People urged to ask their GP for simple kidney health test to detect ‘silent disease’

The Irish Kidney Association pointed to statistics revealing that one in 10 people, and one in seven in Ireland over 50, have chronic kidney disease (CKD).The warning comes on World Kidney Day.

It said that early detection is key to slowing down the progression of CKD. A simple blood or urine test can be the first step to check kidney health and identify if kidney disease exists.

By catching CKD early, people can take proactive steps to manage their condition, slow down its progression, and possibly prevent further complications.

CKD is categorised into five stages of progression with Stage five, the final stage, indicating End Stage Kidney Disease (ESKD) and the need for either dialysis or a transplant.

Chronic Kidney Disease is often described as “the silent illness hiding in plain sight” which develops over time and usually does not show any obvious symptoms until it progresses to kidney failure.

CKD is closely linked to hypertension, heart disease, and diabetes. Individuals with one or more of these conditions are at higher risk of developing CKD, and vice versa, and it is important for patients to be aware of these links. It is also important for healthcare professionals to collaborate closely, ensuring that heightened awareness, treatments, and medications are coordinated to manage these interconnected health challenges effectively.

"Chronic Kidney Disease is a very real and prevalent issue affecting approximately 800 million of people globally, including 500,000 people here in Ireland,” Carol Moore, chief executive of the Irish Kidney Association said.

"The lack of knowledge about CKD and its relationship with the better-known high blood pressure, diabetes, and heart disease conditions needs to be addressed”.

The Irish Kidney Association is resuming its fundraising campaign which was paused during the pandemic.

Volunteers, many of whom are patients themselves, will be back in ALDI stores, and other locations across the country, distributing free organ donor cards and collecting vital funds to support patients in need, through the sale of the Irish Kidney Association’s Forget-me-Not flower emblems, which are also available to buy online from the IKA Forget-Me-Not Virtual Garden.