The Office for National Statistics recently published an analysis of the economic impacts of major health conditions requiring hospitalisation, with chronic kidney disease (CKD) among those most severely affected.
The study, Impact of health conditions requiring hospitalisation on earnings, employment and benefits receipt, England: April 2014 to December 2022, analysed data linking hospital admissions with earnings, employment and benefit claims for over 45 million people. It covered first hospital admissions for conditions including cardiovascular disease, cancer, respiratory disease, diabetes, musculoskeletal conditions, and crucially, CKD.
Key findings for CKD
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Loss of earnings: People with CKD who had a first hospital admission saw average earnings fall by around £14,700 over five years, second only to stroke.
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Reduced chance of employment: Four years after hospitalisation, there was a 9.4 percentage point fall in the likelihood of being in paid work.
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Increased reliance on benefits: In the fourth year post-hospitalisation, the probability of receiving benefits rose by 16.3 percentage points, the largest increase among all conditions studied.
These figures underline the enduring economic impact of CKD after hospital-based treatment, adding to the challenges many patients already face managing complex care regimes such as dialysis or transplant recovery.
Why this matters for kidney healthcare professionals
The findings highlight how a hospitalisation event for CKD can trigger a long-lasting decline in work and income opportunities. Kidney healthcare teams see every day how treatment schedules, fatigue and fluctuating health can limit patients’ ability to work or return to work. This analysis shows those challenges translate directly into:
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sustained loss of earnings
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falling out of paid employment
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rising dependence on the benefits system
It reinforces the need to consider patients’ economic and employment circumstances alongside clinical needs, and to work with partners who can help patients access financial advice, welfare support and workplace adjustments as early as possible.
About the analysis
This research is part of a Shared Outcomes Fund data-linking collaboration between the ONS, Department of Health and Social Care, and the Department for Work and Pensions. The linked dataset included:
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ONS Census data from 2011 and 2021
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NHS hospital admissions data (2009–2022)
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HMRC Pay-As-You-Earn records
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DWP benefit claims
While the study focused on first hospital admissions, the impacts on pay, work and benefits extend years beyond hospital discharge.
Key takeaway
The ONS findings underline what many in the kidney community already know: that living with CKD affects far more than physical health.
The long-term loss of earnings, reduced employment opportunities and increased benefit reliance after hospitalisation demand a coordinated response from kidney services, policy-makers and employers to help people with kidney disease live well.