12 February
2008
World Kidney Expert to Visit Roxby Downs
One of the world's leading experts on kidney disease will
visit Roxby Downs later this month to observe Australia's first
national screening program for chronic kidney disease.
Image right: Anne Wilson CEO Kidney Health Australia
Kidney Health Australia with the support of the Federal
Government and BHP Billiton has organised KEY - 'Kidney
Evaluation for You', an early detection program to evaluate
kidney function, cardiovascular health and diabetes in high risk
individuals to be carried out in Roxby Downs.
Anne Wilson CEO of
Kidney Health Australia said, "Professor Allan Collins, Professor of
Medicine at the University of Minnesota School of Medicine, and
Director of Chronic Disease Research Group at Minneapolis Medical
Research Foundation who is in Australia to lecture on Chronic Kidney
Disease, will visit Roxby Downs on 27 February, 2008.
Professor Collins is also the Director and Principal Investigator
for the U.S. Renal Data System Coordinating Center and Director of
the National Kidney Foundation's (NKF) Kidney Early Evaluation
Program (KEEP) Data Coordinating Center.
Professor Collins's research interests include epidemiology and
risk factor analysis of hemodialysis patient survival, capitation
analysis for end-stage renal disease patients and chronic kidney
disease clinical and economic outcomes.
Ms Wilson said, "With 1 in 3 Australian adults at increased risk
of developing CKD, Roxby Downs, Andamooka and Woomera residents who
are in the "high risk" category can book in to have a free KEY
health check by calling Kidney Health Australia toll free on 1800
682 531.
KEY is free and will be available on Monday 25th February at
Andamooka Community Health Service, Tuesday 26th February and Friday
29th February at Roxby Downs Health Services and Saturday 1st March
at Woomera Community Hospital.
Those in the high risk group include:
Anyone 50 years and above or 35 years and above if of Aboriginal
and/or Torres Strait Islander origin
Anyone with diabetes
Anyone with high blood pressure (on or not on treatment)
Anyone with a first degree relative (mother, father, brother or
sister) with kidney disease
Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) is often referred to as the "silent
killer" as 80 -90% of kidney function can be lost before an
individual experiences any symptoms. Yet the level of awareness of
CKD amongst the general public and health professionals is low and
many risk factors of CKD are modifiable.
Dr Tim Mathew Medical Director of Kidney Health Australia who
will be in Roxby Downs for the program said, "a KEY program is vital
in Australia to reduce the burden of kidney disease and kidney
failure and this program at Roxby Downs could be the start of one of
the most important and effective primary care programs to manage CKD
in Australia."
Fast Facts on CKD in Australia
Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) is a significant and growing public
health problem, responsible for substantial burden of illness and
premature mortality. In Australia, it is a fact that:
1 in 3 adults is at increased risk of developing CKD
1 in 7 adults has at least one clinical sign of existing CKD
A person can lose up to 90% of their kidney function before
experiencing any symptoms
Approximately 2 million Australians may be affected by
early-stage kidney disease and don't know it
Over 40 Australians die of kidney failure each day
11.3% of all deaths in Australia are due to, or associated with,
kidney failure
Every day, 6 Australians commence expensive dialysis or
transplantation to stay alive
Most people with CKD will die from cardiovascular causes before
requiring dialysis or transplantation
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders experience excessive
death and disability due to CKD
The dialysis-dependent population has risen by an average of 8%
per year over the past decade, and is being fuelled by the ageing
population, and Type 2 diabetes epidemic
It costs approximately $60,000 per annum to keep a person alive
on dialysis
There is consistent evidence that with proper medications and
management, the number of people with kidney failure can be
significantly reduced. However, early stages of kidney disease often
go unrecognised, and the knowledge of what can be done to help
patients is often not applied.
www.kidney.org.au
Media Enquiries:
Anne Wilson, CEO Kidney Health Australia
Mobile: 0400 165 391
Dr Tim Mathew, Medical Director Kidney
Health Australia Mobile: 0416 149 863
Olivia Corso CKD Early
Detection Project Manager Mobile: 0421 545 916
Ron Smith
Media Communications Kidney Health Australia Mobile: 0417 329 201
