World Kidney Day

World Kidney Day

March 3 2009

Chronic Kidney Disease & High Blood Pressure – a potentially deadly combination

World Kidney Day on March 12 is being held to raise awareness of the role of the kidney in maintaining good health.  Throughout the country a number of special events, aimed at promoting awareness of kidney disorders and encouraging a healthy lifestyle, are being led by Kidney Health New Zealand.

The theme for 2009 is "Keep the pressure down" to highlight the role of high blood pressure as one of the key symptoms and causes of chronic kidney disease (CKD).  The international event aims to raise awareness about the role of the kidney in health and the need for early screening for people at increased risk of kidney disease.

“One in five New Zealanders has hypertension,” says Professor Kelvin Lynn, Kidney Health New Zealand’s Medical Director.  “High blood pressure can independently cause CKD, contribute to its development or even be the result of CKD. “The treatment of high blood pressure is the most important part of the management of all forms of CKD,” says Dr Lynn.

It is estimated that four out of five patients with CKD have high blood pressure. “Treatment of raised blood pressure slows the progression of CKD and makes it less likely that a patient will require dialysis or suffer from heart or other cardiovascular diseases,” says Dr Lynn.

Lifestyle changes, including regular exercise and a diet low in salt and unsaturated fats, can have a profound impact on blood pressure and overall health.  Weight loss – even as little as three to four kilograms – and a reduced alcohol intake can also have a dramatic impact on blood pressure.  Non smokers have a reduced incidence of heart or kidney disease so stopping smoking is also encouraged.

In addition to lifestyle changes, most people with hypertension will require medication to achieve the desired lowering in blood pressure. Some drugs, such as ACE inhibitors, offer kidney protection as well as the other benefits of lowering blood pressure, particularly in people with diabetic kidney disease.

To highlight how easy it is to screen for kidney disease, Kidney Health New Zealand, with the help of kidney nurses and doctors from Wellington Hospital, will be offering blood pressure and urine protein checks for Members of Parliament and their staff at Parliament Buildings on World Kidney Day.

Lion Nathan has also agreed to Kidney Health New Zealand offering their staff education on kidney health, and blood pressure and urine protein checks at their three facilities in Auckland and their offices in Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin.

Prevention is our best chance of coping with this global health problem.  If discovered early enough, CKD is treatable. The main problem is that studies show up to 90% of CKD goes undiagnosed in the early stages,” according to Dr Lynn.   “By making people more aware of CKD, and educating them as to who is at the highest risk and how to look after their kidneys, we hope to cut the number of people reaching the stage where they need dialysis and transplantation.

The fourth World Kidney Day will be marked in more than 100 countries. 

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