Doctors in Abu Dhabi are urging patients to have their health checked as concerns increase over high levels of chronic kidney disease.
A two-year study involving more than 400,000 patients in the capital raised the alarm over the need for early detection.
Nearly 1.5 million blood test from patients in the Seha network were examined from December 2019 to December 2021.
The report found 19.1 per cent of those samples identified stage 2 chronic kidney disease, with 2.8 per cent at stage 3, 0.5 per cent at stage 4 and 0.4 per cent at stage 5.
End-of-stage kidney disease has a worse prognosis than most cancers and people don’t know this
Professor Stephen Holt,
director and chief executive of kidney care at Seha
The five stages of CKD refer to how well the kidneys are working. Kidney disease can get worse with time.
In the early stages of 1 to 3, kidneys are damaged but are still able to filter waste out of the blood. In the later stages of 4 to 5, the kidneys must work harder to filter blood and may stop functioning altogether.
Prof Stephen Holt, director and chief executive of kidney care at Seha, the UAE's largest healthcare network, was one of the authors of the study.
“Sadly we are not doing well. We have a higher rate of kidney disease than the rest of the world if we are looking at the current research,” he said.
Focus on prevention
“End-of-stage kidney disease has a worse prognosis than most cancers and people don’t know this. It makes me upset when I see people who could have avoided this and don’t know about it.”
Prof Holt, who was speaking on the sidelines of the International Conference for Initiatives on Organ and Tissue Donation and Transplantation in Abu Dhabi this week, spoke of the contributing factors behind the worrying levels of kidney disease, including diabetes and hypertension.
He said people can lose up to 90 per cent of their kidney function before they realise they need medical help.
“This is why we urge people to get a kidney function test. It is an easy test. We also want to promote a healthy lifestyle,” he said.
He said people should regularly check their blood pressure and highlighted how cardiovascular disease can lead to kidney problems.
Life-saving support
Seha Kidney Care provides comprehensive medical support for patients at its health facilities in Abu Dhabi.
So far this year they have carried out 57 kidney transplants, in which half of the organs donated were from deceased donors.
About 90 patients are currently on the waiting list for a transplant.
About 1,400 patients require kidney dialysis.
Kidney dialysis is the process of removing excess water, solutes, and toxins from the blood in people whose kidneys can no longer perform these functions naturally.
“Kidney transplants make a huge difference for patients who are on dialysis. We would like to take patients off dialysis and on to something that could sustain them for many years,” Prof Holt said.
“If we had more kidneys we would be able to transplant everyone. That would be a dream.”
Seha Kidney Care has introduced overnight dialysis services for the first time.
This allows for longer periods of treatment to be carried out while the patient sleeps.
There are currently eight patients on overnight dialysis.
Screening is crucial
Dr Muriel Ghosn, staff physician in the nephrology department at Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, said it is easy to be tested for kidney problems, and could be vitally important.
"Screening for kidney diseases is important because renal failure is asymptomatic and the only way to detect renal insufficiency and identify risk factors for deterioration of kidney function is via blood and urine tests, which are easy to get."
She said taking this step "allows for many simple protective strategies to be implemented that will help preserve and even improve kidney function over time".
"This includes adequate diabetes and hypertension control", she said, as well as "the avoidance of medications or supplements that affect negatively the kidney function".
Dr Sagar Jujjavarapu, a consultant nephrologist for Healthpoint in Abu Dhabi, said hypertension, diabetes and obesity are key triggers for kidney disease.
"Most people with kidney disease are not aware of their condition and do not exhibit symptoms until the disease reaches an advanced stage," Dr Jujjavarapu said.
"Early detection of kidney disease helps clinicians to deliver effective treatment at earlier stages of the disease to prevent further progression, which could at times lead to kidney failure."
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
RESULT
Manchester United 1 Brighton and Hove Albion 0
Man United: Dunk (66' og)
Man of the Match: Shane Duffy (Brighton)
Brief scores:
Everton 0
Leicester City 1
Vardy 58'
How%20champions%20are%20made
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Company%20Profile
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
1971: The Year The Music Changed Everything
Director: Asif Kapadia
4/5
England Test squad
Joe Root (captain), Moeen Ali, James Anderson, Jonny Bairstow (wicketkeeper), Stuart Broad, Jos Buttler, Alastair Cook, Sam Curran, Keaton Jennings, Dawid Malan, Jamie Porter, Adil Rashid, Ben Stokes.
Cultural fiesta
What: The Al Burda Festival
When: November 14 (from 10am)
Where: Warehouse421, Abu Dhabi
The Al Burda Festival is a celebration of Islamic art and culture, featuring talks, performances and exhibitions. Organised by the Ministry of Culture and Knowledge Development, this one-day event opens with a session on the future of Islamic art. With this in mind, it is followed by a number of workshops and “masterclass” sessions in everything from calligraphy and typography to geometry and the origins of Islamic design. There will also be discussions on subjects including ‘Who is the Audience for Islamic Art?’ and ‘New Markets for Islamic Design.’ A live performance from Kuwaiti guitarist Yousif Yaseen should be one of the highlights of the day.
Countries recognising Palestine
France, UK, Canada, Australia, Portugal, Belgium, Malta, Luxembourg, San Marino and Andorra
The biog
Name: Younis Al Balooshi
Nationality: Emirati
Education: Doctorate degree in forensic medicine at the University of Bonn
Hobbies: Drawing and reading books about graphic design
If you go
Flight connections to Ulaanbaatar are available through a variety of hubs, including Seoul and Beijing, with airlines including Mongolian Airlines and Korean Air. While some nationalities, such as Americans, don’t need a tourist visa for Mongolia, others, including UAE citizens, can obtain a visa on arrival, while others including UK citizens, need to obtain a visa in advance. Contact the Mongolian Embassy in the UAE for more information.
Nomadic Road offers expedition-style trips to Mongolia in January and August, and other destinations during most other months. Its nine-day August 2020 Mongolia trip will cost from $5,250 per person based on two sharing, including airport transfers, two nights’ hotel accommodation in Ulaanbaatar, vehicle rental, fuel, third party vehicle liability insurance, the services of a guide and support team, accommodation, food and entrance fees; nomadicroad.com
A fully guided three-day, two-night itinerary at Three Camel Lodge costs from $2,420 per person based on two sharing, including airport transfers, accommodation, meals and excursions including the Yol Valley and Flaming Cliffs. A return internal flight from Ulaanbaatar to Dalanzadgad costs $300 per person and the flight takes 90 minutes each way; threecamellodge.com
Abu Dhabi racecard
5pm: Maiden (Purebred Arabians); Dh80,000; 1,400m.
5.30pm: Maiden (PA); Dh80,00; 1,400m.
6pm: Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan National Day Cup (PA); Group 3; Dh500,000; 1,600m.
6.30pm: Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan National Day Cup (Thoroughbred); Listed; Dh380,000; 1,600m
7pm: Wathba Stallions Cup for Private Owners Handicap (PA); Dh70,000; 1,400m.
7.30pm: Handicap (PA); Dh80,000; 1,600m
The specs
Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
Transmission: seven-speed
Power: 620bhp
Torque: 760Nm
Price: Dh898,000
On sale: now
The biog
DOB: March 13, 1987
Place of birth: Jeddah, Saudi Arabia but lived in Virginia in the US and raised in Lebanon
School: ACS in Lebanon
University: BSA in Graphic Design at the American University of Beirut
MSA in Design Entrepreneurship at the School of Visual Arts in New York City
Nationality: Lebanese
Status: Single
Favourite thing to do: I really enjoy cycling, I was a participant in Cycling for Gaza for the second time this year
