Kidney replacement therapy rates have remained higher in men vs. women for decades

Highlights

• Rates for all types of kidney replacement therapy in European countries were consistently higher in men than women from 1965 to 2015.
• Male-to-female ratios increased with age, showing consistency over decades and for individual countries, despite changes in the causes of kidney disease.
• The male-to-female ratio was higher for kidney transplantation in diabetic patients.

Washington, DC (October 3, 2019) -- Fewer women than men receive kidney replacement therapy, such as dialysis or kidney transplantation, and a recent analysis from Europe reveals that this difference has remained consistent over the last 5 decades and across countries. Additional studies are needed to determine whether these findings, which appear in an upcoming issue of CJASN, are related to biology, access to care, or other reasons.

To examine sex differences in kidney replacement therapy over time, a team led by Manfred Hecking, MD, PhD and Marlies Antlanger, MD (Medical University of Vienna, in Austria) analyzed data from 9 countries reporting to the European Renal Association-European Dialysis and Transplant Association (ERA-EDTA) Registry during 1965 to 2015.

The study included information 230,378 patients (39% women). Although more women than men are affected by chronic kidney disease, the incidence and prevalence rates for all types of kidney replacement therapy were consistently higher in men than women (at approximately 60% vs. 40%). Male-to-female ratios increased with age, showing consistency over decades and for individual countries, despite marked changes in the causes of kidney disease (with diabetes becoming a major cause in recent decades). The male-to-female ratio was higher for kidney transplantation in diabetic patients. Also, the proportion of kidney transplants decreased less with age in men compared with women on kidney replacement therapy.

The investigators do not have a clear understanding of the reasons for the disparities they observed. "The supporters of biology as the root-cause of why fewer women than men initiate dialysis may now state that the phenomenon is so stable, it has to be biological. And the supporters of disparity as the root-cause of why fewer women than men initiate dialysis may now state that disparity is just a constant obstacle, which simply has not been overcome yet," said Dr. Hecking.

An accompanying editorial provides potential explanations for the differences found in the study, and suggests additional research that should be conducted.

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Study co-authors include Marlies Noordzij, PhD; Moniek van de Luijtgarden, PhD; Juan Jesus Carrero, PhD; Runolfur Palsson, MD; Patrik Finne, MD, PhD; Marc Hemmelder, MD, PhD; Nuria Aresté-Fosalba, MD; Anna Varberg Reisæter, MD, PhD; Aleix Cases, MD; Jamie P. Traynor, MD; Reinhard Kramar, MD, PhD; Ziad Massy, MD, PhD; and Kitty J. Jager, MD, PhD. The study was supported by the FWF - Austrian Science Fund.

Disclosures: Dr. Cases reports receiving grants from Bristol-Myers Squibb and Vifor Fresenius; personal fees from positions on advisory boards with Astellas, Astra Zeneca, and Daichii Sankyo; and personal fees from a position on an advisory board and speaker fees with Vifor Fresenius, outside of the submitted work. Dr. Finne reports lecture fees from Baxter outside of the submitted work. Dr. Hecking reports receiving grants from Astellas Pharma, Boehringer Ingelheim, FWF - Austrian Science Fund, and Siemens Healthcare and personal fees from Siemens Healthcare, outside of the submitted work. Dr. Jager reports speaker fees from Vifor Fresenius outside of the submitted work. The other authors have nothing to disclose.

The article, entitled "Sex Differences in Kidney Replacement Therapy Initiation and Maintenance," will appear online at http://cjasn.asnjournals.org/ on October 3, 2019, doi: 10.2215/CJN.04400419.

The editorial, entitled "Sex and the Incidence and Prevalence of Kidney Disease," will appear online at http://cjasn.asnjournals.org/ on October 3, 2019, doi: 10.2215/CJN.11030919.

Since 1966, ASN has been leading the fight to prevent, treat, and cure kidney diseases throughout the world by educating health professionals and scientists, advancing research and innovation, communicating new knowledge, and advocating for the highest quality care for patients. ASN has more than 20,000 members representing 131 countries. For more information, please visit http://www.asn-online.org or contact the society at 202-640-4660.

The content of this news release is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views or imply endorsement of the National Institutes of Health.