Males more likely to be affected by kidney disease – local study find
GINA, GUYANA, Thursday, November, 23, 2016
Two nurses who are also students at the University of Guyana (UG) conducted a ‘Quality of life’ survey on persons living with chronic renal failure, and found that 74 percent of males are more likely to be affected by kidney disease than women.
The survey and its findings were presented to Minister of Public Health, Dr. George Norton at the Grand Coastal Hotel, East Coast Demerara today.
Particpants who attended the conference on Hemodialysis verus Peritoneal Dialysis in the context of Guyana’s setting at the Grand Coastal Inn, East Coast of Demerara.
Rene Sealey and Garfield Bryan conducted the research over a one-year period with 145 persons participating.
Minister Norton said that his Ministry will continue to work with the relevant stakeholders to ensure patients receive assistance.
“Issues relating to chronic kidney diseases and kidney failure will continue to be addressed at the national level. Conducting a Quality for Life survey on persons living with chronic renal failure was one of the best options to be considered since we are living in an age where we are being plagued with such incidents,” Minister Norton said.
The Health Minister pointed out that chronic kidney disease damages a person’s kidney and decreases one’s quality of life as the kidneys perform varying and complex functions which are essential to preserving one’s health.
Minister Norton said that consequently, chronic kidney disease itself can lead to high blood pressure, anemia, weak bones and poor nutritional health amongst others; however, early detection can control the progress of the disease.
He added that as the disease progresses it may eventually lead to kidney failure that would eventually lead to the need of dialysis or kidney transplant.
“Both dialysis and kidney transplant are expensive, are bothersome to the patients, to the caretaker, to the relatives and to the economy of the country. The burden of chronic kidney failure of all population tends to be seriously underestimated given the under recognition of this condition, and this might be the reason why it is …drawing so much attention. MOPH has also drafted a strategic partnership with international universities and hospitals in trying to manage this condition in the best way possible,” Minister Norton said.
Bryan explained that the survey that he and his colleague undertook shows that men need to make better health choices. “It also points to the fact that men need to do more to enhance their health conditions,” Bryan told the Government Information Agency (GINA).
Sealey, Bryan’s colleague noted that simple preventative measures can be done to help avert renal failure. “Eating right, exercising daily, regular doctor checks, because we find that women are more prone to visit the doctor when they have an issue while men are more laid back,” Sealey said.
Minister of Public Health, Dr. George Norton, delivering remarks at the conference
Sealey noted that she and her colleague are encouraging primary preventative measures so the stage of renal failure can be averted.
Hemodialysis is where a dialysis machine and a special filter called an artificial kidney, or a dialyzer, are used to clean the blood. To get a patient’s blood into the dialyzer, the doctor needs to make an entrance into the blood vessels.
Peritoneal dialysis (PD) is a treatment that uses the lining of the abdomen, and a cleaning solution called dialysate to clean the blood. Dialysate absorbs waste and fluid from the blood, using the peritoneum as a filter.
By Gabreila Patram