As much as 95 percent Polish patients with chronic kidney disease die prematurely because the disease is not detected. In 2,5 percent it is diagnosed at the stage of extreme renal failure – doctors reminded on the occasion of World Kidney Day, celebrated on March 14.
It is a joint initiative of the International Society of Nephrology and the International Federation of Kidney Foundation.
As Prof. Ryszard Gellert, head of the Nephrology Clinic of the Medical Center of Postgraduate Education in Warsaw, according to PolNef research, that about 15% may suffer from chronic kidney disease (CKD). adult Poles, i.e. 4,5 million. It’s a lot. This means that every 8-9 adult in our country has chronically ill kidneys – said the nephrologist. He added that the failure of this organ occurs in every 12th Pole.
Chronic kidney disease develops for at least 10 years, but it is fastest in the beginning and can be stopped or significantly delayed. That is why it is worth making every effort to detect it early and treat it effectively – said Prof. Gellert.
The problem is that CKD is symptomless in most cases until very advanced stages, when there is nothing else to do but renal replacement therapy (dialysis or kidney transplantation, which is the optimal treatment). Even if the symptoms are present, they are few and not very characteristic, such as weakness, swelling on the lower legs, mild anemia. Therefore, an annual urinalysis should be performed and the concentration of creatinine in the blood serum should be determined – reminded the nephrologist.
CKD is the most common complication of other chronic diseases, such as diabetes and arterial hypertension, and glomerular diseases that are poorly treated. In these patients, chronic kidney disease should be actively searched for – assessed prof. Gellert.
However, kidney damage can also occur in young, seemingly healthy people. Mr. Rajmund Michalski from the Institute of Environmental Engineering of the Polish Academy of Sciences found out about kidney disease by accident when he was 29 years old and his daughter was just born. I have always been fairly healthy, and apart from my childhood allergies, I did not suffer from any serious illnesses. In 1992, a periodic examination at work showed me the presence of protein and a trace amount of blood cells in my urine – he told PAP. It bothered him and he went to the doctor who referred him for further tests. His biopsy showed that half of his kidney glomeruli are no longer active. The cause was chronic glomerulonephritis. For 20 years, however, he managed to avoid renal replacement therapy. In the meantime, he did his doctorate, habilitation, and now, as a professor, he is the deputy director of the Institute. He had to undergo dialysis only in 2012. He chose home dialysis. On January 27, he underwent a kidney transplant in a hospital in Bydgoszcz.
According to prof. Gellert, we should be encouraged to regularly test urine and blood creatinine levels by the fact that 95 percent. People with CKD die prematurely due to undetected disease and its consequences, such as heart attacks, strokes, and heart failure. 2,5 percent patients have the disease diagnosed so late that they qualify for renal replacement therapy, i.e. dialysis or kidney transplantation – reminded Prof. Gellert.
Therefore, the organizers of the celebration of the World Kidney Day in 2013 carry out information campaigns in selected hospitals in Poland under the slogan: Take care of your kidneys! You have them for life.
According to prof. Gellert’s most common kidney diseases are urinary tract infections and urolithiasis. However, unlike CKD today, they are not the cause of end-stage kidney failure, which requires dialysis or kidney transplantation.
We must also mention that we are currently facing an epidemic of acute kidney damage – a nephrologist told PAP. As he noted, the International Society of Nephrology and the International Federation of Kidney Foundations announced 2013 as the year of acute kidney injury.
It is primarily caused by drugs, especially those that patients buy themselves without a prescription. The second reason is the increasing use of imaging tests, such as computed tomography, which uses contrast agents, and the use of contrast-based cardiac surgery interventions, such as coronary angiography and stent implantation. Contrast agents are nephrotoxic.
To take care of kidney health on a daily basis, you should drink plenty of fluids, especially water, avoid being overweight and obese, take care of proper blood pressure, avoid excess salt, which increases the risk of high blood pressure, and do not smoke or quit smoking.
Joanna Morga (PAP)