World Kidney Day: Specialists urge early screening

Mangaluru: On World Kidney Day, city hospitals urged people to undergo early kidney screening to improve diagnosis, treatment and long-term management of kidney-related diseases.Addressing reporters Thursday, Dr Ashok Bhat, senior consultant, nephrology, KMC Hospital, said the day highlights the need to detect kidney disease early, as symptoms often surface only in advanced stages. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle, controlling blood pressure and blood sugar, staying hydrated, and taking routine blood and urine tests can significantly reduce the risk, he said. Early preventive measures are crucial for long-term kidney health, he added, advising people to consult a nephrologist for customised guidance.Dr Sushanth Kumar, senior consultant, nephrology, KMC, said not all kidney diseases lead to dialysis. Dialysis usually begins in Stage 5 chronic kidney disease, or when severe symptoms and complications appear, he said. According to him, kidney transplantation is the best treatment option for chronic kidney disease or kidney failure when compared to dialysis. He said the hospital has a high transplant success rate, particularly with relative donors or deceased donors. On deceased organ donation, he said the govt-supported Jeeva Sarthakathe programme is in place, while live donor transplants are handled by the hospital's authority committee under the Organ Transplantation Act.Indiana Hospital and Heart Institute also observed World Kidney Day under the theme ‘Kidney Health For All — Caring for people, protecting the planet'.Addressing reporters, Dr Pradeep KJ, senior consultant nephrologist and kidney transplant specialist, and Dr Anwitha Varmudy, consultant nephrologist, urged the public to prioritise early screening and awareness to reduce the long-term burden of kidney disease. They said regular health checks, especially for diabetics and other high-risk groups, help detect kidney problems early and prevent complications.They said dialysis improves the quality of life for patients with kidney failure, but it is not a cure and often requires lifelong treatment. A kidney transplant, they said, can help patients lead a near-normal life. They recommended routine screening tests, such as serum creatinine, blood sugar, urine analysis, and an abdominal ultrasound, for early detection of kidney damage and assessment of kidney function.Calling chronic kidney disease a ‘silent killer', the doctors said it can often be prevented through a healthy diet and proper control of blood pressure and blood sugar levels, especially among people with risk factors.Indiana Hospital said it is offering kidney check-up and screening packages for two days from March 13.