CKD prevalence in adults aged 50 years and over in Ireland is rising, according to recently published Trinity College research.

 

While this is likely to be related to ageing and improved survival in the general population, these trends highlight the importance of continued public health action to raise awareness and to improve the care and outcomes for people with CKD.

 

CKD was present in 15.6% of people aged 50+ in Ireland, according to the research, which was conducted by analysing data arising from the Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing in Ireland (TILDA). This equates to approximately 226,000 people or 1 in 7 of the population.  

 

Other findings included:

 

Some 98% of people who had CKD were unaware they suffered from it.

 

Whereas blood pressure management should be tightly controlled in CKD to prevent or slow down progression, blood pressure was poorly controlled in CKD in Ireland. 

 

CKD is becoming more common over time in Ireland, highlighting the need for action in primary and secondary care to raise awareness and to improve the outcomes for people living with CKD in Ireland

 

New cases of CKD in Ireland in people aged 50+ are occurring at a rate of 16 people per 1000 person-years of follow up which will likely also contribute to substantial future demand on Nephrology services and hospital inpatient stay now and in future. 

 

Hypertension was the most common CKD-related condition in the Irish adult population. The estimated prevalence of CKD in Irish adults aged 50+ years without diabetes and hypertension was 6.22 % based on Wave 1 data and 10.01% based on Wave 3 of TILDA. Age, blood pressure, HbA1c, BMI and hypertension were significantly associated with the presence and severity of CKD.