'Protect Your Kidneys - Control Diabetes'

World Kidney Day (WKD) is a global health awareness campaign focusing on the importance of our kidneys and reducing the frequency and impact of kidney disease and its associated health problems worldwide and is celebrated annually on the second Thursday of March.

The 2010 - our fifth World Kidney Day will focus on diabetes, the most common cause of kidney failure. To support World Kidneyy Day global kidney health information and generic promotion resources at About kidney disease and WKD Campaign Resources.

In 2009 - the fourth World Kidney Day highlighted the importance of high blood pressure as one of the key symptoms and causes of Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) and was a formidable success with 370 different events taking place in 100 countries and territories across 6 continents. Participating organizations around the world issued a call for action to measure and manage high blood pressure and organised screening events to detect Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD).

A joint initiative of the and the www.worldkidneyday.org

Kidney Health Australia has been a proud IFKF Council Member from the IFKF's inception in 2000.

Kidney diseases are Common, Harmful and Treatable

COMMON

More than 5% of the adult population have some form of kidney damage, and every year millions die prematurely of cardiovascular diseases linked to Chronic Kidney Diseases (CKD).

Common causes of CKD include inflammatory diseases of the kidney, infections, obstruction in the urinary tract and inherited disorders like polycystic kidney disease. But in both developed and developing nations diabetes and hypertension are becoming the most common causes of CKD, especially in older people. These are also the most common causes of cardiovascular disease (CVD).

The first consequence of undetected CKD is the risk of developing progressive loss of kidney function leading to kidney failure and the need for dialysis treatment or a kidney transplant. The second is premature death from associated cardiovascular disease. Individuals who appear to be healthy who are then found to have CKD have an increased risk of dying prematurely from CVD (coronary disease, cerebrovascular disease, peripheral artery disease, and heart failure) regardless of whether they ever develop kidney failure. Current Global Snapshot of CKD - Kidney disease is very common, it affects an increasing number of people and cultures from continent to continent. It is estimated that approximately 400-600 million adults worldwide have chronic kidney disease. It is a harmful. The first consequence of undetected CKD is the risk of developing progressive loss of kidney function leading to kidney failure and the need for dialysis treatment or a kidney transplant to maintain life. The second is premature death from associated cardiovascular disease. Most importantly, most forms of kidney disease are treatable, its progression can often be curtailed particularly if caught early. Early detection and treatment can often keep chronic kidney disease from getting worse, and can prevent the need for dialysis or a transplant.

TREATABLE

Detection: Kidney disease can be detected early. Simple laboratory tests are done on small samples of blood (to measure creatinine content and estimate GFR) and on urine (to measure creatinine and albumin excretion). The majority of individuals with early stages of CKD go undiagnosed, particularly in the developing world. The early detection of kidney impairment is essential and allows suitable treatment before kidney damage or cardiovascular problems occur.

Screening: Must be a priority for those people considered to be at high risk of kidney disease, namely:

Patients with diabetes mellitus and hypertension
Individuals who are obese or smoke
Individuals over 50 years of age
Individuals with a family history of kidney disease, diabetes mellitus or hypertension

HARMFUL

Snapshot of CKD in Australia - see also our Fast Facts on CKD in Australia webpage

1 in 3 adults is at increased risk of developing CKD
1 in 7 adults have at least one clinical sign of existing CKD
A person can lose up to 90% of their kidney function before experiencing any symptoms
Approximately 2 million Australians may be affected by early-stage kidney disease and don't know it
Over 40 Australians die of kidney failure each day
11.3% of all deaths in Australia are due to, or associated with, kidney failure
Every day, 6 Australians commence expensive dialysis or transplantation to stay alive
It costs approximately $60,000 per annum to keep a person alive on dialysis
Most people with CKD will die from cardiovascular causes before requiring dialysis or transplantation
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders experience excessive death and disability due to CKD
The dialysis-dependent population has risen by an average of 8% per year over the past decade, and is being fuelled by the ageing population, and Type 2 diabetes epidemic

Chronic, non-communicable diseases and CKD - Chronic health conditions such as cardiovascular disease, hypertension, diabetes mellitus and chronic kidney disease have now replaced the communicable diseases as the leading threat to public health and health budgets worldwide. Deaths claimed by infectious diseases will decline by 3% over the next decade. In marked contrast, chronic diseases – that already account for 72% of the total global burden of disease in people over 30 – will increase by 17%. Much of this in developing countries.

The cost of treating these chronic diseases, already 80% of many health care budgets, represents a leading threat to public health and healthcare resources worldwide. The only feasible global response to this pending health and socio-economic crisis is chronic disease prevention. Promoting early detection and prevention of CKD will be an important step towards achieving the World Health Organization (WHO) recommended goal of reducing death rates related to chronic disease in the world by 2% per year over the next decade.

Key preventative measures - The seveng olden rules to note for prevention of chronic kidney disease, defined and proven successful in protecting against both renal and cardiovascular disease:

Reduction of high blood pressure - the lower the blood pressure, the slower the GFR decline
Specific medications to reduce proteinuria as well as lower blood pressure - ACE inhibitors/ARBs
Reduce salt intake to lower blood pressure
Control of glucose, blood lipids and anemia
Smoking cessation
Increased physical activity
Control of body weight

Treatment - Clinical research over the last decade has shown the potential benefit of blockade of the renin-angiotensin system by ACEs and ARBs to significantly reduce the burden of disease from CVD, diabetes, hypertension and CKD at relatively low cost.

Find many more interesting Kidney Health Australia Fact Sheets and Publications on our website. If you are a teacher go to our Schools Resources webpage. Use our Resource Order Form to order any item listed.

World Kidney Day Event 2009 - Australia

To celebrate World Kidney Day we proudly announced that Australian motor racing legend Sir Jack Brabham OBE united with REPCO to fight chronic kidney disease. This is the company that he combined with to create the foundation of Australian motor sport some fifty years ago.

Sir Jack Brabham, who suffers from kidney failure and his wife Lady Margaret Brabham are patrons of Kidney Health Australia. Sir Brabham said "Living with kidney failure has been one of the toughest drives of my life and the support of REPCO in assisting the Australian community become more aware of Chronic Kidney Disease will be a major boost to the prevention of the disease in Australia and the work of Kidney Health Australia." Read more detail here.

Kidney Health Australia has warned of the link between kidney disease and high blood pressure indicating that 80% of those with kidney failure suffer from high blood pressure. With 40 Australians daily dying of kidney failure Kidney Health Australia urges Australians to "keep the pressure down"!

Billy and Betty Kidney with Anne Wilson, CEO Kidney Health Australia with a basket of fruit and vegetables and Anita Narduzzo, kidney transplant recipient at the family's fruit and vegetable stall at Prahran Market.

World Kidney Day shopping rally at Prahran Market.

Tim Mathieson, Kidney Health Australia Ambassador had his blood pressure taken by Lydia Lauder
of Kidney Health Australia to officially launch the day. Megan Young, transplant recipient and
Joshua Donchi of Kidney Health Australia observed the result.

Updated 7 December 2009