The kidneys are two bean-shaped organs that extract waste from blood, balance body fluids, form urine, and aid in other important functions of the body. They reside against the back muscles in the upper abdominal cavity. They sit opposite each other on either side of the spine.
"Survey: 50 per Cent of Kidney Patients in Telangana and Andhra Below 40 Years"
HYDERABAD: In a recent study conducted by doctors from Hyderabad and Visakhapatnam has revealed that most Indians are becoming vulnerable to chronic kidney diseases (CKD). It has indicated that the mean age for CKDs in India has fallen from 65-75 years to 50-55 years. Though many Indians have symptoms of kidney disorders at an age as early as 35, but they reach the chronic stage only by 50 years.
The survey found that 35.5 per cent of young patients suffering from CKD are from south while 27.9 per cent patients are from North. Coming to West and East India, 25 and 11 per cent respectively suffer from CKD among young people. While patients suffering from CKD in the east were found to be much older.
On the whole, the study revealed that patients with CKD of unknown cause (etiology) are younger, poorer and more likely to suffer from advanced kidney troubles in the near future.
Kidney disease can develop through kidney stones, kidney cancer and cysts that affect the anatomical structure of the kidney, or diseases such as diabetes and hypertension that affect the nephrons directly, resulting in a decline of kidney function. Structural diseases can also damage the nephrons, resulting in a decline of kidney function.
If one looks at the recent surveys, it is observed that chronic diseases have become a major cause of global morbidity and mortality even in developing countries. Approximately 800 cases of CKD are prevailing per million populations (pmp), and the incidence of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) is 150-200 pmp. The most common cause of CKD in population-based studies is diabetic nephropathy.
India currently has over 820 nephrologists, 710 hemodialysis units with 2,500 dialysis stations and 4,800 patients on CAPD (Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis). There are 172 transplant centres, two-thirds of which are in South India and mostly privately run. Nearly 3,500 transplants are done annually, the total number of cadaver donors being approximately 700 till now. Thus, taken together, nearly 18,000 to 20,000 patients in India get renal replacement therapy every year.
Coming to prevention, kidney disease can be prevented if and only its symptoms are detected and diagnosed at the early state. Unfortunately, except for a few types of kidney disease, most of them cannot be fully cured. It is possible to control the effects by watching one’s diet, adopting a healthy lifestyle, and taking appropriate medication.
For end-stage kidney failure, dialysis or transplantation are the only option
CKD and Aging
This year, on World Kidney Day, our focus is on Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) and aging. CKD can develop at any age but it becomes more common with increasing age.
Symptoms
Most people have no symptoms until CKD is advanced. Signs of advancing CKD include swollen ankles, fatigue, difficulty concentrating, decreased appetite, blood in the urine and foamy urine.
Detection of Kidney Disease
The majority of individuals with early stages of CKD go undiagnosed. On WKD we are calling on everyone to check if they are at risk for kidney disease and encouraging people with any risk factors to take a simple kidney function test.
Kidney disease usually progresses silently, often destroying most of the kidney function before causing any symptoms. The early detection of failing kidney function is crucial because it allows suitable treatment before kidney damage or deterioration manifests itself through other complications.
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).
Your doctor uses the results of your Serum Creatinine measured in the blood to estimate your overall kidney function, or Glomerular Filtration Rate (GFR) and your blood sugar to be sure you do not have diabetes. A simple “dipstick” test may be used to detect excess protein in the urine.
"8 Golden Rules for Prevention"
Kidney diseases are silent killers, which will largely affect your quality of life. There are however several easy ways to reduce the risk of developing kidney disease.
Slowing Disease Progression
Key preventative measures have been defined and proven successful in those with early stages of CKD as secondary prevention measures, which help slow disease progression and protect against both kidney and cardiovascular disease, such as:
- Reduction of high blood pressure -the lower the blood pressure (within the normal range), the slower the GFR decline
- Specific medications to reduce proteinuria as well as lower blood pressure - angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors (ACE inhibitors) or angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs)
- Reduce salt intake to lower blood pressure
- Control of glucose, blood lipids and anemia
- Increase of physical activity Control of body weight
- Smoking cessation
Treatment
Clinical research over the last two decades has shown the potential benefit of blockade of the renin-angiotensin system by medicines known as ACE inhibitors and ARBs. This can significantly delaythe progression of CKD, at relatively low cost.
- Are you at risk?
- Do you have high blood pressure?
- Do you suffer from diabetes?
- Do you have a family history of kidney disease?
- Are you overweight?
- Are you over 50 years?
Are you of African, Hispanic, Aboriginal or Asian origin?
If you have answered yes to one or more of these questions, you should discuss with your doctor, you may need testing for kidney disease! Early chronic kidney disease has no sign or symptoms. You can help delay or prevent kidney failure by treating kidney disease early.
"Number of kidney stone cases increases by 115% in 10 years"
‘To prevent kidney stones maintain a healthy weight, avoid adding salt to food, eat five portions of fruit and vegetables a day and [have] water as your first choice beverage.’ Photograph: Matt Cardy/Getty Images
Emergency hospital admissions for kidney stones have risen by 115% in a decade, figures indicate.
Related: Should I stop drinking bottled water?
The number of people admitted to hospital after visiting A&E for the condition rose from 5,842 in 2004-05 to 12,572 cases in 2014-15, the Natural Hydration Council (NHC) said.
Kidney stones are lumps that can develop in the kidneys. The condition is more likely to occur when a person does not drink enough fluid or if they are taking certain types of medication.
The figures suggest that almost two-thirds of cases affect men, according to the analysis of data from hospital admissions in England.
Prof Tom Sanders, an adviser to the NHC – a not-for-profit bottled-water association – and emeritus professor of nutrition and dietetics at King’s College London, said: “The increased prevalence of obesity probably explains why kidney stones and chronic kidney disease are increasing.
“The best dietary advice available to prevent these conditions is to maintain a healthy weight, avoid adding salt to food, eat five portions of fruit and vegetables a day and [have] water as your first choice beverage.”
"New Procedure Allows Kidney Transplants From Any Donor"
In the new study, published Wednesday in The New England Journal of Medicine, doctors successfully altered patients’ immune systems to allow them to accept kidneys from incompatible donors. Significantly more of those patients were still alive after eight years than patients who had remained on waiting lists or received a kidney transplanted from a deceased donor.
The method, known as desensitization, “has the potential to save many lives,” said Dr. Jeffery Berns, a kidney specialist at the University of Pennsylvania’s Perelman School of Medicine and the president of the National Kidney Foundation.
It could slash the wait times for thousands of people.
Share to bring awareness in all communities to bring the percentage of kidney diseases down.
