In response to the recognised risk advancing chronic kidney disease (CKD) has in the development of foot disease (ulcers, infection, ischaemia or acute Charcot) and variation in care, the Statewide Renal Clinical Network formed a Kidney Foot Disease Working Group.
The group’s objective is to develop a clinical consensus on best practice foot care recommendations for people with CKD and provide the tools to facilitate the implementation of these recommendations.
To standardise foot care for persons with chronic kidney disease accessing Hospital and Health Services (HHSs) Kidney Health Services.
Reduces preventable foot disease related hospitalisations and amputations in persons with chronic kidney disease.
Provides the tools for Kidney Health Services to implement best practice foot care recommendation enabling:
Improve consumers and clinician’s awareness about foot complications in persons with chronic kidney disease.
Persons with CKD have demonstrated an increased risk for foot ulceration and lower-extremity amputation, with this risk found to be highest in individuals with diabetes mellitus receiving dialysis.1-4 However, concluding this as a predominately diabetes issue, would be an oversight considering that persons with CKD without diabetes have demonstrated prevalence rates of foot disease risk factors comparable to those of persons with diabetes without CKD.1-3 The role declining kidney function has on foot complications is further highlighted by findings in which CKD 4-5 and dialysis treatment have demonstrated to be independent risk factors for foot ulceration and major amputation compared with CKD 3-5
The burden of foot complications underpins recommendations to healthcare providers caring for persons with CKD to implement strategies to prevent foot ulcers and their life-limiting consequences in all persons with CKD, with or without diabetes.
The resources currently being developed for the toolkit include:
