RATES AND OUTCOMES OF DIABETIC END-STAGE RENAL-DISEASE AMONG REGISTERED NATIVE PEOPLE IN SASKATCHEWAN

Objective: To determine the rates and outcomes of diabetic end-stage r enal disease (ESRD) among registered native people and non-native peop le in Saskatchewan. Design: Retrospective population-based study using data from the Canadian Organ Replacement Registry. Setting: Saskatche wan. Patients: All patients with diabetic ESRD diagnosed between Jan. 1, 1981, and Dec. 31, 1990. Main outcome measures: Incidence rates of diabetic ESRD in the general population, rates of diabetic ESRD among patients with diabetes mellitus, nature of initial dialysis treatment, length of survival from start of dialysis, cause of death and renal t ransplant rates. Results: The 10-year incidence rates of diabetic ESRD were higher among all age groups among registered native people than among non-native people. The overall relative risk ratio for native pe ople was 16.2. When a higher prevalence of diabetes among native peopl e was taken into account, native diabetic people were still seven time s as likely as non-native diabetic people to manifest diabetic ESRD. T he median survival from start of dialysis was under 2 years in both gr oups, but more native people died of stroke and more non-native people died of heart disease. Non-native diabetic people were more likely th an native diabetic people to receive renal transplants. Conclusions: A lthough the overall incidence of diabetic ESRD, in Saskatchewan is inc reasing, registered native people have a disproportionate risk for thi s serious complication.