Calls for greater kidney health reverberate this Friday

Over 150 Medical professionals from across the world will descend on Botswana this Friday to support calls for kidney health during the inaugural Botswana International Renal Conference. Held under the theme, ‘Sustainability of Renal Care in Developing Countries,’ the three-day-event will bring together over 150 experts from across the world.

Specialist nethrologist and one of the organisers of the meeting, Dr Gagoitsewe Saleshando said Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) is not getting the attention it deserves despite the fact that CKD affects 1 in 10 people world wide and untreated kidney failure claims one million lives a year. He explained that people in the earlier stages of CKD can be treated with blood pressure lowering drugs, diet, and lifestyle, and can maintain a good quality of life. “It is vital therefore that all countries improve their rates of early diagnosis and treatment,” he said in an interview.

The Global Kidney Health Atlas study however shows that, across countries of all incomes, many governments are not making kidney disease a priority. “This makes no sense, as the costs for treating people with end stage kidney disease are enormous, along with the devastating effect it has on patients and their families,” added Dr Saleshando. CKD prevalence varies across the globe: as high as 12% in Europe, the Middle East, East Asia, and Latin America; 11% in North America; 8% in Africa; and 7% in South Asia.

The disease is emerging as a silent world epidemic as risk factors for CKD such as diabetes, obesity, high blood pressure, and smoking continue to rise. 'A general lack of awareness of CKD, among patients and family doctors alike, and a lack of symptoms in the early stages, means that kidney function is usually hugely reduced by the time symptoms arise,' Dr Saleshando said. People who are obese, have high blood pressure or have diabetes are at higher risk of CKD. Being aged 60 years or over, a family history or acute kidney injury (AKI) are also risk factors.

“That is why we recommend anyone with any of these risk factors could and should request a kidney health check from their family doctor. A simple blood and urine test and blood pressure check are all that are needed,” he added. The kidneys are vital organs in our bodies, removing waste and excess water and controlling the acidity balance of our blood. CKD is the gradual loss of the kidneys' abilities to perform these essential functions.