Supported Research

Background In the past half-century, significant advances have been made in preventing and reducing the progression of kidney disease (CKD) among Canadians. However, there is a concerning trend: CKD and kidney failure is increasing or stagnating in young adults. Our previous research using data from Ontario, Canada found that young people with lower kidney function (about 20% below expected) were much more likely to develop kidney failure. Purpose To further understand and improve the prevention of kidney disease in young adults, we are focusing on three main questions: First, are young adults with lower kidney function more likely to progress and develop high blood pressure and/or urinary abnormalities? Second, how much does lower kidney function contribute to CKD in young adults? Third, does mildly lower kidney function help predict kidney failure in young adults? Method We're going to use anonymous information collected from healthcare and laboratory visits in Ontario to understand how kidney function changes in the population. For goal 1, we will analyze this data using advanced statistical techniques to find a point where kidney function decline is linked to worsening kidney function, high blood pressure and urinary abnormalities. For goal 2, we will calculate how much a mild kidney function decline contributes to kidney failure compared to other well-known kidney failure risk factors in young adults. For goal 3, we'll evaluate how mildly lower kidney function affects the prediction of kidney failure in young adults compared to older adults. Our team is made up of experts in analyzing this type of data. Anticipated Outcomes We anticipate, mild eGFR reductions, which often go overlooked in clinical practice, will be a major contributor to more advanced forms of kidney disease in young adults. Specifically, mild kidney function reductions will lead to kidney disease progression, high blood pressure and urinary abnormalities and be an important risk factor in the development of kidney failure in young adults compared to older individuals. Patient Engagement Our study will provide preliminary epidemiological data of associations between mild eGFR reductions and their implications to more advanced forms of kidney disease. After determining said associations, future studies will integrate qualitative aims with patient partners to place our findings in context with semi-structured interviews and focus groups. Relevance to Patients/Communities The innovation in our research lies in the exploration of a new way to consider slight declines in kidney function in young adults and their effect on kidney disease. In the past, there has been debate about using a single standard to define CKD for all ages. What makes our project special is that we're aiming to adjust the criteria for defining kidney function decline based on a person's age. This way, we can identify younger adults who might be at risk even before they lose more than half of their kidney function. This change could have positive effects on kidney health for younger adults, as we'll be focusing on preventing kidney disease from happening too early. This innovative approach could lead to important improvements in the kidney health of young adults. Conclusion By understanding the intricacies of mild kidney function reductions and more severe forms of kidney disease in young adults, our work has the potential to improve detection and prevention of kidney disease and preserve kidney health.