PEOPLE living in deprived areas are more likely to develop advanced chronic kidney disease (CKD) than those in more well off parts of the country, according to Oxford scientists.

In a study of 1.4m people, researchers from The George Institute for Global Health at Oxford University found that that the most socioeconomically deprived are 68 per cent more likely to develop CKD than the least deprived, and so experience poorer health outcomes and quality of life.

CKD is an irreversible condition where the kidneys do not work as well as they should to ‘clean the blood’, putting sufferers at increased risk of hospital admission and death.

Dr Misghina Weldegiorgis, Epidemiologist at The George Institute, who led the research said: "CKD is generally associated with old age, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and high blood pressure.

"Using contemporary NHS data, we were able to directly explore the relationship between socioeconomic deprivation and risk of advanced CKD and end-stage renal disease, and our findings bear relevance to the 2.6 million people in England currently living with CKD."

Dr Weldegiorgis said the findings made it clear that wider systemic change beyond healthcare were required if the difference in risk of CKD was to be reduced.

The research team have recommended that more work be done to engage socioeconomically deprived group to improve screening and treatment rates including close follow-up of patients following diagnosis and targeted public health education to reduce behavioural risk factors.