Chronic Kidney Disease By Dr. Nimish Gupta

Any disease which affect kidneys for prolonged duration (usually for more than 3 months) is referred to as chronic kidney disease. Early diagnosis and management can significantly delay and prevent morbidity and mortality associated with it.

Prevalence of Kidney diseases in India is on rise. Diabetes is the commonest cause of chronic renal failure worldwide and in India as well. India being diabetic capital of world boasts of around whopping 72.96 million cases as per ministry of health and family welfare India. Apart from good sugar control, good blood pressure control is imperative and high blood pressure often neglected for being ‘age related’. Due to other associated medical conditions and pill burden, simple yet effective dietary interventions are often ignored. Patients are often attracted to non-proven therapies because of unrealistic claims they offer.

Second most common cause of prolonged kidney disease in India is chronic disease of unknown etiology (CKDu). As per various Indian registries it accounts for around 16 percent among all the causes. It is commonly seen in hot climatic conditions and various heavy metals, unknown toxins could be partly responsible.

The major problem with chronic kidney diseases is that it may not show any symptoms in early stages. As disease progress it usually show some swelling around face and feet, lethargy, loss of appetite and nausea. Sometimes individual get to know the disease only when it progress to later stages.

High degree of suspicion for kidney diseases is the key for early diagnosis and management. Kidney diseases in early stages could be easily controlled by simple measures like blood pressure control, dietary management and compliance. Contrary to popular belief there is no expensive drug to improve kidney function per se and to improve “serum creatinine” by which we estimate kidney function.

Unproven and unnecessary treatment push kidney patients further closer to renal replacement therapies commonly referred to as dialysis.

Even if in later stages if patient is planned for dialysis-early referral, planned management and compliance assures healthy and fruitful life for many years.

Renal transplantation is the treatment of choice for end stage renal disease, if there is no contraindication. Number of live related transplants are rising in number with impressive success rates but India lagging far behind in kidney donation after death.

Kidney diseases affect every organ of the body right from head to toe, educating people In general and ’Right advice at Right time’ is the need of the hour.

Dr.Anurag Aggarwal

Sr. Consultant – Orthopaedics & Joint Replacement

Metro Hospital Faridabad