Kidney disease among Aboriginal people
- 10
- Times an Aboriginal person is more likely to have kidney disease [1].
- 4
- Times an Aboriginal person is more likely to die from kidney disease [2].
Failing kidneys are one among many health problems afflicting Aboriginal people. They also have low life expectancy, poor sexual health, and many smoke tobacco, even during pregnancy.
Smoking, diabetes, poor nutrition, obesity and lack of exercise are among the causes of kidney failure.
Health professionals distinguish between chronic kidney disease (CKD) and end-stage kidney disease (ESKD), a stage when people need either dialysis or a transplant to survive. Kidney failure is also known as renal failure, and ESRD (end-stage renal disease).
Almost 10% of ESKD patients treated in 2007-2008 were Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander people [2].
But 9 out of 10 cases could be avoided if Aboriginal people were treated at the same rate as non-Aboriginal people.
In 2008-09, 11 times more Aboriginal people went to hospital for dialysis treatment than non-Aboriginal people [2]. Attendance rates for treatment are poor because it is not easy to let Aboriginal people feel at ease in western hospitals.
Aboriginal to non-Aboriginal ratios of ESKD Instead of moving permanently to the next town and
living full-time in the disconcerting environment of a western town Aboriginal people can now visit more culturally appropriate stations, staying
closer to their family and the community. Photo: Renee Nowytarger, The Australian [5]
At Kintore community in the deep desert, where the experts said dialysis would never work, the band of kidney patients trained in the purple [dialysis] house have a perfect 100% turn-up rate. —The Australian [5]
Only 12% of Aboriginal Australians with treated ESKD have a functioning kidney transplant, compared with 45% of non-Aboriginal Australians [2]. Kidney transplantation usually gives the best rehabilitation at the lowest cost [3], but because there are not enough donors it is used less than dialysis, the next best option. Hence Aboriginal people are more likely to be on dialysis than to receive a kidney transplant [2]. Matching genetics is another challenge.
Dialysis can be delivered into remote Aboriginal communities but requires cultural training of staff who need to learn to use photographic rather than written instructions, and show respect and avoid naming deceased persons after family deaths.
Aboriginal to non-Aboriginal ratios of ESKD for male Aboriginal people [4]. The ratio is particularly high in the Northern Territory.
Out of respect for Aboriginal culture I use Indigenous sources as much as possible.
[1] National Indigenous Times 135 p.12
[2] 'New kidney illness fears', Koori Mail 510 p.3
[3] 'Kidney disease in Australian Aboriginals: time for decisive action', Medical Journal of Australia 1998; 168: 532-533, www.mja.com.au/public/issues/jun1/thomas/thomas.html, retrieved 18/11/2011
[4] 'Review of Indigenous male health', Australian Indigenous Health Info Net, www.healthinfonet.ecu.edu.au/population-groups/men/reviews/our-review, retrieved 18/11/2011
[5] 'Purple house gives Bonita a new lease on life', The Australian, 22/1/2007, www.theaustralian.com.au/news/purple-house-gives-bonita-a-new-lease-on-life/story-e6frg6po-1111112868595, retrieved 18/11/2011