Media
Release
17 June 2010
Men
Urged to Have Health Checks for Family's
Sake
Impact
on their family can include financial, sexual
relationships and long term depression.
Structure of
the kidneys and bladder
 |
Have
a regular kidney check for the sake of your family
is the message for Australian men from Kidney Health
Australia.
Australian males are being placed onto dialysis
at a rate 154% higher than women.
Anne
Wilson, CEO
and Managing Director of Kidney Health Australia
said the reluctance of men to talk about health issues
and see their GPs for a regular check up can have
a major impact on their family including financial,
sexual relationships and long term depression.
"What we are
saying to Australian men is that Chronic Kidney Disease
(CKD) can be detected with a simple test and it is
treatable."
Ms
Wilson said CKD, which contributes to the deaths
of 50 people every day in Australia,
is known as the silent killer because people can lose up
to 90% of the use of their kidneys before feeling
sick.
Regular checks are vital in detection and
treatment.
Dr
Tim
Mathew, Medical Director of Kidney Health Australia
said Australian
men are being accepted onto dialysis programs at a rate
154% higher than women according to latest figures. In
Australia
in 2008, 1503 men and 973 women started
dialysis.
"Men at high
risk of Chronic Kidney Disease should request regular
kidney checks when they visit their GP in the
same way people are now conditioned to ask for checks
for prostate cancer, heart disease, blood pressure or
diabetes."
Dr Mathew said that given the overall
population in Australia
where the sex ratio is about equal it is surprising to
see such a large difference in the acceptance rate. The
gap has been steadily widening over the last 25 years
with the increase in men undertaking dialysis rising
from 53% in 1982 to the current 61% with the
increase occurring in men at all ages.
"The gender issues identified in CKD and all
of its stages will need to be addressed as part of
future health planning and the provision of dialysis
services which are expected to double to 20,000 by 2020
with an ageing population."
Media Enquiries:
Anne Wilson, CEO & Managing Director, Kidney Health
Australia Mobile: 0400 165
391
Dr Tim Mathew, Medical Director, Kidney Health
Australia Mobile: 0416
149 863
Ron Smith, National Media
Communications, Kidney Health Australia Mobile: 0417 329
201
