Disparities in dialysis treatment and outcomes for Dutch and Belgian children with immigrant parents

Background In Belgium and the Netherlands, up to 40% of the children on dialysis are children with immigrant parents of non-Western European origin (non-Western). Concerns exist regarding whether these non-Western patients receive the same quality of care as children with parents of Western European origin (Western). We compared initial dialysis, post-initial treatment, and outcomes between non-Western and Western patients on dialysis. Methods All children <19 years old on chronic dialysis in the Netherlands and Belgium between September 2007 and May 2011 were included in the study. Non-Western patients were defined as children of whom one or both parents were born in non-Western countries. Results Seventy-nine of the 179 included patients (44%) were non-Western children. Compared to Western patients, non-Western patients more often were treated with hemodialysis (HD) instead of peritoneal dialysis (PD) as first dialysis mode (52 vs. 37%, p = 0.046). Before renal transplantation, non-Western patients were on dialysis for a median (range) of 30 (5–99) months, vs. 15 (0–66) months in Western patients ( p = 0.007). Renal osteodystrophy was diagnosed in 34% of non-Western vs. 18% of Western patients ( p = 0.028). The incidence rate ratio [95% confidence interval] for acute peritonitis was 2.44 [1.43-4.17] ( p = 0.032) for non-Western compared to Western patients. Conclusions There are important disparities between children on chronic dialysis with parents from Western European origin and those from non-Western European origin in the choice of modality, duration, and outcomes of dialysis therapy.