Hyderabad: A recent study by doctors in Hyderabad and Visakhapatnam has revealed that kidney disorders begin as early as 35 years of age, but reach a chronic stage when one reaches 50.
To ascertain the exact percentage, the team of doctors conducted a multi-city survey and found that 35.5 per cent of the young patients suffering from Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) were from South India and 27.9 per cent from North India.
Twenty-five per cent of the people in West India suffered from CKD and only 11 per cent from East India, who were older than those from the rest of India. The common kidney problems encountered were kidney stones, infections and acute problems due to increasing incidence of diabetes and hypertension.
Dr Soma Shekar, senior nephrologist, Apollo Hospitals, said, “Those who are on heavy medication due to other diseases also suffer from kidney failure. We are now also seeing cases of those who have been on Ayurvedic medicines for too long and the heavy metals have adversely affected their kidneys. Apart from that, the changing lifestyle, in terms of eating habits, sedentary work and stress, are the leading causes in majority of people for the increase in the disease.”
The numbers in India are alarming, 800 cases per 10 lakh population, and the prevalence of severe renal failure that requires dialysis or transplantation is 200 cases per 10 lakh population.
Dr G. Sridhar, chief consultant nephrologist at Global Hospitals said, “It is a big cause of worry for the diabetics, as they suffer from recurrent infections.
A diabetic patient ends up developing Chronic Kidney Disease in five to six years if optimal care is not taken. This group requires a lot of intervention in terms of counselling, which will help them take appropriate care.” Doctors claim that with aging, the functioning of the body’s organs reduce and accordingly changes are required in diet and lifestyle.
Dr P. Vikranath Reddy, senior nephrologist at Care Hospitals said, “After 40 years of age, kidney function slows down by one per cent every year. The onset of diseases in kidney is usually very slow and also silent. Before the symptoms or signs emerge in the body, most of the kidney functioning is destroyed. Hence there is insistence on early detection, preferably after 30 years of age. Simple laboratory tests of blood and urine are enough to ascertain the functioning of the organ.”
Early detection is being strongly advocated so that suitable treatment can be given before it deteriorates to complete failure. Dr Reddy explained, “Those who are on pain killers and also smoke must get their kidney functioning checked on a yearly basis as it will help identify problems if any.”
