10 Nov Chronic Kidney Disease Patients More Likely To Fall Into Poverty
Dr. Morton
MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
Dr. Rachael Morton, PhD Associate Professor
Director of Health Economics,
NHMRC Clinical Trials Centre
The University of Sydney, Sydney
Australia
Medical Research: What is the background for this study?
Dr. Morton: Household income was measured at baseline and study end among participants with moderate to severe chronic kidney disease (CKD), randomized into the Study of Heart and Renal Protection (SHARP).Household poverty was defined as <50% of the median household income for the participating country.
Medical Research: What are the main findings?
Dr. Morton: One third (32%) of the participants with chronic kidney disease (CKD) who provided two measures of household income, were in poverty at study baseline. Over the course of the study (5 year median follow-up) an additional 22% fell into poverty. Factors associated with a fall into poverty included black race, low educational attainment, a single adult household, a low starting household income, and CKD severity. In both high and low to middle income countries there was a significant trend for a fall into poverty with more advanced CKD stage (χ2=9.23 , p=0.002), with participants on dialysis at study baseline 1.8 times more likely to fall into poverty by study end than participants in Chronic Kidney Disease stage 3 at baseline. Those who received a kidney transplant during the study halved their risk of a fall into poverty (p<0.001).
Medical Research: What should clinicians and patients take away from your report?
Dr. Morton: Patients in advanced stages of chronic kidney disease Chronic Kidney Disease are at an increased risk of falling into poverty. Kidney transplantation may have a role also in reducing the risks of household poverty for people with CKD.
. Additional impacts of our research:
(i) This study highlights the large proportion of patients with CKD who are in financial hardship.
(ii) This financial hardship is not restricted to people living in low or middle income countries, but includes those living in relative poverty in high income countries such as the United States.
(iii) Successful kidney transplantation may benefit not only the individual in terms of their health and quality of life, but also the economic stability of their household.
Medical Research: What recommendations do you have for future research as a result of this study?
Dr. Morton: Changes in household income and in particular, factors associated with a fall into poverty, are important outcomes for patients and their families. Future Chronic Kidney Disease clinical trials and cohort studies with long term follow-up should consider including measures of household income.
Citation:
The Impact of Chronic Kidney Disease on Household Income: Does Health Affect Wealth?
[wysija_form id=”5″]
Dr. Rachael Morton, PhD (2015). Chronic Kidney Disease Patients More Likely To Fall Into Poverty
Last Updated on November 10, 2015 by Marie Benz MD FAAD