TEMPORAL AND DEMOGRAPHIC TRENDS OF GLOMERULAR DISEASE IN THE GOLD COAST OVER THE PAST 17 YEARS.
Julian Conboy1,2, Tyrone Smith2, Ken Chau1,2 1Department of Nephrology, Gold Coast University Hospital, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia2School of Medicine and Dentistry, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia
Abstract
Aim
To determine the changing epidemiology of biopsy confirmed glomerulonephritis (GN) by auditing renal biopsy activity across Gold Coast Hospital and Health Service from 2005-2021.
Background
Gold Coast University Hospital (GCUH) is the only public centre for performing renal biopsies, the renal department serves 665,515 population across Gold Coast.
Methods
Systematic search through the Pathology Queensland database were carried out, all renal biopsy histopathology reports from GCUH between 01/01/2005 and 31/12/2021 were manually coded. Data was grouped by year and pathology. This quality assurance study has been granted ethical exemption under EX/2023/QGC/96750.
Results
GCUH had performed 1669 kidney biopsies during the study period. 159 (9.5%) were on kidney transplants. Of native kidney biopsies, 59% (n=894) were male. Age at biopsy follows a normal distribution curve with a peak incidence in the 6th decade, with a mean age of 57(+/-18) years (95% CI). Rate of biopsy activity has doubled from 9.5 biopsies per hundred thousand people per year (php/yr) to 20.3 php/yr across the study period. There were 892 cases of primary or secondary GNs within our cohort, IgA nephropathy remains the most dominant pathology affecting 1.58 php/yr, followed by diabetic nephropathy (1.27 php/yr) and Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) (1.22 php/yr).
Conclusion
Biopsy activity in Gold Coast had steadily increased over the past 17 years, the average rate of biopsy was 14.75 php/year as opposed to previously quoted Queensland average of 12.04 php/year or Brisbane average of 9.22 php/year. IgA nephropathy is the predominant primary GN in Gold Coast, incidence of numerous primary GNs has increased over time, this is disproportionate to the natural population growth and may be due to improved detection and recognition.
Biography
Julian is a Basic Physician Trainee at Gold Coast University Hospital, having spent his junior years at The Tweed Hospital. He has a strong focus on developing a career in Nephrology with further research and education within the field of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health. Outside of medicine, he enjoys kayaking and fishing the coastal canals and beaches of the Gold Coast.