Faculty Collaboration Database

The Impact of Pediatric CKD on Educational and Employment Outcomes. Kidney360 2023 Oct 01;4(10):1389-1396

Date

07/07/2023

Pubmed ID

37418621

Pubmed Central ID

PMC10615373

DOI

10.34067/KID.0000000000000206

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-85175357544 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   8 Citations

Abstract

KEY POINTS: This study evaluates educational and employment outcomes in patients with pediatric kidney disease and assesses predictors of educational attainment and employment in young adulthood. Despite high rates of high school graduation, nearly 20% of patients with CKD are unemployed or receiving disability at long-term follow-up.

BACKGROUND: Pediatric patients with CKD are at risk for neurocognitive deficits and academic underachievement. This population may be at risk for lower educational attainment and higher rates of unemployment; however, published data have focused on patients with advanced CKD and exist in isolation from assessment of neurocognition and kidney function.

METHODS: Data from the CKD in Children (CKiD) cohort study were used to characterize educational attainment and employment status in young adults with CKD. We used ratings of executive function as a predictor of future educational attainment and employment status. Linear regression models predicted the highest grade level completed. Logistic regression models predicted unemployment.

RESULTS: A total of 296 CKiD participants aged 18 years or older had available educational data. In total, 220 of 296 had employment data. By age 22 years, 97% had completed high school and 48% completed 2+ years of college. Among those reporting employment status, 58% were part-time or full-time employed, 22% were nonworking students, and 20% were unemployed and/or receiving disability. In adjusted models, lower kidney function (P = 0.02), worse executive function (P = 0.02), and poor performance on achievement testing (P = 0.004) predicted lower grade level completed relative to expectation for age.

CONCLUSIONS: CKiD study patients appear to have a better high school graduation rates (97%) than the adjusted national high school graduation rate (86%). Conversely, roughly 20% of participants were unemployed or receiving disability at study follow-up. Tailored interventions may benefit patients with CKD with lower kidney function and/or executive function deficits to optimize educational/employment outcomes in adulthood.

Author List

Harshman LA, Ward RC, Matheson MB, Dawson A, Kogon AJ, Lande MB, Molitor SJ, Johnson RJ, Wilson C, Warady BA, Furth SL, Hooper SR

Author

Stephen Molitor PhD Assistant Professor in the Pediatrics department at Medical College of Wisconsin

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Child
Educational Status
Employment
Humans
Renal Insufficiency, Chronic