Scarborough study finds higher dialysis risk for some immigrants

A Scarborough Health Network study found immigrants from the Caribbean, the Philippines and Sri Lanka were six to 12 times more likely to need dialysis than Canadian-born residents, and that country of birth predicted dialysis risk more strongly than ethnicity while time in Canada did not reduce that risk.

A Scarborough Health Network study examined patterns of advanced kidney disease among local residents and found notable differences linked to patients' countries of birth. Researchers compared a cohort of people receiving dialysis with a separate group monitored for earlier-stage chronic kidney disease and matched those results to local census data. The study reports that immigrants from the Caribbean, the Philippines and Sri Lanka had a six- to 12-fold higher likelihood of needing dialysis than Canadian-born residents. It also found that country of birth was a stronger predictor of dialysis risk than ethnicity and that longer residence in Canada did not appear to lower that risk. Key findings: - Immigrants from the Caribbean, the Philippines and Sri Lanka were reported as six to 12 times more likely to require dialysis than Canadian-born residents. - Country of birth was identified as a stronger predictor of risk for dialysis than ethnicity alone. - Length of time living in Canada did not appear to reduce the increased risk observed in these groups. Summary: The study highlights disparities in advanced kidney disease among certain immigrant groups in Scarborough and raises questions about early-life exposures, environmental factors and possible genetic contributions. The findings are already shaping local clinical discussions and outreach, and researchers plan further investigation to see whether similar patterns appear in other diverse Canadian communities.