Advanced kidney disease may increase the likelihood of falling into poverty

Advanced stages of chronic kidney disease (CKD) may cause considerable financial strains for patients and their families, according to a study that will be presented at ASN Kidney Week 2015 November 3-8 at the San Diego Convention Center in San Diego, CA.

The impact of CKD on a patient's household income is unclear. To determine whether CKD severity and side effects associated with the disease and its treatment were associated with a fall into poverty, Rachael Morton, PhD (The University of Sydney, in Australia) and her colleagues examined information on individuals with moderate-to-severe CKD who were participating in the Study of Heart and Renal Protection (SHARP) and were followed for a median of 5 years.

Of the 2914 participants who were included in the analysis, 933 were in poverty at screening and a further 436 (22% of the remaining) moved into poverty by the end of the study. The researchers found that CKD severity, but not side effects, was a significant predictor of a fall into poverty. Participants who received kidney transplants were 52% less likely to fall into poverty. Black ethnicity, low educational attainment, single adult household, and low income at the start of the study were also linked with a fall into poverty.

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