In 2000, chronic or unspecified renal failure was listed as a cause of death of 9160 Australians (7.1% of all deaths) (source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, special data request, 2002). Most would have had chronic renal impairment (CRI) for years. Each year, more than 1700 people with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) start dialysis or receive a transplant.1 These figures suggest that the impact of CRI is substantial and that in order to prevent progression to ESRD we need to develop systems for its detection and management.
The full article is accessible to AMA members and paid subscribers. Login to read more or purchase a subscription now.
Please note: institutional and Research4Life access to the MJA is now provided through Wiley Online Library.
- 1. Russ GR, editor. ANZDATA Registry Report 2001. Adelaide: Australia and New Zealand Dialysis and Transplant Registry, 2002.
- 2. Diabesity and associated disorders in Australia — 2000: the accelerating epidemic. Final report of the Australian Diabetes, Obesity and Lifestyle Study. Melbourne: International Diabetes Institute, 2001.
- 3. Jones CA, Francis ME, Eberhardt MS, et al. Microalbuminuria in the US population: third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Am J Kidney Dis 2002; 39: 445-459.
- 4. Iseki K, Iseki C, Ikemiya Y, Fukiyama K. Risk of developing end-stage renal disease in a cohort of mass screening. Kidney Int 1996; 49: 800-805.
- 5. Klag MJ, Whelton PK, Randall BL, et al. End-stage renal disease in African-American and white men: 16-year MRFIT findings. JAMA 1997; 277: 1293-1298.
- 6. Lei HH, Perneger TV, Klag MJ, et al. Familial aggregation of renal disease in a population-based case-control study. J Am Soc Nephrol 1998; 9: 1270-1276.
- 7. Hoy WE, Mathews JD, McCredie DA, et al. The multidimensional nature of renal disease: rates and associations of albuminuria in an Australian Aboriginal community. Kidney Int 1998; 54: 1296-1304.
- 8. Australian Diabetes Society. Position statements. Available at <http://www.racp.edu.au/ads>.
- 9. Ruggenenti P, Gaspari F, Perna A, Remuzzi G. Cross sectional longitudinal study of spot morning urine protein : creatinine ratio, 24-hour urine protein excretion rate, glomerular filtration rate, and end stage renal failure in chronic renal disease in patients without diabetes. BMJ 1998; 316: 504-509. (Published erratum appears in BMJ 1998; 317: 1491.)
- 10. Cockcroft DW, Gault MH. Prediction of creatinine clearance from serum creatinine. Nephron 1976; 16(1): 31-41.
- 11. Australian Kidney Foundation and Australia New Zealand Society of Nephrology. The CARI Guidelines (Caring for Australians with Renal Impairment), 2001. Available at <http://www.kidney.org.au/cari/>. Accessed 18 Aug 2005.
- 12. Baigent C, Burbury K, Wheeler D. Premature cardiovascular disease in chronic renal failure. Lancet 2000; 356: 147-152.
- 13. How to use evidence: assessment and application of scientific evidence. Canberra: National Health and Medical Research Council, 2000.
Alan Cass receives PhD scholarship funding from the Colonial Foundation. Thanks to Dr Peter Arnold for his critical reading of the manuscript.
Alan Cass is the secretary of the Kidney Check Australia Taskforce, established by the Australian Kidney Foundation and the Australia and New Zealand Society of Nephrology.