Kidney Health Australia
today said a new report released by the Australian
Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) was an important
reminder of the major challenges being faced by the
health system to cope with chronic disease.
Cardiovascular disease (CVD), diabetes and
chronic kidney disease (CKD) account for around a
quarter of the burden of disease and just under
two-thirds of all deaths in Australia.
Anne
Wilson CEO and Managing Director of Kidney Health
Australia
said, Kidney Health Australia strongly supports a
systematic approach to monitoring risk factor prevention
activities for CVD, diabetes and CKD as the major way to
address the rapidly increasing number of people who are
ending up on dialysis following kidney failure.
"We
expect dialysis patients with kidney failure to double
from 10,000 to 20000 people in the next ten
years.
Despite diabetes being
the leading cause of kidney failure, accounting for 34%
of new dialysis patients in 2008 up 3% on 2007
less
than half of the people diagnosed with diabetes are
undergoing a simple screening test for kidney
disease"
Kidney Health Australia is highlighting the vital link between
diabetes and kidney disease to increase awareness of
patients with diabetes about their high risk of kidney
failure.
Dr Tim Mathew, Medical Director of
Kidney Health Australia said kidney disease is often detected too
late, when the patient is already in end-stage renal
failure and will need either dialysis or
transplantation.
"The
simple way to prevent these issues is to tackle the
problem at the source, and ensure early diagnosis of
kidney damage by systematically screening people
diagnosed with diabetes or hypertension."
Dr
Mathew said this can be done with simple and
inexpensive blood and urine tests.
"If
detected early, damage can be treated with effective
therapies. If diagnosed too late, kidney disease leads
to kidney failure, which entails dialysis and
transplantation.
"Kidney Health Australia is urging people at an increased risk of
kidney disease - those over 50 years, all diabetics and
those known to have high blood pressure - to visit
their local GP to request a simple test to check the
health of their kidneys."
Media
Enquiries:
Anne Wilson, CEO & Managing Director
Kidney Health Australia Mobile: 0400 165 391
Dr
Tim Mathew, Medical Director, Kidney Health
Australia Mobile: 0416 149 863
Ron Smith National Communications
Manager Kidney Health Australia
Media
Release 13 December
2009