10 March 2011
About Kidney Diseases
About Kidney Diseases
Kidney diseases are Common, Harmful and Treatable
COMMON
More than 5% of the adult population have some form of kidney damage, and every year millions die prematurely of cardiovascular diseases linked to Chronic Kidney Diseases (CKD).
HARMFUL
Common causes of CKD include inflammatory diseases of the kidney, infections, obstruction in the urinary tract and inherited disorders like polycystic kidney disease. But in both developed and developing nations diabetes and hypertension are becoming the most common causes of CKD, especially in older people. These are also the most common causes of cardiovascular disease (CVD).
The first consequence of undetected CKD is the risk of
developing progressive loss of kidney function leading to kidney
failure and the need for dialysis treatment or a kidney transplant.
The second is premature death from associated cardiovascular
disease. Individuals who appear to be healthy who are then found to
have CKD have an increased risk of dying prematurely from CVD
(coronary disease, cerebrovascular disease, peripheral artery
disease, and heart failure) regardless of whether they ever develop
kidney failure.
TREATABLE
Detection: Kidney disease can be detected early. Simple laboratory tests are done on small samples of blood (to measure creatinine content and estimate GFR) and on urine (to measure creatinine and albumin excretion). The majority of individuals with early stages of CKD go undiagnosed, particularly in the developing world. The early detection of kidney impairment is essential and allows suitable treatment before kidney damage or cardiovascular problems occur.
Screening: Screening must be a priority for those people considered to be at high risk of kidney disease, namely:
- Patients with diabetes mellitus and hypertension.
- Individuals who are obese or smoke.
- Individuals over 50 years of age.
- Individuals with a family history of kidney disease, diabetes mellitus or hypertension.
Current kidney protective treatments
should now be extended to those with early stages of
CKD.
Key preventative measures have been defined and proven successful
in protecting against both renal and cardiovascular disease, such
as:
- Reduction of high blood pressure -the lower the blood pressure, the slower the GFR decline
- Specific medications to reduce proteinuria as well as lower blood pressure - ACE inhibitors/ARBs
- Reduce salt intake to lower blood pressure
- Control of glucose, blood lipids and anemia
- Smoking cessation
- Increased physical activity
- Control of body weight
Treatment: Clinical research over the last decade has shown the potential benefit of blockade of the renin-angiotensin system by ACEs and ARBs to significantly reduce the burden of disease from CVD, diabetes, hypertension and CKD at relatively low cost.
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