The epidemiology of lifestyle-related and social risk factors for chronic kidney disease, and approaches to the burden of disease

Background and objectives Chronic kidney disease (CKD) refers to a progressive and irreversible loss of kidney function, the key outcomes of which are end-stage kidney disease (ESKD), requiring dialysis or a kidney transplant, or premature death typically due to cardiovascular complications. CKD is identified either by evidence of kidney damage (especially proteinuria or albuminuria) or decreased kidney function, measured according to glomerular filtration rate (GFR). Prevention of CKD, and timely intervention where disease does occur, is an emerging public health priority. However, our understanding of the epidemiology of CKD is still limited, and the evidence base concerning potentially modifiable lifestyle-related risk factors is often deficient or contradictory. Awareness of CKD in the community is low, and informed public health approaches to the burden of disease rare. This thesis is presented as a collection of published works which explore the epidemiology of lifestyle-related and social risk factors for CKD in the general population, and consider potential strategic approaches to the burden of CKD in Australia and internationally. The majority of the analyses presented are based on data derived from the Australian Diabetes, Obesity and Lifestyle (AusDiab) study, a prospective national survey of diabetes, cardiovascular and kidney disease in Australians aged 25 years or older which completed 5-year follow—up in 2005