Shortage of kidney transplant for indigenous Australians

The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare on Friday released a new report on chronic kidney disease among indigenous people, showing that there are shortage of kidney transplants for indigenous Australians suffering from the disease. The report said there was a large disparity between indigenous and non-indigenous people with the most severe form of kidney disease having transplants. Indigenous people were four times more likely to die with chronic kidney disease than non-indigenous people. Indigenous Australians suffering the severest form of kidney disease were more likely to be on dialysis, even though kidney transplants were the preferred treatment option, the report said. Only 12 percent of indigenous people with end-stage kidney disease have transplants, compared with 45 percent of non- indigenous people with the same condition. The report said differences in transplant rates could be due to barriers in accessing health care such as cultural and transport factors. It said increased rates of diabetes in indigenous population also increased the risks in kidney transplants not working effectively. Meanwhile, the report said the need for dialysis or kidney transplant in Australia will soar by 84 percent by the year 2020. The report predicted end-stage of kidney disease will be rise up to 80 percent, which puts Australia in a very critical situation. Chronic kidney disease is known as the "silent killer" because 90 percent of kidney function can be lost before symptoms appear. Chronic kidney disease risk factors include smoking and being overweight or obese. Australian federal Health Minister Nicola Roxon will attend UN General Assembly's two-day summit on the world's biggest killers, cancer, diabetes, heart disease and lung disease, which begins in New York on Monday.