Journal Article

Incidence and causes of end-stage renal disease among Aboriginal children and young adults

Alexander, R. Todd, Soo, Andrea, Nettel-Aguirre, Alberto, Crowshoe, Lynden, Tonelli, Marcello A., Samuel, Susan M., Foster, Bethany J., Hemmelgarn, Brenda R.

2012

Overview

Although Aboriginal adults have a higher risk of end-stage renal disease than non-Aboriginal adults, the incidence and causes of end-stage renal disease among Aboriginal children and young adults are not well described. We calculated age- and sex-specific incidences of end-stage renal disease among Aboriginal people less than 22 years of age using data from a national organ failure registry. Incidence rate ratios were used to compare rates between Aboriginal and white Canadians. To contrast causes of end-stage renal disease by ethnicity and age, we calculated the odds of congenital diseases, glomerulonephritis and diabetes for Aboriginal people and compared them with those for white people in the following age strata: 0 to less than 22 years, 22 to less than 40 years, 40 to less than 60 years and older than 60 years. Incidence rate ratios of end-stage renal disease for Aboriginal children and young adults (age < 22 yr, v. white people) were 1.82 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.40–2.38) for boys and 3.24 (95% CI 2.60–4.05) for girls. Compared with white people, congenital diseases were less common among Aboriginal people aged less than 22 years (odds ratio [OR] 0.56, 95% CI 0.36-0.86), and glomerulonephritis was more common (OR 2.18, 95% CI 1.55–3.07). An excess of glomerulonephritis, but not diabetes, was seen among Aboriginal people aged 22 to less than 40 years. The converse was true (higher risk of diabetes, lower risk of glomerulonephritis) among Aboriginal people aged 40 years and older. The incidence of end-stage renal disease is higher among Aboriginal children and young adults than among white children and young adults. This higher incidence may be driven by an increased risk of glomerulonephritis in this population.

• Publisher: Elsevier Inc,CMA Impact Inc,CMA Joule Inc,CMA Impact, Inc,Canadian Medical Association
• Subject: Adolescent / Adult / Canadian native peoples / Care and treatment / Child / Child, Preschool / Chronic kidney failure / Comparative studies / Demographic aspects / Diabetes / Diagnosis / European Continental Ancestry Group / Female / Glomerulonephritis / Health aspects / Humans / Incidence / Indians, North American / Infant / Internal Medicine / Kidney diseases / Kidney Failure, Chronic - ethnology / Kidney Failure, Chronic - etiology / Male / Native children & youth / Risk factors / Young Adult