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KIDNEY disease is on the rise and continues to be a major public health problem in Malaysia. It is often referred to as a silent killer, as only 5% of people with chronic kidney disease (CKD) are aware they have the disease.

In a nationwide population-based cross-sectional study published in 2020 on the prevalence of CKD and its associated factors in Malaysia, it was found that awareness of CKD diagnosis was still low at 5%.

People may not know they are experiencing loss in kidney function until they develop symptoms at the end stage. Early screening for high-risk groups, especially those with diabetes and hypertension, is important for early intervention to delay the progression of the disease.

It is important to manage CKD as early as possible so patients can live life uninterrupted without the need for dialysis or any forms of kidney replacement therapy for years. Through a simple blood test called a glomerular filtration rate (GFR) test, experts are able to determine the health of kidneys and assess the risk of CKD.

If CKD is at an early stage, there are certain early interventions that can be introduced to delay progression of disease and give the patient a better quality of life. We are concerned as the prevalence of CKD increased from 9.1% in the 2011 National Health and Morbidity survey to 15.5% in 2018.

The number of Malaysians requiring kidney replacement therapy is increasing while diabetes is the leading cause for end stage kidney failure in the country. The Malaysian Dialysis and Transplant Registry reported that 8,431 new patients received dialysis in 2018 and by the end of 2018 there were 44,136 patients on dialysis.

The number of end-stage kidney disease patients is estimated to reach 106,000 in 2040. This burden will cost the healthcare system an estimated RM3.2 billion annually.

As part of our awareness campaign for World Kidney Day this year, the Malaysian Society of Nephrology advises those who are at high risk of CKD, especially those with diabetes and hypertension, to ensure they go for routine GFR tests with their family doctors and not miss any follow-up appointments as regular monitoring can improve outcomes.

World Kidney Day on March 10 is a global campaign aimed at raising awareness on the importance of our kidneys to our overall health and reducing the frequency and impact of kidney disease and its associated health problems worldwide. The theme for this year’s World Kidney Day is Kidney Health for All. – The Vibes, March 10, 2022

Acute kidney failure

Overview

Acute kidney failure occurs when your kidneys suddenly become unable to filter waste products from your blood. When your kidneys lose their filtering ability, dangerous levels of wastes may accumulate, and your blood's chemical makeup may get out of balance.

Acute kidney failure — also called acute renal failure or acute kidney injury — develops rapidly, usually in less than a few days. Acute kidney failure is most common in people who are already hospitalized, particularly in critically ill people who need intensive care.

Acute kidney failure can be fatal and requires intensive treatment. However, acute kidney failure may be reversible. If you're otherwise in good health, you may recover normal or nearly normal kidney function.

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The gift of kidney transplant – ‘Kidney Health for All’

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THIS year’s World Kidney Day theme of ‘Kidney Health for All’ puts forth a global call for people to not only be aware of kidney disease, but to actively know what their own kidney health measures are. The 2022 campaign focuses on efforts to increase education and awareness about kidney health and on reducing the high chronic kidney disease (CKD) knowledge gap at all levels of kidney care.

Finding the life-saving puzzle piece
Dr Rosnawati Yahya, who is a leading specialist for kidney transplants in Malaysia, states that typically kidney transplant patients have the ability to live longer with a much better quality of life when compared to patients who opt for dialysis treatment. “Patients who are on haemodialysis usually need to go for their sessions around three times a week and use up nearly four hours of their time just to receive the treatment. This process is both tiring and costly,” she explains.

To better understand the actual process of undergoing a kidney transplant, Dr Rosnawati explains that finding a healthy kidney is usually a family affair. “When we broach the subject of looking for suitable donors, we will first seek out the patient’s parents or siblings, as more often than not, they will be the best match. If that is not accessible, we look toward their extended family. If we still can’t find anyone suitable from the immediate family, we try to reach out to in-laws, spouses, or even grandparents,” she elaborates.

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