Kidney disease in Maori and Pacific people in New Zealand.

AIMS: To highlight the population demographics and socio-economic status of Maori and Pacific people in New Zealand, and relate this to their relative incidence and prevalence of kidney disease, relative access to renal replacement therapies and provide a comparison of their outcomes relative to non-Maori/non-Pacific people with kidney disease in New Zealand.
METHODS: A review was carried out of relevant New Zealand Statistics and Health data, literature on kidney disease in New Zealand including reports of the Australian and New Zealand Dialysis and Transplant Registry and further analysis of the New Zealand Diabetic Cohort Study.
RESULTS: There are large differences in the incidence of microalbuminuria, glomerulonephritis and hypertension amongst Maori and Pacific people in comparison to others. There is a 3.5 fold higher relative incidence of Maori and Pacific patients commencing renal replacement therapy. Identified associations with CKD include an increased incidence of obesity, smoking and poverty relative to other members of the population. Maori and Pacific people are less likely to be transplanted and have a reduced graft survival.
CONCLUSIONS: Maori and Pacific people have a higher incidence of chronic kidney disease and end-stage renal failure in comparison to the rest of the population with poorer outcomes. The causes are likely to be multi-factorial with poverty an important contributor.