Australian Burden of Disease Study 2015: Interactive data on risk factor burden

In 2015, 2.1% of the disease burden in Australia was due to impaired kidney function (including chronic kidney disease).

These estimates reflect the amount of burden that could have been avoided if all people in Australia did not have impaired kidney function.

Impaired kidney function was causally linked to 6 diseases—chronic kidney disease, coronary heart disease, dementia, stroke, gout and peripheral vascular disease.

How much burden was attributable to impaired kidney function?

Impaired kidney function was responsible for 98% of chronic kidney disease burden, 12% of gout burden, 10% of peripheral vascular disease burden, 8% of dementia burden, 6% of coronary heart disease burden and 4% of stroke burden.

How did burden attributable to impaired kidney function vary by age and sex?

Burden due to impaired kidney function was estimated in people aged 25 and over. The majority of the burden due to impaired kidney diseases occurred in older Australians— over the age of 65.

In people aged 65 years and over, the most burden due to impaired kidney function was from chronic kidney disease followed by dementia. In ages 65 and under, the most burden due to impaired kidney function was from chronic kidney disease.

Males experienced more burden due to impaired kidney function compared with females up to age 84; whereas females experience more burden from impaired kidney function from age 85 onwards.

Did attributable burden vary by socioeconomic group?

Disease burden attributable to impaired kidney function was 2.2 times greater in the lowest (most disadvantaged) socioeconomic group compared with the highest (least disadvantaged) group.

How has disease burden due to impaired kidney function changed over time?

Between 2003 and 2015, the age-standardised DALY rate attributable to impaired kidney function decreased slightly (by 2.4%).