease affects over two-thirds of people receiving HD, is the major cause of morbidity and accounts for almost 50% of mortality; mortality among patients on HD is significantly higher than that of their counterparts in the general population, and treated kidney failure has a higher mortality than many types of cancer. Patients on HD also experience high burdens of symptoms, poor quality of life and financial difficulties.

Careful monitoring of the outcomes of patients on HD is essential to develop effective strategies for risk reduction. Outcome measures are highly variable across regions, countries, centres and segments of the population. Establishing kidney registries that collect a variety of clinical and patient-reported outcomes using harmonized definitions is therefore crucial.

Evaluation of HD outcomes should include the impact on family and friends, and personal finances, and should examine inequities in disadvantaged populations, who comprise a large proportion of the HD population.

The Association Between Age of Onset of Type 2 Diabetes and the Long-term Risk of End-Stage Kidney Disease: A National Registry Study

OBJECTIVE

The long-term risk of end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) in type 2 diabetes is poorly described, as is the effect that younger age of diabetes onset has on this risk. Therefore, we aimed to estimate the effect of age of onset on the cumulative incidence of ESKD from onset of type 2 diabetes.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

This study included 1,113,201 people with type 2 diabetes registered on the Australian National Diabetes Services Scheme (NDSS) followed from 2002 until 2013. The NDSS was linked to the Australia and New Zealand Dialysis and Transplant Registry and the Australian National Death Index.

RESULTS

Between 2002 and 2013, there were 7,592 incident cases of ESKD during 7,839,075 person-years of follow-up. In the first 10-15 years following the onset of diabetes, the incidence of ESKD was highest in those with an older age of onset of diabetes, whereas over longer durations of diabetes, the incidence of ESKD became higher in those with younger-onset diabetes. After 40 years of diabetes, the cumulative incidence of ESKD was 11.8% and 9.3% in those diagnosed with diabetes at ages 10-29 and 30-39 years, respectively. When death from ESKD without renal replacement therapy was included, the incidence of ESKD remained higher in older-onset diabetes for the initial 20 years, with no clear effect of age thereafter.

CONCLUSIONS

The long-term risk of ESKD in type 2 diabetes is high, which disproportionately affects those with younger onset of diabetes because they are more likely to survive to longer diabetes durations.

Interventions to Improve Clinical Outcomes in Indigenous or Remote Patients With Chronic Kidney Disease: A Scoping Review

Background:

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) associates with a significant health care burden with a disproportionate impact on indigenous persons or people living in remote areas. Although screening programs have expanded in these communities, there remains a paucity of evidence-based interventions to enhance clinical renal outcomes in these populations.

Objective:

The objective of this study was to identify evidence-based interventions to enhance renal outcomes in these populations.

Design:

A scoping review was conducted for studies in the Cochrane, MEDLINE, and Embase databases and from major nephrology meetings.

Setting:

Chronic kidney disease, including those on dialysis.

Patients:

Remote or indigenous populations

Measurements:

Studies that performed an intervention that was followed by measurement of renal outcomes or patient-centered outcomes (ie, quality of life) were included.

Methods:

All studies were described by study type, intervention, and clinical outcome, and trends were identified by both authors. Meta-analysis was not conducted due to study heterogeneity.

Results:

Thirty-two studies met inclusion criteria, only 2 (6.3%) of which were randomized controlled trials. Intervention types included multidisciplinary (34.4%), satellite (32.3%), telehealth (25.0%), or other (9.4%). All multidisciplinary interventions were performed in the CKD (non-dialysis) setting and reported improved patient travel time, waiting time, quality of life, kidney function, proteinuria, and blood pressure. Telehealth interventions improved program cost, patient attendance, hospitalization, and quality of life. Satellite interventions were performed in the hemodialysis setting, with 1 study evaluating acute hemodialysis. Satellite interventions improved patient travel time, dialysis clearance, quality of life, and survival, but increased program costs.

Limitations:

The study was restricted to interventional trials assessing clinical outcomes and to studies in developed countries, which likely excluded some research contributing to this field.

Conclusions:

There is significant heterogeneity among studies of interventions for patients with CKD who are indigenous or live remotely. Interventions were more likely to be successful when the remote or indigenous community was included in program development, with a culturally safe approach. More large, high-quality studies are needed to identify effective interventions to enhance clinical renal outcomes in indigenous or remote populations.

Trial Registration:

This trial is registered under PROSPERO, Registration Number 128453.

The perspectives of Aboriginal patients and their health care providers on improving the quality of hemodialysis services: a qualitative study

Chronic kidney disease has a higher prevalence in Indigenous populations globally. The incidence of end-stage kidney disease in Australian Aboriginal people is eight times higher than non-Aboriginal Australians. Providing services to rural and remote Aboriginal people with chronic disease is challenging because of access and cultural differences. This study aims to describe and analyze the perspectives of Aboriginal patients' and health care providers' experience of renal services, to inform service improvement for rural Aboriginal hemodialysis patients. We conducted a thematic analysis of interviews with Aboriginal patients (n = 18) receiving hemodialysis in rural Australia and health care providers involved in their care (n = 29). An overarching theme of avoiding the “costly” crisis encompassed four subthemes: (1) Engaging patients earlier (prevent late diagnosis, slow disease progression); (2) flexible family-focused care (early engagement of family, flexibility to facilitate family and cultural obligations); (3) managing fear of mainstream services (originating in family dialysis experiences and previous racism when engaging with government organizations); (4) service provision shaped by culture (increased home dialysis, Aboriginal support and Aboriginal-led cultural education). Patients and health care providers believe service redesign is required to meet the needs of Aboriginal hemodialysis patients. Participants identified early screening and improving the relationship of Aboriginal people with health systems would reduce crisis entry to hemodialysis. These strategies alongside improving the cultural competence of staff would reduce patients' fear of mainstream services, decrease the current emotional and family costs of care, and increase efficiency of health expenditure on a challenging and increasingly unsustainable treatment system.