Chronic kidney disease spending up 33%

Chronic kidney disease spending up 33%

* Danny Rose
* September 2, 2009 - 11:04PM

Australia's spending on chronic kidney disease has surged more than 30 per cent in just four years, on a march towards a billion dollars annually.

The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) says $898 million was spent on kidney-related health measures in 2004-05, up 33 per cent since 2000-01, and the cost rise is ongoing.

Frances Green, from the AIHW's Cardiovascular Disease, Diabetes and Kidney Unit, says spending on chronic kidney disease is also increasing much faster than expenditure on total health care.

"The 33 per cent rise outstripped the 19 per cent rise in total health care expenditure over the same period," Ms Green said.

Chronic kidney disease, or CKD, was a "common and serious problem" in Australia, she said, and its management was "resource intensive".

It was also the single biggest driver of people into the nation's hospitals every week.

"People with CKD's most severe form, end-stage kidney disease, usually require dialysis or a kidney transplant to survive," Ms Green said.

"Regular dialysis - usually three times a week - is the most common reason for hospitalisation in Australia, accounting for more than 10 per cent of all admissions."

Ms Green said the number of people with kidney failure and in need of costly dialysis treatment was increasing each year.

In 2000, there were around 6,400 people receiving dialysis but by 2007 there were nearly 10,000.

Around $760 million of the kidney-related spending in 2004-05 was due to dialysis treatment and transplants, while dialysis alone accounted for more than $593 million.

The AIHW's "Health care expenditure on chronic kidney disease in Australia 2004-05" report was released on Thursday.

http://www.watoday.com.au/breaking-news-national/chronic-kidney-disease-spending-up-33-20090903-f8ky.html