Doctor advises precautionary measures to reduce kidney disease burden.

Byline: DR JUNAID IQBAL

There is an estimated number of 20,000 patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) in Pakistan and most of them do not have a formal diagnosis. Pakistan ranks 8th in world for prevalence in kidney related disorders.

The incidence of CKD is rising in Pakistan and South Asian countries due to disparity in available healthcare services, lack of health education and primary healthcare, inadequate healthcare budget and absence of any established mechanism for screening of common risk factors for CKD such as diabetes and hypertension.

This year, World Kidney Day has a theme 'kidney health for everyone everywhere'. This could not be more pertinent for a country like Pakistan where CKD awareness and healthcare resources are scarce. CKD causes 2.4 million deaths per year and is now sixth fastest growing cause of death. Acute kidney injury (AKI or acute renal failure) is common in Pakistan with several hundred people presenting to acute medical emergencies on a daily basis. This can lead to CKD and then result in increased morbidity and mortality.

In a country like Pakistan, risk factors for AKI and CKD are indigenous such as social conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work and age including poverty, gender discrimination, lack of education, occupational hazards and pollution among others.

Many a time patients are prescribed nephrotoxic medications, which result in permanent renal failure and increased mortality.

There is a dire need to educate people regarding prevalence and need to diagnose and control risk factors for CKD such as diabetes, uncontrolled hypertension, obesity and over...