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.

A patient receives renal dialysis

The recommendation was made by Dr. Nguyen Vinh Hung, head of the kidney and blood filtration department at Hospital E, at a meeting marking World Kidney Day in Hanoi on March 14.

There are about 800,000 patients with end-stage renal diseases, or 0.1 percent of the country’s population. The main causes of this disease are kidney problems, high blood pressure and diabetes.

He noted that more than 50 percent of patients die within five years of renal dialysis, and only 15 – 20 percent can live at least 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 on not only patients and their families but also society, the doctor said.

However, he added, kidney diseases can be controlled 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 early signs, while those at high risk should have kidney disease screening.

He also suggested them lead a healthy lifestyle by using clean water, doing regular physical exercise and avoiding harmful factors like smoking or drinking alcohol.

The World Kidney Day, the second Thursday in March, was initiated in 2006 by the World Health Organisation in the face of the rising kidney failure patients and kidney-related diseases around the globe. It fell on March 14 this year.-VNA