About 10 pc Indians suffering from CKD: Expert

Bangalore, Mar 8 (UNI) The good health of the vital organ of kidney is generally ignored by people, leading to a steady increase in the Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) worldwide and an estimated five to ten per cent of the country's population suffering from CKD, noted nephrologist Urmila Anantdh said today.

''The two most common causes of kidney disease are diabetes and high blood pressure. Cases of diabetes are dangerously increasing among the Indian population. It is estimated that 33 million people are affected in India and the number is likely to go up to 70 million by 2025. About 30 to 40 per cent of diabetics run the risk of developing CKD,'' she said.

Speaking to UNI after the inauguration of CKD Prevention Clinic at Apollo Hospital here, the senior nephrology consultant said her message on the World Kidney Day today was that everyone should ask oneself whether his or her kidneys were ok. ''It is very easy to undergo a test to know the health status of your kidneys as it takes a simple urine and blood test. The real worry is the disease will not happen in a sudden, but act as a slow killer.'' Dr Anantdh said, however, there were some warning signs of kidney disease like change in urinary habits, passing less or more urine, passing more urine in the nights, swelling in the legs and around the eyes and rising blood pressure. These symptoms should not be neglected and require medical attention.

Stating that most kidney diseases could be treated successfully, she said the prime importance was early detection of the disease. If one had any risk of diabetes or high blood pressure and family history of kidney disease, they should undergo regular screening.

The expert regretted that neurologists were branded as organ stealers. ''The society should do something to remove this stigma.

No doctor would like to treat a person at another's cost. The organ donation statutes have made it difficult for kidney transplants that has resulted in loss of precious lives. We have to find a via-media solution. This is not a problem in India alone. There is an ongoing international debate on the matter,'' she said.

Dr Anandth said the subject would be debated in the World Congress of Nephrology, to be held at Rio de Janeiro in Brazil next month, where top transplant surgeons would come together.

On latest global research being carried out to find a solution to the disease, she said research on Zero Transplant in which kidneys of animals could be transplanted in a human and use of stem cell to grow kidneys on CKD patient's body was being carried out, but was still in the nascent stage. ''Zero transplant can happen in the next 10 to 15 years,'' she added.

UNI