KUALA LUMPUR: Some 8,000 Malaysians have been diagnosed with end-stage kidney disease that require them to undergo stage 5 dialysis treatment, annually.
Nephrologist Dr Lily Mushafar said between 65 and 70 per cent of chronic kidney disease patients in the country are those suffering from diabetes followed by those suffering from hypertension, kidney stones, chronic glomerulonephritis (inflammation of the tiny filters in the kidneys) and SLE (systemic lupus erythematous).
"That is why we encourage people who are 55 years old and above as well as those with a family history of kidney disease and kidney stones to undergo health screening at least once a year.
"Kidney disease is a silent killer since it will not display any warning signs (symptoms) until at a later stage.
"That is why we encourage all to undergo health screening to enable us to detect the disease early and provide the necessary treatment," said Dr Lily.
The head and consultant nephrologist at the nephrology department of the Tuanku Ja'afar Hospital in Seremban, Negri Sembilan was among the panellists during a "chit-chat session" held in conjunction with the launching ceremony of the MyBuahPinggang's website today.
Moderated by Putrajaya Hospital's nephrologist Dr Rafidah Abdullah, other panel members included Dr Nor Fadhlina Zakaria, a nephrologist attached with Universiti Putra Malaysia, and Khairul Shazwali Taib, a patient who had undergone a kidney transplant early last year.
At the same session, Dr Nor Fadhlina dismissed myths that medications prescribed by nephrologists compounded the condition of kidney disease patients.
"Apart from diabetes, hypertension and genetic diseases, other contributing factors to kidney problems are the consumption of painkillers and other medications that are not prescribed by medical personnel.
"Health and medical experts will not prescribe any medication that has side effects and detrimental towards the health condition of their patients," she said.
Meanwhile, Malaysian Society of Nephrology chairman Prof Dr Abd Halim Abdul Ghafor dismissed myths that taking supplements would help reverse the health condition of a kidney disease patient for the better.
Dr Abd Halim said the issue arose from unverified information that is available on social media platforms and some supplements' advertisements.
"When a person is diagnosed with kidney disease, of course, they or their family members want to help in alleviating the problem.
"Compounding the situation is the several information about studies and testimonies claiming that some types of supplements can help delay the process of a person undergoing dialysis treatment, highlighted in social media platforms.
"We also found out that studies (of taking supplements) that failed are not highlighted (in social media platforms)," said Dr Abd Halim.
He advised kidney disease patients or their family members to refer to doctors before taking any supplements.
Dr Abd Halim was among the three panellists of the second "chit-chat" session moderated by Dr Hirman Ismail, who is a public health expert with the Health Ministry. The other panellists are Dr Bryan Leong Chong Men, a nephrologist at the Kulim Hospital in Kedah, and MedTweetMy chairman Dr Khairul Hafidz Alkhair.
Dr Leong said the MyBuahPinggang's website is a good effort to counter misleading information on kidney disease and treatments that are available on social media platforms.
"Before this, there is no dedicated website that offers verified information related to kidney disease and its available treatment.
"I hope the website will educate the public and encourage them to undergo necessary screening and get the immediate treatment needed," he said.