8,000 new kidney failure patients recorded in Vietnam annually
An expert has recommended people take regular check-ups to detect kidney-related diseases as an estimated 5 million people in Vietnam suffer from kidney issues, and the number rises by about 8,000 each year.
Hanoi (VNA) – An expert has recommended people takeregular check-ups to detect kidney-related diseases as an estimated 5 millionpeople in Vietnam suffer from kidney issues, and the number rises by about8,000 each year.
The recommendation was made by Dr. Nguyen VinhHung, head of the kidney and blood filtration department at Hospital E, at ameeting marking World Kidney Day in Hanoi on March 14.
There are about 800,000 patients with end-stagerenal diseases, or 0.1 percent of the country’s population. The main causes ofthis disease are kidney problems, high blood pressure and diabetes.
He noted that more than 50 percent of patientsdie within five years of renal dialysis, and only 15 – 20 percent can live atleast 10 years under this type of treatment.
They need to have dialysis three times a week,and it costs 100 – 150 million VND (4,300 – 6,500 USD) each year, a burden onnot only patients and their families but also society, the doctor said.
However, he added, kidney diseases can becontrolled and patients can have a normal life if they receive good treatment.
As the disease occur slowly over many years,Hung called on people to have regular health examinations to detect earlysigns, while those at high risk should have kidney disease screening.
He also suggested them lead a healthy lifestyle byusing clean water, doing regular physical exercise and avoiding harmful factorslike smoking or drinking alcohol.
The World Kidney Day, the second Thursday inMarch, was initiated in 2006 by the World Health Organisation in the face ofthe rising kidney failure patients and kidney-related diseases around theglobe. It fell on March 14 this year.-VNA
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A patient receives renal dialysis (Photo: VNA) 
