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Transplantation Boosts Survival Rates For Young Kidney Failure Patients, Canada

Health and Medical News - Transplants & Organ Donations
Monday, 03 March 2008
More young people in Canada diagnosed with kidney failure are surviving, and one key explanation is an increase in the use of kidney transplantation in young patients. This finding comes from the Canadian Institute for Health Information's (CIHI) Treatment of End-Stage Organ Failure in Canada, 1996 to 2005,(2007 Annual Report),a new report that includes, for the first time, a special chapter focusing on pediatric patients-those aged 19 and under-diagnosed with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). While the number of young Canadians newly diagnosed with ESRD remained fairly stable each year from 1981 to 2005 (low of 66, high of 103), survival rates have enhanced considerably since 1981 primarily thanks to more kidney transplantation in young patients. The number of young people living with ESRD increased by 169% between 1981 and 2005 (550). "A diagnosis of kidney failure in early life can have far-reaching, life-long consequences," says Margaret Keresteci, Manager of Clinical Registries at CIHI. "The fine news is that children with kidney failure are living longer, now that transplantation has become the treatment of choice for these patients." The vast majority of young patients with kidney failure are living with a kidney transplant, with the number increasing from just over 44% in 1981 to 77% in 2005. Conversely, over this period, the proportion of children treated with dialysis decreased from 56% in 1981 to 22% in 2005. For those treated in the decade between 1991 and 2000, five-year survival rates for young ESRD patients living with a kidney transplant were considerably higher (96%) than for those on dialysis (84%). "We consider the increase in transplantation, and the corresponding decline in dialysis treatment, a step in the right course for the quality of life for young kidney patients," says Dr. M. Clermont, pediatric nephrologist at Montreal's St-Justine Hospital. "Kidney failure itself, coupled with dialysis treatment, can be devastating to children with ESRD and their families, in terms of physical development, quality and longevity of life." Children more likely to be living with a kidney transplant than adult end-stage renal disease patients In 2005, the proportion of pediatric ESRD patients living with a transplant (77%) was considerably higher than for those patients aged 20 and over (39%). Young kidney failure patients were also much more likely to be treated with a pre-emptive transplant (23%) than their adult counterparts (3%). Pre-emptive transplants are those received by patients who never start treatment by dialysis. Parents, siblings donate organs to young patients The number of kidneys donated to young Canadians by a living donor quadrupled over the 25 year study period and the majority of these organs (90%) come from a parent (78%) or sibling (12%). "We know that young patients with chronic kidney disease who receive a kidney transplant do better than those on dialysis," says Keresteci. "There can be no better illustration of what the 'gift of life' can mean than the positive changes we have seen in the outcomes for young Canadians with ESRD. A transplant will mean a extremely enhanced quality of life and a better chance for long-term survival." Information on the number of children waiting for a transplant is available only for the 10-year period from 1996 to 2005. During that time, the number of patients waiting for kidney transplantation declined to 23 in 2005, compared to 59 in 1996. This consistent reduction differs from the pattern seen in adult ESRD patients, among whom the number waiting for transplants increased from 2,331 in 1996 to 2,920 in 2005. There were no recorded deaths of pediatric patients while waiting for a kidney transplant between 2004 and 2005. Other report highlights Additional highlights included in Treatment of End-Stage Organ Failure in Canada, 1996 to 2005: Liver transplantation: - The yearly number of first-time liver transplants performed on pediatric patients increased by 24% from 1996 to 2005. - As of December 31, 2005, there were 713 people (of all ages) waiting for a liver transplant in Canada. - The number of liver transplants performed grew steadily over the 10 years for an overall increase of 241%. Heart transplantation: - The number of children under the age of one year receiving donor hearts fluctuated from year to year over the 25-year study period, with the maximum number recorded in 2005 (15). - Between 1996 and 2005, 1,564 patients (of all ages) received a first-time heart transplant and 58 essential a subsequent transplant. Lung transplantation: - Between 1996 and 2005, a total of 38 people under the age of 18 received a first-time lung transplant. - The number of adult lung transplants increased by 91% between 1996 and 2005 (from 76 to 145). Pancreas transplantation: - Between 1996 and 2005, there were 553 pancreas transplants recorded in Canada. Organ donors: - The number of deceased organ donors (of all ages) in Canada changed very small between 1996 (419) and 2005 (414). - Between 1996 and 2005, there were 4,006 living donors (kidney and liver living donors only). The number of living donors increased from 265 in 1996 to 502 in 2005. About CIHI The Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI) collects and analyzes info on health and health care in Canada and makes it publicly available. Canada's federal, provincial and territorial governments made CIHI as a not-for-profit, independent organization devoted to forging a frequent approach to Canadian health info. CIHI's goal: to provide timely, accurate and comparable info. CIHI's data and reports inform health policies, support the effective delivery of health services and raise awareness among Canadians of the factors that contribute to fine health. Figures and tables - Table 1.Number of New ESRD Patients, Birth to 19 Years, Canada, 1981 to 2005 (Table 66 in the report) - Figure 1.Unadjusted Three-Month and One-, Three- and Five-Year Patient Survival for Pediatric Patients Treated With Dialysis and With Transplantation, Canada, 1996 to 2005 (not in report) - Figure 2.Pediatric ESRD Patients Treated by Transplant, by Type of Donor, Canada, 1981 to 2005 (not in report) - Table 2.Selected Donor Characteristics, Pediatric Kidney Transplants, Canada, 1981 to 2005 (not in report) http://www.cihi.ca

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