Kidney disease continues to strike Australians
Three hundred and fifty Australians will have died during the first seven days of 2010 with kidney disease says Kidney Health Australia.
On average more than one Australian is dying with kidney related diseases every thirty minutes with Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) responsible for contributing to the deaths of more people than breast cancer, suicide and road deaths.
CKD is known as the silent killer as people can lose up to 90% of the use of their kidneys without feeling sick.
Anne Wilson, chief executive officer and managing director of Kidney Health Australia, said one in seven Australians have some form of CKD and the organisation is urging people in the high risk categories to use the start of 2010 to include a simple regular kidney health check in their personal health plan with their GP.
Ms Wilson said CKD is common, harmful and treatable.
People with CKD can delay the need for dialysis or sometimes halt progress entirely if they implemented a common sense personal health plan in collaboration with their general practitioner.
Research shows 27% of people going onto dialysis programs have not seen a doctor related to their kidney disease in the 3 months prior to their kidneys totally failing.
Dr Tim Mathew, medical director of Kidney Health Australia said the Australian CKD scene is characterised by a steady increase in the numbers of people entering dialysis programs and in those dying of kidney failure.
Almost 1 million hospitalisations for dialysis occurred in 2007-8 accounting for 17.4% of all separations from public hospitals.
Dr Mathew said people in the high risk area of having some form of CKD and who should be having regular kidney health checks include:
- Patients with diabetes mellitus and hypertension
- Individuals who are obese or smoke
- Individuals over 50 years of age
- Individuals with a family history of kidney disease, diabetes mellitus or hypertension
The seven golden rules for prevention of CKD are also successful in protecting against cardiovascular disease:
- Reduction of high blood pressure – the lower the blood pressure, the slower the GFR decline
- Specific medications to reduce proteinuria as well as lower blood pressure – ACE inhibitors/ARBs
- Reduce salt intake to lower blood pressure
- Control of glucose, blood lipids and anemia
- Stop smoking
- Increased physical activity
- Control of body weight
