Advanced kidney disease linked to increased risk of poverty

In Australia, individuals who had more advanced stages of chronic kidney disease were more likely to fall into poverty, according to recently presented data.

Rachael L. Morton, PhD, University of Sydney, Australia, and colleagues conducted a prospective cohort study of 2,914 patients with moderate-to-severe chronic kidney disease to assess the correlation between severities of chronic kidney disease (CKD) along with nonfatal adverse events with falling into poverty. Poverty was defined as half of the country’s median income.

Results demonstrated that at baseline, 933 participants were in poverty. At the study’s conclusion, 5 years after baseline, an additional 436 participants had moved into poverty.

There was a significant association between falling into poverty and CKD severity, according to the researchers. However, no correlation between falling into poverty and CKD adverse events was seen.

Falling into poverty was also associated with black ethnicity, low educational attainment, single adult household and low baseline income, according to the researchers.

Participants were less likely to fall into poverty if they had received a kidney transplant at some point during the study period (OR = 0.48; 95% CI, 0.31-0.72).

“Patients in advanced stages of CKD are at an increased risk of falling into financial hardship. Kidney transplantation may have a role in reducing the risks of household poverty due to CKD,” Morton and colleagues concluded.

Reference:

Morton RL, et al. The Impact of Chronic Kidney Disease on Household Income: Does Health Affect Wealth? Abstract SA-PO729. Presented at: ASN Kidney Week 2015; Nov. 3-8; San Diego.

Disclosures: Morton reports receiving funding from Baxter Healthcare Ltd. Please see abstract for a list of all other authors’ relevant financial disclosures.