Kidney disease among registered Métis citizens of Ontario: a population-based cohort study

Background — Indigenous peoples in Canada have higher rates of kidney disease than non-Indigenous Canadians. However, little is known about the risk of kidney disease specifically in the Métis population in Canada.

Objective — To compare the prevalence of chronic kidney disease and incidence of acute kidney injury and end-stage kidney disease among registered Métis citizens in Ontario and a matched sample from the general Ontario population.

Design — Population-based, retrospective cohort study using data from the Métis Nation of Ontario’s Citizenship Registry and administrative databases.

Setting — Ontario, Canada; 2003-2013.

Patients — Ontario residents ≥18 years.

Measurements — Prevalence of chronic kidney disease and incidence of acute kidney injury and end-stage kidney disease. Secondary outcomes among patients hospitalized with acute kidney injury included non-recovery of kidney function and mortality within 1 year of discharge.

Methods — Database codes and laboratory values were used to determine study outcomes. Métis citizens were matched (1:4) to Ontario residents on age, sex, and area of residence. The analysis included 12 229 registered Métis citizens and 48 916 adults from the general population.

Results — We found the prevalence of chronic kidney disease was slightly higher among Métis citizens compared with the general population (3.1% vs 2.6%, P = 0.002). The incidence of acute kidney injury was 1.2 per 1000 person-years in both Métis citizens and the general population (P = 0.54). Of those hospitalized with acute kidney injury, outcomes were similar among Métis citizens and the general population except 1-year mortality, which was higher for Métis citizens (24.5% vs 15.3%, P = 0.03). The incidence of end-stage kidney disease did not differ between groups (<3.0 per 10 000 person-years, P = 0.73).

Limitations — The Métis Nation of Ontario Citizenship Registry only captures about 20% of Métis people in Ontario. Administrative healthcare codes used to identify kidney disease are highly specific but have low sensitivity.

Conclusions — Rates of kidney disease were similar or slightly higher for Métis citizens in Ontario compared with the matched general population.