Chronic Kidney Disease: A call for action, Health News, ET HealthWorld
Chronic Kidney Disease: A call for action
Brand Connect Initiative
March 09, 2023, 12:40 IST
The theme for World Kidney Day this year
Kidney Health
for All focuses on why it is important to take urgent steps to ensure that people vulnerable to chronic kidney disease (CKD), or at risk for it, are made aware of the condition and encouraged to seek early diagnosis and treatment. In addition to this, emphasis is also placed on the need to improve access to CKD treatment and to ensure that this access remains uninterrupted during emergencies such as earthquakes, pandemics, and war.
Chronic Kidney Disease: Stages and Symptoms
Chronic kidney disease is a condition in which gradual damage to the kidneys leads to a reduction in the filtration ability of the nephrons. In India, 17% of the population suffers from CKD. There are five stages of CKD.
In the first two stages, there is minimal damage to the kidneys and kidney function is almost normal. There are no symptoms or a few symptoms such as swelling of hands and feet. At these stages, CKD can be diagnosed only with certain tests. The disease progression can be controlled with the right therapy and lifestyle management.
In the third stage, the build-up of fluid and toxic material begins in the body leading to symptoms such as swollen ankles and legs. In stage four, there is severe damage to the kidneys which can show symptoms such as high blood pressure. The fifth stage is the stage of kidney failure and irreversible damage to the kidneys. The only treatment available at this stage is dialysis or a kidney transplant. Both procedures are expensive and only less than 10% of end stage patients have access to these procedures in India because of the scarcity of trained healthcare personnel and other resources.
Dr. Sanjeev Gulati, President, The Indian Society of Nephrology
Dr. Sanjeev Gulati
, President, The Indian Society of Nephrology, says, Chronic kidney disease if diagnosed in the early stages can be controlled. However, in India, patients tend to visit a nephrologist only when symptoms develop. At this stage, in most cases, the kidney damage is quite advanced, sometimes irreversible. My advice to all patients who suffer from diabetes, hypertension or those who are above 60 years of age is to get themselves screened regularly so that we can catch the damage early and prevent end-stage disease.
Chronic Kidney Disease: Risk Factors and Complications
High blood pressure and diabetes are the two main risk factors that can lead to CKD. Of these two, diabetes is the bigger threat. Chronic kidney disease and diabetes together can affect the heart. Suffering from both these conditions together makes a patient 3 times more prone to develop heart disease than a person suffering from diabetes alone.
Dr Shyam Bansal, Secretary, Indian Society of Nephrology.
Thursday, March 9, 2023 at 7:10 am