Chronic kidney disease is widely undetected, perhaps more so in Hawai’i, according to the National Kidney Foundation. In its study published today in the February issue of American Journal of Kidney Diseases, an average of one person in nine who
Chronic kidney disease is widely undetected, perhaps more so in Hawai’i, according to the National Kidney Foundation.
In its study published today in the February issue of American Journal of Kidney Diseases, an average of one person in nine who is 20 or older is at increased risk or already has chronic kidney disease and doesn’t know it. This translates to 40 million people nationwide, or almost 200,000 in Hawai’i. Residents of the aloha state are at a 30 percent higher risk than the national average, the kidney association said.
The association said clinical guidelines will help diagnose kidney disease earlier. Those most at risk have high blood pressure, diabetes or a family history of kidney disease.
Others in high-risk categories include Hawaiians, Filipinos, Japanese and the elderly.
The kidney foundation’s Hawai’i organization urges state residents to take advantage of the foundation’s free kidney screenings, and to ask their physicians for three routine tests — a blood test for creatinine, a urine test for protein and measurement of blood pressure.
Early detection and treatment of chronic kidney disease, including lifestyle changes and medications such as angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and angiotensin receptor blockers, may delay or prevent the progression of kidney disease. Strict blood pressure control in chronic kidney disease also reduces the risk of kidney failure.
Honolulu nephrologist Roland Ng said early detection is the only answer to Hawaii’s high rate of kidney failure.
“Hawaii’s dialysis population is comprised of approximately 50 percent diabetics, which is much higher than the mainland dialysis population,” he said.
Ng pointed out that while pre-screening diabetics is important, this only reaches half of those at risk.
“Not everyone who gets kidney disease is in the at-risk category. Not everyone will show early warning signs,” the doctor said, underscoring the importance of routine tests.
Left untreated, chronic kidney disease may ultimately lead to kidney failure, requiring a kidney transplant or dialysis for survival. Without intervention, the number of kidney failure patients in the U.S. is expected to more than double by 2010, meaning the dialysis population will exceed 3,000 at a projected cost to Medicare (and therefore all taxpayers) of $130 million in Hawai’i and $28 billion nationwide.
“We need to stop this terrible disease,” Ng said.
