Chronic Kidney Disease surge among youth

Dr Mensah Amoah

Seventy per cent of people with Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) cases in Ghana are between the ages of 20-50 years, a Physician Specialist at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH), Dr Mensah Amoah has disclosed.

This, he attributed to uncontrolled hypertension and seconded by CKD of uncertain cause. 

Dr Amoah mentioned that abusing drugs such as ibuprofen, diclofenac, herbal medicines could cause the disease.

Also, he said underlying health conditions such as urologic diseases, diabetes, high blood pressure and glomerulonephritis could put one at risk of having CKD.

Dr Amoah who is also a Nephrology Fellow at KBTH said this on Tuesday, at a seminar organised by the Level 400 students of the Public Health Nurses’ School in Accra.

The seminar was held on the topic “high rate of kidney diseases, incidence and its implications: a condition of public health concern.”

He said 70 per cent of kidney disease cases were presented at the latter stages, most often at the fourth or fifth stage, adding that majority of the cases of End Stage Kidney Disease (ESKD) die within the first year after diagnosis due to limited resources to care for such patients.

He said in Ghana, the prevalence rate of CKD at various stages is about 14 to 17 per cent compared to 10 per cent globally, indicating a higher rate than that of the global statistics.

Globally, Dr Amoah said majority of the cases are in the developing countries with limited resources, adding that 850 million people worldwide are living with the disease.

He said the disease kills 2.4 million people globally in a year, making it the sixth fastest growing cause of death worldwide.

Currently, CKD, he said was not curable and its cost of care was high, adding that “it can cause people to need care for the rest of their lives which could lead to emotional and physical distress.”

He said symptoms of the disease include frothy or smoky urine, leg and facial swellings in the mornings and fatigue.

With regard to diagnosis, the Physician Specialist said most facilities have clinicians who can detect kidney diseases and conduct laboratory tests, adding that with treatment, most doctors could administer medications at the early stage to treat and control the risk factors of the disease.

Dr Amoah said the country will risk losing its youth to chronic kidney disease if prevention and early detection and intervention was not a priority.

“For those at the end stage kidney disease who need dialysis, we need to put our hands together as a country to take care of them because the average Ghanaian  cannot afford  to sustain lifelong dialysis let alone pay for kidney transplantation,” he  added.

He called on policy makers to find resources to support about 50 to 70 per cent of treatment to improve and prolong the lifespan of patients.

Dr Amoah also urged Ghanaians to reduce the intake of salt and sugar, consume a lot of fibre, fruits and vegetables, exercise regularly, maintain a healthy weight and also avoid alcohol and cigarette.

By Jemima Esinam Kuatsinu