Kidney Health
Australia Welcomes Roxon Announcement on
Swine Flu Vaccine
Kidney
Health Australia today welcomed the announcement by the
Federal Health Minister Nicola Roxon on the provision of
the Swine Flu vaccination for people with chronic kidney
disease.
Anne Wilson CEO of Kidney
Health Australia said, given the vulnerability of kidney
patients, especially those on dialysis three times a
week and those on immunosuppression with a kidney
transplant, we are certainly pleased to hear the Federal
Government is taking the initiative in mid
September.
Dr Tim Mathew, Medical
Director of Kidney Health Australia said the numbers
involved with Chronic Kidney Disease in Australia were
significant
"Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) has
been identified as a silent but deadly multiplier of
other major chronic diseases including heart disease,
diabetes and cancer. Patients with CKD have a greatly
increased risk of having a heart attack, stroke or
diabetes.
"At the end of 2007, 9,642 people
in Australia were receiving dialysis
treatment."
Dr Mathew said, "Dialysis
for Chronic Kidney Disease is the most frequent reason
for hospitalisation. In 2007-08, regular dialysis for
CKD was recorded as the principal diagnosis in 989,000
(almost 1 million) separations 12.6% of all
hospitalisation in that
year."
How much does Kidney Failure cost
the Australian health system?
·
The best available evidence we have on cost per person
per year on dialysis
is:
-
hospital Haemodialysis -
$82,764
-
satellite Haemodialysis -
$48,631
-
home Haemodialysis -
$44,739
-
peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) - $56,828
·
The cost of dialysis in 2006 was estimated to be $646.6
million
· On 2005
figures the cumulative cost of dialysis from 2004 to
2010 is expected to be $4.5
billion
Media Enquiries:
Dr Tim Mathew,
Medical Director Kidney Health Australia Mobile:
0416 149 863
Ron Smith National Media Communications
Kidney Health Australia