A systematic review on screening initiatives for chronic conditions in Indigenous Peoples
Abstract
First Nations communities in Manitoba suffer the highest rates of kidney failure
requiring dialysis in Canada. Effective therapies do exist to prevent progression to
dialysis, but require identification of kidney disease in its early stages. Currently,
there is no funded screening program for kidney disease in Manitoba. We believe
that active screening of kidney disease in high‐risk populations can improve patient
outcomes and reduce the downstream costs of dialysis.
This project seeks to demonstrate that in high‐risk populations such as Manitoba
First Nations, active community based screening programs conducted by mobile
screening teams using modern and efficient risk assessment tools are feasible,
affordable, and lead to improved kidney care. The purpose is to establish a viable
long‐term kidney disease screening and treatment program in order to reduce the
unnecessary burden of kidney failure requiring dialysis in First Nations
communities.