A recent study conducted by researchers at the Gujarat Adani Institute of Medical Sciences (GAIMS) has revealed a concerning threefold increase in chronic kidney disease (CKD) cases among women between 1990 and 2021. The findings, presented at the ‘ASN Kidney Week 2024’ in San Diego, highlight an urgent need to address the growing health crisis.
Key Findings of the Study
The study, titled Global, National, and Regional Trends in the Burden of Chronic Kidney Disease among Women from 1990-2021: A Comprehensive Global Analysis, utilized data from 204 countries and territories through the Global Burden of Disease 2021 database. Key takeaways include:
- The annual average percentage of CKD cases in women increased by 2.10%.
- Mortality rates linked to CKD rose by 3.39%.
- Disability Adjusted Life Years (DALYs), indicating the disease burden, increased by 2.48%.
- The highest rises in CKD-related mortality and burden were observed in older women, as well as in Latin America and North America.
Causes Behind the Surge
According to Hardik Dineshbhai Desai, an independent clinical and public health researcher at GAIMS, the rise in CKD among women is attributed to:
- Uncontrolled lifestyles and unhealthy dietary habits.
- Lack of physical activity.
- Untreated or poorly managed diseases like type 2 diabetes and hypertension, which severely affect kidney function.
How to Prevent Kidney Disease
Experts emphasize that early intervention and lifestyle changes can help reduce the risk of kidney failure. Recommended steps include:
- Adopting a balanced diet with reduced salt and sugar intake.
- Regular monitoring of diabetes and blood pressure levels.
- Staying hydrated by drinking sufficient water daily.
- Engaging in 30 minutes of exercise each day.
- Avoiding smoking and alcohol consumption, both of which harm kidney health.
The Path Forward
Healthcare professionals have stressed the importance of investing in public health policies, prevention programs, and healthcare infrastructure to combat the alarming rise in kidney-related diseases. Immediate action is essential to reduce the mortality and burden of CKD on women, a group disproportionately affected over the past three decades.
While these findings serve as a wake-up call, timely adoption of preventive measures could play a critical role in reversing this trend and improving the overall quality of life for women worldwide.
