Kidney function test—type 2 diabetes or CVD (PI18 and PI19)

Indicators related to kidney function tests in the national Key Performance Indicators (nKPIs) are:

  • Type 2 diabetes:

    • the proportion of Indigenous regular clients aged 15 and over with type 2 diabetes who had an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) recorded and/or an albumin/creatinine ratio (ACR) or other micro albumin test result recorded within the previous 12 months
    • the proportion of Indigenous regular clients aged 15 and over with type 2 diabetes who had an eGFR recorded within the previous 12 months within a specified range
    • the proportion of Indigenous regular clients aged 15 and over with type 2 diabetes who had an ACR recorded within the previous 12 months within a specified range.
  • CVD:
    • the proportion of Indigenous regular clients aged 15 and over with CVD who had an eGFR recorded within the previous 12 months
    • the proportion of Indigenous regular clients aged 15 and over with CVD who had an eGFR test recorded within the previous 12 months within a specified range.

Why testing kidney function is important

Type 2 diabetes and CVD can damage the kidneys. If kidney disease is diagnosed early, appropriate treatment can be given and its effects can be closely monitored. Indigenous Australians, especially those living in remote areas, are at an increased risk of CKD (AIHW 2019).

RACGP guidelines recommend an annual screening of kidney function in patients with CVD and type 2 diabetes for albuminuria by ACR (spot urine sample), and annual estimation of the eGFR (RACGP 2016).

A ‘normal’ eGFR result is considered to be ≥ 60 mL/min/1.73 m2 (Kidney Health Australia 2015).

Very low values for ACR (<2.5 for males or <3.5 for females) generally indicate that kidney function is normal if other tests of kidney function also show no abnormality. A moderately increased ACR indicates an early phase of developing kidney disease. Very high values indicate that kidney disease is present in a more severe form.

Kidney function test recorded—type 2 diabetes or CVD (PI18)

This indicator is:

  • the proportion of Indigenous regular clients aged 15 and over with type 2 diabetes who had an eGFR and/or ACR or other micro albumin test result recorded within the previous 12 months; and
  • the proportion of Indigenous regular clients aged 15 and over with CVD who had an eGFR recorded within the previous 12 months.

It is collected for males and females in age groups from 15–24 to 65 and over. It is presented here for males and females in age groups:

  • under 35
  • 35–44
  • 45–54
  • 55–64
  • 65 and over.

At June 2019:

  • 64% of Indigenous regular clients aged 15 and over with type 2 diabetes had an eGFR recorded and/or ACR or other micro albumin test result recorded within the previous 12 months
  • 62% of Indigenous regular clients aged 15 and over with CVD had an eGFR recorded test result recorded within the previous 12 months.

Kidney function test recorded—type 2 diabetes, by test type and reporting period

Visualisation not available for printing

Having an eGFR and/or ACR or other micro albumin test result recorded within the previous 12 months for clients with type 2 diabetes was highest in:

  • Western Australia (69%)
  • Major cities and Remote areas (both 66%).

It was lowest in:

  • Victoria/Tasmania (combined, 59%)
  • Inner regional areas (60%).

Having an eGFR test result recorded within the previous 12 months for clients with CVD was highest in:

  • Western Australia (68%)
  • Remote areas (69%).

It was lowest in:

  • New South Wales/the Australian Capital Territory (combined, 55%)
  • Inner regional areas (54%).

Kidney function test recorded—type 2 diabetes, by test type and State/Territory, June 2019 and Kidney function test recorded—type 2 diabetes, by sex, age group, test type (All), State/Territory (All), June 2019

Visualisation not available for printing

Kidney function test result (eGFR)—type 2 diabetes or CVD (PI19-A)

This indicator is the proportion of Indigenous regular clients aged 15 and over with type 2 diabetes or CVD who had an eGFR test result recorded within the previous 12 months of (mL/min/1.73m2):

  • ≥90
  • ≥60–<90
  • ≥45–<60
  • ≥30–<45
  • ≥15–<30
  • <15.

It is collected for males and females in age groups from 15–24 to 65 and over. It is presented here for all Indigenous regular clients aged 15 and over.

At June 2019:

  • 81% of Indigenous regular clients aged 15 and over with type 2 diabetes had an eGFR test result recorded within the previous 12 months of ≥60 mL/min/1.73m2
  • 77% of Indigenous regular clients aged 15 and over with CVD had an eGFR test result recorded within the previous 12 months of ≥60 mL/min/1.73m2.

Kidney function test result (eGFR)—type 2 diabetes and CVD—≥60/mL/min/1.73m2, by time period and reporting period

This Tableau visualisation shows the percentage of Indigenous regular clients aged 15 and over with either type 2 diabetes or CVD who had an eGFR kidney function test result of ≥60/mL/min/1.73m2 in the last year by reporting period (June 2017, December 2017, June 2018, December 2018 and June 2019).

Data supporting this visualisation are available in Excel supplementary data tables at Data.

Visualisation not available for printing

Having an eGFR result of ≥60 mL/min/1.73m2 within the previous 12 months for clients with type 2 diabetes ranged from:

  • 83% in New South Wales/the Australian Capital Territory, South Australia and the Northern Territory to 79% in Queensland and Western Australia
  • from 84% in Major cities to 79% in Remote areas.

Having an eGFR result of ≥60 mL/min/1.73m2 within the previous 12 months for clients with CVD ranged from:

  • 79% in the Northern Territory to 75% in Western Australian
  • 81% in Major cities to 75% in both Remote and Very remote areas.

Kidney function test result (eGFR)—type 2 diabetes or CVD, by result level and either state/territory or remoteness, reporting period

This Tableau visualisation shows the percentage of Indigenous regular clients aged 15 and over with either type 2 diabetes or CVD who had an eGFR kidney function test result by result level in mL/min/1.73m2 (select by ≥90, ≥60–<90, ≥45–<60, ≥30–<45, ≥15–<30, or <15) for either:

  • state/territory (NSW/ACT, Vic, Qld, WA, SA, Tas, NT, Australia)
  • remoteness area (Major cities, Inner regional, Outer regional, Remote, Very remote, Australia).

Reporting periods of either June 2017, December 2017, June 2018, December 2018 or June 2019 can be selected.

Data supporting this visualisation are available in Excel supplementary data tables at Data.

Visualisation not available for printing

Kidney function test result (ACR)—type 2 diabetes (PI19-B)

This indicator is:

  • the proportion of male Indigenous regular clients aged 15 and over with type 2 diabetes who had an albumin/creatinine ratio (ACR) recorded within the previous 12 months of (mg/mmol):
    • <2.5
    • ≥2.5–≤25
    • >25.
  • the proportion of female Indigenous regular clients aged 15 and over with type 2 diabetes who had an albumin/creatinine ratio (ACR) recorded within the previous 12 months with a result of (mg/mmol):
    • <3.5
    • ≥3.5–≤35
    • >35.

It is collected for males and females in age groups from 15–24 to 65 and over. It is presented here for all Indigenous regular clients aged 15 and over.

At June 2019, 44% of Indigenous regular clients aged 15 and over with type 2 diabetes had an albumin/creatinine ratio (ACR) recorded within the previous 12 months of <2.5 for males or <3.5 for females.

Kidney function test result (ACR)—type 2 diabetes, by time period and reporting period

This Tableau visualisation shows the percentage of Indigenous regular clients aged 15 and over with type 2 diabetes who had an ACR kidney function test result in the last year by ACR result and reporting period (June 2017, December 2017, June 2018, December 2018 and June 2019).

Data supporting this visualisation are available in Excel supplementary data tables at Data.

Visualisation not available for printing

This was highest in:

  • New South Wales/the Australian Capital Territory (combined) and Victoria/Tasmania (combined) (both 57%)
  • Major cities and Inner regional areas (both 56%).

It was lowest in:

  • the Northern Territory (35%)
  • Very remote areas (34%).

Kidney function test result (ACR)—type 2 diabetes, by result level and either state/territory or remoteness, reporting period

This Tableau visualisation shows the percentage of Indigenous regular clients aged 15 and over with type 2 diabetes who had an ACR kidney function test result in the last year, select for ACR result for either:

  • state/territory (NSW/ACT, Vic, Qld, WA, SA, Tas, NT, Australia)
  • remoteness area (Major cities, Inner regional, Outer regional, Remote, Very remote, Australia).

Reporting periods of either June 2017, December 2017, June 2018, December 2018 or June 2019 can be selected.

Data supporting this visualisation are available in Excel supplementary data tables at Data.

Visualisation not available for printing

References

AIHW (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare) 2019. Chronic kidney disease. Viewed 28 April 2020.

Kidney Health Australia 2015. Chronic Kidney Disease (CVK) management in general practice: guidance and clinical tips to help identify, manage and refer patients with CKD in your practice. Kidney Health Australia. Viewed 16 March 2020.

RACGP 2016. General practice management of type 2 diabetes, 2016–18. East Melbourne: RACGP and Diabetes Australia.