Prof. Sham Sunder, Sr. Consultant & Head of Nephrology Unit, Department of Nephrology, Kailash Health Care & Heart Instiute, Noida emphasises on the need for increased awareness about CKD
Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) is a silent killer and a significant health concern in India. According to recent data, CKD affects one in 10 persons, and about 13 crore[i] people in India. CKD has devastating consequences and is the 5th leading cause of death and disability, adversely impacting the quality of life of patients and their families. Therefore early diagnosis of the disease is most crucial for complete cure in some patients and stabilisation, and slows down the progression of renal failure to delay the reqirement of dialysis or renal replacement therapy.
Unfortunately, many people are unaware of their kidney disease until it is too late, highlighting the need for increased awareness about CKD, especially among at-risk populations. Early diagnosis is very easy and affordable which can be done just by urine test for proteinuria and kidney function test for srum creatinine for estimation of eGFR (estimated glomerular filtration) that indicates the degree of kidney filtration capacity, and ultrasound of the abdomen can be done for detecting the kidney size. If kidney has normal size one may require biopsy for early diagnosis and may cure the disease.
Kidney disease awareness month
This year’s World Kidney Day’s theme “Kidney Health for All – Preparing for the Unexpected, Supporting the Vulnerable” and the Kidney Awareness month, emphasise the importance of preparing for unexpected events, like kidney failure, and supporting the vulnerable populations of society. It highlights the need to improve access to renal care, especially for those who all are at increased risk of kidney diseases, such as people with diabetes and high blood pressure.
Patients with diabetes and high blood pressure are particularly vulnerable to kidney disease as both conditions can damage the small blood vessels of functioning units of the kidneys decreasing their ability to filter waste from the blood. Therefore, diabetic and hypertensive patients must undergo regular screnning as discussed above atleast once a year for urine and blood test which is very cheap and easy to do to monitor their renal health.
Additionally, the theme of World Kidney Day 2023 underlined the need to support vulnerable segments of the population. In India, there is a significant delay in disease recognition, and CKD’s quick progression poses a major threat to the Indian population. It is estimated that the highest burden of kidney-related deaths occurs in the most vulnerable age group of individuals between 45 and 69. This highlights the need for a robust healthcare ecosystem for early diagnosis and timely treatment, especially among the elderly population.
To address this issue, increased awareness about CKD is needed, especially among vulnerable populations. This includes educating people about the risk factors for CKD, such as diabetes and high blood pressure and encouraging them to undergo periodic screening tests for CKD. It also involves improving access to kidney care, including dialysis and transplantation, for those who need it.
Furthermore, there is a need to improve healthcare infrastructure in India, particularly in remote and rural areas. It can help ensure the more vulnerable population is covered and have access to timely and quality renal care. The government and healthcare organisations can further take steps to provide better training for healthcare professionals on the diagnosis and management of CKD, as well as improve access to essential medicines and equipment for renal treatments.
CKD is a significant health concern in India, affecting cores of Indians and leading to significant morbidity and mortality.
References:
[i]https://www.ihs.org.in/lab/wqt/dlb.html#:~:text=In%20India%2C%20about%2011.5%20crore%20people%20are%20living%20with%20CKD%2C%20as%20off%202017%20(GBD%2DCKD%20Collaboration%202020)