Chronic kidney disease in Tasmania

Area of Science:

• Nephrology
• Public Health
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Chronic kidney disease (CKD) poses a significant public health challenge due to high mortality, reduced quality of life, and costly treatments.
• Understanding the burden of CKD in community settings is crucial for effective public health strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the burden of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in a community setting.
• To assess the prevalence and detection rates of CKD in Tasmania.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of creatinine measurements from 369,098 Tasmanian adults between 1995 and 2007.
• Development of a modeled estimate of CKD prevalence based on serum creatinine and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR).

Main Results:

• Estimated prevalence of stage III or greater CKD (eGFR <60 mL/min/1.73 m²) was 11.4% in women and 8.6% in men in 2007.
• Detection of low eGFR significantly increased over 13 years, with notable geographic variations.
• A substantial gap exists between individuals with advanced CKD (eGFR <15 mL/min/1.73 m²) and those receiving dialysis.

Conclusions:

• The identification of individuals with low eGFR has risen significantly, but geographic disparities persist.
• Despite increased detection, testing for kidney disease markers like serum creatinine and albuminuria in at-risk populations remains suboptimal.