The Impact of Pediatric CKD on Educational and Employment Outcomes

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 21 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.