Timely Treatment Can Prevent Most Kidney Failures: Study

A study conducted by Bir Hospital, Nepal’s oldest medical institution, has found that up to 90 percent of kidney failures could be avoided with early diagnosis and proper medical care.

The research reviewed 500 patients whose kidneys had failed after becoming dysfunctional. Of these, 470 cases were considered preventable with prompt treatment, while only 30 were deemed unavoidable.

Professor Dr. Robin Bahadur Basnet, chief consultant at the hospital’s Department of Urology, said insufficient public awareness and the lack of regular kidney check-ups remain major obstacles. Many patients had a prior history of kidney stones, which were identified as the leading cause.

According to the study, kidney stones accounted for 65 percent of the cases, hereditary factors for 15 percent, kidney cancer for 10 percent, and various infections for about four percent. Stones often block the urinary tract, causing swelling and eventual kidney failure. Because the second kidney typically compensates, patients are often unaware of the damage until it is advanced.

Dr Basnet noted that congenital kidney blockages can cause failure between the ages of 20 and 30, while one to four percent of people globally are born with only one kidney. Other key contributors include dehydration, diabetes, excessive alcohol intake, and the unsupervised use of painkillers such as ibuprofen and nimesulide.

Among the 500 patients studied, 220 were first-time visitors to Bir Hospital. The study also found that women are 1.5 times more likely than men to develop kidney failure.

Dr Basnet urged preventive measures such as drinking at least three liters of water daily, maintaining a healthy weight, eating plenty of fruits, and scheduling regular kidney check-ups to protect kidney health. -- RSS