KIDNEY DISEASE
Definition
This topic refers to those ever told by a doctor or nurse they have kidney disease and who consider they currently have kidney disease.
Population
Information was obtained for all persons in the 2014-15 NHS.
Methodology
Information about kidney disease was first published in the National Health Survey: First Results, 2014-15 based on a sample of 19,259 people. Additional information relating to actions taken for kidney disease was also published in Health Service Usage and Health related Actions, Australia, 2014-15.
Respondents were asked:
- Whether they had ever been told by a doctor or a nurse that they had kidney disease and, if so, whether they currently had the condition. Respondents with kidney disease were assumed to have the condition long-term.
- Whether they had ever had dialysis (or used a kidney machine).
Respondents who reported that they currently had kidney disease were sequenced to the
Actions module where they were asked
where they were asked
about consultations with health professionals, use of medical facilities and time away from study/school or work, in relation to, or as a result of, their kidney disease.
Respondents were asked in a later module about all medications and health supplements they were taking, but not in relation to any specific condition.
The questionnaire, data items and related output categories for this topic are available in Excel spreadsheet format from the
Downloads page of this product.
Interpretation
Points to be considered in interpreting data for this topic include the following:
- Respondents may not have distinguished between kidney disease, kidney stones or kidney infection. Kidney stones and kidney infection may be short-term conditions. Distinction cannot be made from the data between the various kidney ailments and as such there may be respondents incorrectly classified as long-term. However given the prevalence of kidney disease is expected to be an underestimate, it is considered that the impact is minimal.
- Those cases of kidney disease reported through the 'Long-term conditions' module, rather than the 'Kidney Disease' module, have not necessarily been diagnosed by a doctor or nurse. Data for these respondents are identified by their conditions status of 4: Not known or not ever told, but condition current and long-term.
- As this is a household-based survey, those people with kidney disease resident in hospitals, nursing or convalescent homes, or similar accommodation are outside the scope of this survey. As a result, the survey will under-represent those with more severe complications of the condition.
Comparability with 2011-12
In 2011-12, information about kidney disease was collected in both the NHS and the NNPAS surveys (i.e. the AHS Core). Kidney disease data are considered directly comparable between the 2014-15 NHS and 2011-13 AHS.
When making comparisons between 2014-15 and 2011-12 data it is recommended that:
- Where possible, comparisons are made using the Australian Health Survey: Updated Results, 2011-12 (cat. no. 4364.0.55.003) and Microdata: Australian Health Survey, Core Content - Risk Factors and Selected Health Conditions, 2011-12 (cat. no. 4324.0.55.003) for the most accurate information.
- For comparison of 2014-15 data with items which were only collected in the 2011-12 NHS, the Australian Health Survey: First Results, 2011-12 (cat. no. 4364.0.55.001) and Microdata: Australian Health Survey, National Health Survey, 2011-12 (cat. no. 4324.0.55.001) are used.
- For comparisons between 2014-15 and 2011-12 actions taken for condition data, the Australian Health Survey: Health Service Usage and Health Related Actions, 2011-12 (cat. no. 4364.0.55.002) and Microdata: Australian Health Survey, National Health Survey, 2011-12 (cat. no. 4324.0.55.001) are used.
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