Each year the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI) compiles and releases Canadian Organ Replacement Register (CORR) information which outlines the state of organ transplants and kidney failure in Canada (excluding Quebec).

This year’s reporting features data from 2006 to 2015 and is showing Manitoba as the leader in rates of end-stage kidney disease. Manitoba is sitting at 1,671.9 rate per million population (rpmp) while the Canadian average is 1,346.4. The next highest rate belongs to Newfoundland at 1,671.3 rpmp.

Another notable statistic is the rate of kidney failure with diabetes as the primary diagnosis. Nationally, about 30 per cent of end-stage kidney disease patients have diabetes as the primary diagnosis. In Manitoba that number is almost 44 per cent, a significant jump from the Canadian average.

“We have known for quite some time that Manitoba is facing a different situation than many other Canadian provinces,” explains Dr. Mauro Verrelli, medical director of Manitoba Renal Program (MRP). “Manitoba will have to continue to take measures to mitigate the rate of kidney disease in our province while also meeting the needs of our current patient population.”

MRP will continue to support kidney disease screening efforts as well as kidney health education initiatives.

Since introducing automatic estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate (eGFR) reporting in 2010 to assist practitioners in the early identification of chronic kidney disease (CKD), MRP has seen an increase in early stage kidney disease patients. By diagnosing kidney disease early, MRP health-care teams can work with patients on a treatment plan to keep their kidneys as healthy as possible, for as long as possible.

MRP is also a partner in CanSOLVE CKD which is a nationally coordinated research effort to reduce the burden of kidney disease on Canadians. MRP also continues to work with communities and organizations to deliver education and raise awareness of kidney disease and its impact in Manitoba.