Kidney Diseases Affect 11 Percent of the Population
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Kidney Diseases Affect 11 Percent of the Population

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Sofía Garduño By Sofía Garduño | Journalist & Industry Analyst - Wed, 03/09/2022 - 17:22

World Kidney Day, observed annually on the second Thursday of March, raises awareness of the importance of having healthy kidneys and the numerous diseases that could affect these organs. In Mexico, kidney diseases affect 11 percent of the population, according to the Ministry of Health (SSA). Annually, 45,000 new cases of chronic kidney disease (CKD) are diagnosed in the country.

 

In Mexico, CKD is a public health problem affecting about 188,000 patients, according to Mexico’s Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM). Hypertension, smoking, obesity, heart diseases and diabetes are risk factors that can lead to CKD. In Mexico, 6.2 million people with diabetes have renal insufficiency from which 98 percent are still in early stages of CDK

 

During 4Q2021, there were 17,299 patients on the waiting list to receive a kidney transplant in Mexico. This organ is the one most requested for transplants. In 2021, 1,971 kidney transplants took place in Mexico, from which 1,513 donations came from living donors, according to the National Transplant Center (CENATRA). Kidney transplants have a survival rate of 90 percent during the first year, 85 percent after five years and 80 percent after 10 years. Patients can survive up to 20 years after a kidney transplant and, on average, survive for 15 years, said José Aburto, General Director, CENATRA, to MBN.

 

 

CKD has no cure but treatment aims to control and reduce its impact on the human body. CDK is also the most expensive chronic disease for SSA and the Mexican Institute of Social Security (IMSS), with an annual unit cost per patient of US$8,966 for SSA and US$9,091 for IMSS, according to the “Medical Expenditure for Chronic Diseases in Mexico: The Case of Selected Diagnoses Treated by the Largest Care Providers” study, as reported by MBN.

 

Although health professionals are needed to reduce CKD mortality, Mexico has only 1,318 certified nephrologists. “Currently, in our country, we have 10 nephrologists per million inhabitants. The Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) recommends 20 nephrologists per million inhabitants, this means that we have a 10-nephrologist deficit, 50 percent. This is the reason why attention to CKD patients cannot be covered,” said Pedro Trinidad, Nephrology Chief, Siglo XXI National Medical Center.

 

To avert CKD and its complications, SSA invites the population to exercise regularly, have a healthy diet, avoid alcohol and drink sufficient water. Likewise, in observance of World Kidney Day, the organization invites health professionals, the scientific community and decision makers to be involved in CKD prevention.

Photo by:   Pixabay, IMGMIDI

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