Number of kidney patients to rise with life expectancy

Bangladesh Renal Association, Kidney Foundation, and the Kidney Awareness Monitoring and Prevention Society bring out a procession from before the capital's Institute of Diploma Engineers, Bangladesh observing World Kidney Day. Photo: Star

While kidney disease treatment facilities in Bangladesh remain inadequate and expensive, the number of patients is likely to increase in tune with the average life expectancy, said experts on the organ at a discussion yesterday.
As the aging population tends to suffer from high blood pressure, diabetes and obesity, they are always at risk of kidney failure. Above all, kidneys gradually lose functionality after the age of 30, they said.
Bangladesh Renal Association (BRA), Kidney Foundation, and the Kidney Awareness Monitoring and Prevention Society organised the discussion themed “Chronic Kidney Disease and Aging” in the capital's Institute of Diploma Engineers, Bangladesh observing World Kidney Day.
BRA President Prof Muhammad Rafuqul Alam said about two crore Bangladeshis suffer from kidney diseases while nearly 25,000 face sudden kidney failures with tragic consequences.
However, some precautious steps like consuming healthy food and clean water, treating infections quickly and replenishing blood if lost on a massive scale can keep kidneys healthy, he added.
Kidney Foundation President Prof Harun-ur-Rashid said the two end-stage treatments, kidney dialysis and transplantation, were highly expensive and often made patients bankrupt.
Acknowledging that Bangladesh Organ Transplantation Act 1999 limited the number of donors by stating that the person must be a blood relative, Health Minister Muhammad Nasim said he would discuss with the ministry's kidney specialists on modernising the law.