Key Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) Statistics in Australia

The findings of the various reports listed below support comments of overseas experts who addressed the
2nd Kidney Health Australia International Summit on CKD held in Melbourne, 23 to 24 July 2009.
(Refer to KHA Publication quick links to CKD Summit Reports for 2009 and 2007 bottom of page).

Economic Impact of the Burden of ESKD in Australia Reports

Kidney Health Australia commissioned the following reports to establish comprehensive research into the economic burden of kidney disease in Australia. The research was undertaken and reports written by The George Institute for International Health in collaboration with University of Sydney, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, The Queen Elizabeth Hospital and Australian and New Zealand Dialysis and Transplant Registry.

Economic Impact of the Burden of ESKD in Australia
Reports on the economic impact of the burden of CKD in Australia, and how it impacts on Federal and State Government Health Budgets. The conservative costing shows that the annual spend will increase from the current $670 million dollars a year, to over $800 million a year within three years. The number of Australians with end-stage kidney disease is projected to almost double in the next decade. The treatment of ESKD with dialysis or transplantation is costly both financially and in terms of quality of life. Evidence suggests that progression of CKD can be slowed if early detection is followed by appropriate therapy. Not only can the number of new patients commencing renal replacement therapy be reduced, but so can the high burden of cardiovascular disease and high mortality of those with CKD.
Cost-effectiveness of Early Detection and Intervention to Prevent Progression of CKD in Australia
Presents findings of cost-effectiveness modelling, using best-available evidence regarding the prevalence of CKD in Australia. It also reports on the effectiveness of screening and intensive management of key CKD risk factors - diabetes, hypertension and proteinuria. The cost-effectiveness of these interventions was modelled in terms of their effect on overall mortality, on cardiovascular mortality and morbidity and on progression to ESKD. Our findings suggest a CKD-control strategy based on opportunistic screening of 50 to 69-year-olds in general practice, plus intensive management of diabetes, hypertension and proteinuria, would be cost-effective. The screening and prevention strategies proposed in this report are consistent with a coordinated national approach to chronic disease prevention and management.

Australian Institute of Health and Welfare Reports

Latest publication released
Prevention of cardiovascular disease, diabetes and chronic kidney disease: targeting risk factors
Authored by AIHW. Published 11 December 2009; ISBN-13 978 1 74024 984 3; AIHW cat. no. PHE 118; 140pp.; $45.00

The National Centre for Monitoring Cardiovascular Disease and the National Centre for Monitoring Diabetes have collaborated to investigate the association of cardiovascular disease, diabetes and chronic kidney disease - three diseases which often have shared common risk factors - and their impact on Australians' health and health systems. This report is the first output of this project, and it focuses on examining the current extent of comorbidity of the conditions from three perspectives: self-reported prevalence, hospitalisation and deaths.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD), diabetes and chronic kidney disease (CKD) account for around a quarter of the burden of disease in Australia, and just under two-thirds of all deaths - refer An overview of the National Centre for Monitoring Chronic Kidney Disease. These three diseases often occur together and share risk factors, such as physical inactivity, overweight and obesity, and high blood pressure. This report includes information on the national prevalence of the main risk factors for CVD, CKD and diabetes as well as population initiatives and individual services that aim to prevent or control these risk factors. It shows the prevalence of some risk factors is increasing-notably obesity, which rose from 11% of adults in 1995 to 24% in 2007-08. This is the first report to present a systematic approach to monitor prevention in Australia, providing a baseline for future monitoring.

AIHW reports on CKD of interest are:
- Key facts on CKD in Australia
- Health care expenditure on chronic kidney disease in Australia 2004-05
   Published 3 September 09; ISBN-13 978 1 74024 949 2; AIHW cat no PHE 117; 32pp; $22.00
- An overview of the National Centre for Monitoring Chronic Kidney Disease
   Published 27 January 09; ISBN-13 978 1 74024 871 6; AIHW ca no PHE 108; 32pp; $23.00
- AIHW - Indicators for chronic diseases and their determinants I 2008
   Published 27 February 08; ISBN-13 978 1 74024 758 0; AIHW cat no PHE 75; 120pp; $36.00
- Comorbidity of cardiovascular disease, diabetes and chronic kidney disease in Australia I 2007
   Published 9 August 07; ISSN 1323 9236; ISBN-13 978 1 74024 705 4; AIHW cat no CVD 37; 80pp; $26.00
- Chronic Kidney Disease in Australia 2005
   Published 23 November 05; ISBN-13 978 1 74024 508 1; AIHW cat. no. PHE 68; 124pp.; $24.00

AIHW Conference - Australia's Health 2008
PowerPoint presentations on Co-morbidities between CVD, chronic kidney disease, diabetes and obesity
- Cardiovascular disease, diabetes and chronic kidney disease Ms Lynelle Moon, AIHW
- CKD, CVD, diabetes and obesity Dr Tim Mathew, Medical Director, Kidney Health Australia

Trends reported by AIHW are that from 2000–01 to 2006–07 both the number and rate of hospitalisations for CKD increased. Over this period hospitalisations where CKD was the principal diagnosis (excluding dialysis) increased by just over 10%, from 125 to 140 per 100,000 people. Hospitalisations where CKD was an additional diagnosis increased by 37%, from 518 to 711 per 100,000 people. Males had higher rates than females for hospitalisations where CKD was an additional diagnosis, whilst rates where CKD was the principal diagnosis were similar among males and females. Refer to the AIHW National Hospital Morbidity Database.

Australian and New Zealand Dialysis and Transplant (ANZDATA) Registry

Kidney Health Australia proudly supports the ANZDATA Registry which provides detailed annual reports and six-monthly interim summaries detailing statistics on the incidence, prevalence and outcome of dialysis and transplant treatment for patient with end stage kidney failure. From this site, note their feature Trends in Kidney Disease over time which outlines the bigger picture around CKD, 'the silent killer'. Also refer to Australia and New Zealand Organ Donation Registry (ANZOD) for stats on transplantation and related issues.

Other Kidney Health Australia Publications and Reports

Australian CKD Strategy 2006

CKD Summit Reports

Other useful Australian CKD references and quick links

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (ATSI) Health and Welfare Reports
AIHW National Centre for Monitoring Chronic Kidney Disease
AusDiab - Study Australian Diabetes, Obesity & Lifestyle Study Measured survey data
Australian Bureau of Statistics and of interest the ABS Report 3303.0 - Causes of Death, Australia 2007
Bettering the Evaluation of Care of Health (BEACH) Survey Primary services data
Cochrane Renal Group-Renal Health Library Resources for quality evidence-based practice/ research
Continence Foundation of Australia Fast Facts
Fast Facts on CKD in Australia Information for consumers and general public (KHA webpage)
HealthInfonet Australian Government health education reference site
Indigenous HealthInfonet Australian Government health education reference site
Organ Donation Fast Facts (KHA webpage)

Useful international sources for data and public health information on CKD

Center for Disease Control and Prevention USA
National Institute of Clinical Studies (NICS) Bridging gap between what we know (research findings) and what we do (day to day clinical practice)
Medscape - Chronic Kidney Disease Resource Centre (Free registration)
US Renal Data System (USRDS) National data system that analyzes and distributes information about ESRD

Updated 3 February 2010