Various studies have found that around 10% of Indians are affected by chronic kidney disease. This is an alarming situation in the Indian healthcare scenario as chronic kidney disease can lead to heart disease and stroke if left unattended. No wonder experts around the globe call CKD a neglected public health crisis, considering the ignorance towards early signs and symptoms of CKD. To get hold of more information, we reached out to Dr Tanmay Pandya, HOD & Director - Nephrology & Renal Transplantation, Sarvodaya Hospital, Faridabad who answered most asked questions about chronic kidney disease in India.
Is it true that kidney diseases are increasing in India?
Dr Pandya answers, “Yes, that’s a sad reality.”
Old data suggests that every year about 2.5 lakh new patients join the dialysis pool, but only a small portion of these actually receive the necessary treatment. Most people are unaware of them having a kidney disease which progresses over time. Thus, by the time they get to know about their health condition, it has already progressed. This is why the cases of CKD are on a constant rise in the country.
But why is that so?
As per Dr Pandya, “Diabetes and high BP are leading causes of kidney diseases in India. Now the incidence of these NCDs (non-communicable diseases) is increasing at an alarming rate, and consequently kidney diseases are on the rise. Also, detection and diagnosis of kidney diseases is increasing, and so is the healthcare reach. These factors also add up to an increasing incidence of CKD.”
Also Read: Watch Out For These 7 Common Habits That May Be Damaging Your Kidneys
What are the main causes of kidney failure?
“According to data from various studies in India and globally, diabetes is the number one cause of kidney failure. It accounts for 30 to 40% of all cases,” answers Dr Pandya. Other potential causes of kidney failure are high blood pressure, recurring kidney stones or infections, excessive use of painkillers, use of unregulated ‘health supplements’, unhealthy lifestyle and genetics.
What’s the impact of pollution on kidney disease?
The most ignored or lesser known causing factor of CKD is pollution. According to Dr Pandya, “Most of us think air pollution affects our lungs. While that is the case, it also affects kidney health. Soil and water pollution also adversely affects kidneys. Contamination of food, water and air by pollutants like heavy metals and carcinogens leads to kidney damage. Also, we cannot forget food adulteration, which is rampant in India, and is an emerging cause of kidney related disorders.”
Also Read: Dietary Do's and Don'ts for Kidney Health: Nourishing Your Body and Protecting Your Kidneys
Final Word
Chronic kidney disease at the mildest stage is mostly asymptomatic which is one of the primary reasons why it gets undiagnosed. As the disease progresses, the symptoms worsen and call for immediate treatment. Therefore, awareness and vigilance are of utmost importance. We need to make people learn about warning signs of kidney disease so that they can get themselves checked and identify underlying issues timely. Additionally, we must not forget that a healthy body requires proper nutrition and an active lifestyle. So, eat clean and be physically active to avert a lot of lifestyle diseases that trigger chronic kidney disease.