Two simple tests – a blood test that measures the creatinine level to check how well the kidneys filter waste and excess fluids from blood and a urine test to check protein leakage – could go a long way in the early detection of kidney diseases, Sakthi Selvakumar, Consultant Nephrologist, Kauvery Hospital Cantonment, Tiruchi, said during a webinar on Kidney Care: Awareness and Prevention.

“One out of 10 persons worldwide may have chronic kidney disease, and 90% of those who have it would not even know about it,” Dr. Selvakumar said while speaking about early warning signs of kidney diseases. A person, he said, could lose up to 90% of the kidney function before experiencing noticeable symptoms, which was a major cause for late diagnosis.

People should be aware of personal risks (co-morbidities like diabetes, hypertension, or family history), and prioritise consumption of home-cooked food, 150 minutes of body movement per week, and timely testing, Dr. Selvakumar added.

The webinar was jointly organised by Kauvery Hospital and The Hindu to mark World Kidney Day, which falls on March 12.

Explaining the progress of chronic kidney disease through five stages, K. Abirami, Senior Consultant and Head of Nephrology, Kauvery Hospital, Salem, said that with treatment and lifestyle changes, the progress of the disease in stages 1 to 4 could be slowed down. In the renal failure stage, haemodialysis could keep people alive “for years or decades with proper care, diet, and management of co-morbidities, particularly diabetes and hypertension”.

On the transplant front, she lamented the gap between demand and supply of organs. She said that Tamil Nadu topped the States with 860 deceased-donor transplants in 2024, followed by Telangana at 587, Karnataka 483, Maharashtra 466, and Gujarat 367. Yet, on an average, patients ended up waiting three to five years to get a donor kidney.

Tamil Nadu reported 18,600 fatal accidents every year. If people could be motivated to pledge their organs, one donor could benefit at least a dozen patients-in-waiting, Dr. Abirami added.

Dr. Sivakumar D., Senior Consultant Nephrologist, Kauvery Hospital, Vadapalani, spoke about eight common kidney diseases, their symptoms, and the line of treatment, while highlighting the importance of home-cooked food and a balanced diet rather than relying on supplements.

Watch the webinar on newsth.live/THKAKY