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22 May 2008
Kidney disease – no warning signs
The key message during Kidney Health Week (24 – 31 May), is the importance of
early detection and prevention of kidney disease in the community.
Lifestyle diseases such as diabetes and high blood pressure are both major risk
factors for kidney disease and have been steadily on the rise over the last few
decades.
Diabetes is the number one cause of kidney failure in Australia and is closely
linked to the rising rates of obesity in our community.
One in three Australians have a higher risk of developing kidney disease if they
have one or more of the following risk factors: diabetes; high blood pressure
(hypertension); obesity; are over 50 years of age; smoke; have a family history
of kidney disease, or are of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent.
People are encouraged to live a healthy lifestyle and have a regular kidney
health check, particularly those in the ‘at risk’ groups.
Director of the St George and Sutherland Hospital Renal Service, Professor Mark
Brown, said that the number of patients needing dialysis continues to rise.
"More than 21,700 treatments were administered to 150 haemodialysis patients at
St George Hospital in 2007, and our Department now looks after about 230
dialysis patients and 110 transplant patients,” Professor Brown said.
"At the newly-opened Bill Gilmour Centre, Sutherland Renal Dialysis Unit at
Sutherland Hospital, more than 850 treatments have been administered to 24 renal
patients since March this year.
"Both Hospitals provide haemodialysis treatment to renal patients three times
per week, for up to five hours each time. The remainder have dialysis at
home and this is our preferred option as it gives patients greater freedom and
quality of life,” he said.
Professor Brown said that 38 new patients were seen in the Pre-Dialysis Clinic
at St George Hospital last year.
"These patients are provided with dialysis options, education, pharmacy, social
work, nutritional assessment and review by a vascular access nurse.
"In addition, 98 patients remain on the pre-dialysis pathway and are being
managed as a pre-dialysis patient at the Clinic prior to the commencement of
treatment,” Professor Brown said.
"People need to be made aware of the risk factors for kidney disease. The
progression to kidney failure can be significantly slowed if kidney disease is
detected early and managed appropriately,” he said.
Media Enquiries: Media and Communications Officer Maxine Brennan
9113 2601, 0413 028 776
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