This study aimed to describe substance use (SU) among adolescents and young adults (AYA) with chronic kidney disease (CKD), compare these findings with the general population, and identify associated risk factors.
708 AYA participants contributing 2475 person-visits from the Chronic Kidney Disease in Children (CKiD) Study were used to estimate prevalence rates of past year and 30-day alcohol, cigarette, e-cigarette and marijuana use, and were compared with national surveys. Repeated measures logistic regression estimated the association between SU and participant characteristics.
There was nearly no SU among those 12 to 14 years, but use increased with age, and past year alcohol use was about 80% for those ≥22 years. Rates of use among males were constant or increased with age, while rates of use among females were lower after age 22 compared to ages 18 to 22. Associated risk factors included non-Black and non-Hispanic identity, older age, and worse disease severity. CKiD participants were less likely to use substances compared to the general population, especially those 14-18 years.
SU was less common in AYA with CKD than the general population, but differences were attenuated among those ≥18 years. Ages 12-14 appear to be the ideal time for prevention efforts. As the landscape of e-cigarette and marijuana policies change, these results underscore the need to understand how similar high-risk populations engage in SU.

Copyright © 2021. Published by Elsevier Inc.

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