Aussie kidney deaths up 150% in a decade

[okarol]

Aussie kidney deaths up 150% in a decade
April 1, 2009, 1:01 am

The number of Australians dying from kidney disease has surged almost 150 per cent in a decade, while deaths from heart problems have plummeted.

Experts say there has been a shift in common causes of death, as the population ages and successful public heath initiatives see many Australians avoid fatal heart attacks.

The trend has also exposed a lack of public spending to raise awareness and focus GP treatment on kidney health, says Dr Tim Mathew, who is medical director of Kidney Health Australia.

"Kidney disease is not a national health priority and therefore there is no focus on it in any way, shape or form by the commonwealth government," Dr Mathew said.

"What we're trying to say is kidney failure is on the increase, most of the other things like deaths from (heart attack) are on the way down. It's time we put in place special programs aimed at kidney disease."

Latest mortality data shows diseases of the kidney and urinary tract jumped to tenth spot among the nation's leading causes of death, responsible for the deaths of 3,230 people in 2007.

This number has increased 123 per cent over the decade.

Most of this increase is due to a big jump in chronic kidney failure deaths, up 148 per cent over the 10 years.

Dr Martin said the bulk of this increase occurred in just three years to 2007, indicating the rise in kidney deaths was gaining momentum.

At the same time, cardiovascular-linked deaths dropped 125 per cent over the decade.

Dr Martin said he was not critical of the focus on reducing cardiovascular disease in the community, but a similar effort was needed in kidney health.

"People who were destined previously to die of a heart attack are avoiding that with better management, and that's leaving them more time to develop kidney failure," he said.

"You do have to die of something, don't you."

Dr Martin is urging Australians with high blood pressure or diabetes, those with a family history of kidney disease, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who are more susceptible, to ask their GP about testing their kidney health.

Lifestyle factors like diet, smoking and obesity account for an estimated 30 per cent of kidney disease cases leaving genetic and other auto-immune conditions as the major cause.

There are few symptoms until kidney function drops below 20 per cent but, once it fails, the patient needs ongoing dialysis to stay alive while waiting for a kidney transplant.

Dr Martin says more than 10 per cent of those on dialysis die every year, and the waiting list for a transplant is about four years.

"It doesn't cause symptoms. You don't know you've got it until you check for it," he said of kidney disease.

"And if you've got it, simple things can be done to significantly slow down and in some people avoid its progression."

http://au.news.yahoo.com/a/-/latest/5468566/aussie-kidney-deaths-up-150-in-a-decade/