KUALA LUMPUR: More Malaysians are suffering from chronic kidney disease (CKD), with diabetes being the leading cause for end stage kidney failure in the country.
Kidney disease, according to Malaysian Society of Nephrology president Professor Dr Abdul Halim Abdul Gafor, is a "silent-killer" because only five per cent of people with the condition are aware of it.
"People may not know they are experiencing loss in kidney functions until they develop symptoms at the end stage.
"A nationwide population-based cross-sectional study on the prevalence of CKD and its associated factors in Malaysia, that was published in 2020, found that awareness of CKD diagnosis was still low at five per cent.
"Early screening for high-risk groups, especially those with diabetes and hypertension, is important for intervention to delay the progression of the disease.
"Through a simple blood test called a Glomerular Filtration Rate (GFR) test, experts are able to determine the health of kidneys and assess the risk of CKD.
"It is important to manage CKD as early as possible so the patient can live life uninterrupted without the need for dialysis or any forms of kidney replacement therapy for years," he said in a statement.
Dr Abdul Halim said, the National Health and Morbidity survey found that CKD cases had climbed from 9.1 per cent in 2011 to 15.5 per cent in 2018. The number of Malaysians requiring kidney therapy has also been increasing.
The Malaysian Dialysis and Transplant Registry, he said, reported that 8,431 new patients received dialysis at the start of 2018. But, by the end of 2018, dialysis cases increased by over five-fold to 44,136 patients.
By 2040, he said, the number of End Stage Kidney Disease (ESKD) patients would reach 106,000. This burden would cost the healthcare system an estimated RM3.2 billion annually.
'As part of our awareness campaign for World Kidney Day this year, MSN advises those who are at high risk of CKD, especially those with diabetes and hypertension, to ensure they go for routine GFR tests with their family doctor and not miss any follow-up appointments as regular monitoring can improve outcomes," he added.
World Kidney Day is observed on March 10 every year, and this year's theme is "Kidney Health for All".