World Kidney Day is a joint initiative of the International Society of Nephrology (ISN) and the International Federation of Kidney Foundations (IFKF).

It was launched for the first time in 2006 and it is held the second Thursday of March. On 8 March 2007, World Kidney Day was celebrated in 66 countries. The next World Kidney Day will be 13 March 2008.

The purpose of World Kidney Day is to raise awareness about the importance of our kidneys – an amazing organ that plays a crucial role in keeping us alive and well – and to spread the message that kidney disease is common, harmful and treatable.

The main job of our kidneys (which are roughly the size of two fists and are located deep in our abdomen, beneath our rib cage) is to remove toxins and excess water from our blood. Every day our kidneys filter and clean 200 liters of blood – a quantity that would fill about 200 bottles or 20 buckets! Besides this impressive, daily feat, kidneys also help to control our blood pressure, to produce red blood cells and to keep our bones healthy.

1. What is Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD)?

• FACT: CKD is present when individuals have an increase in excretion of albumin in the urine or a major decrease in kidney function or glomerular filtration rate (GFR). This may lead to complications such as high blood pressure, anaemia, and heart and blood vessel disease.

2. How common is chronic kidney disease?

• FACT: More than 500 million persons worldwide - 10% of the adult population - have some form of kidney damage, and every year millions die prematurely of cardiovascular diseases linked to CKD.

3. What causes chronic kidney disease?

• FACT: Globally the most common causes of CKD have been nephrotic or inflammatory diseases of the kidney, infections, obstruction in the urinary tract and inherited disorders like polycystic kidney disease. This is changing in both developed and developing nations towards diabetes and hypertension, which are also the most common causes of cardiovascular disease (CVD).

If our kidneys gradually lose their ability to function, we speak of chronic kidney disease (CKD). It is a “silent” disease and often goes unnoticed because it may not be “felt”. Yet it affects many more people than we would ever imagine: studies of different races living on different continents worldwide have consistently shown that about 1 out of 10 adults has some form of kidney damage.

People with chronic kidney disease are 10 times more likely than healthy individuals to die of heart attacks and strokes. The health of their kidneys may also progressively worsen to the point where the kidneys must be replaced (this is called "end-stage renal disease"). Either patients receive a new, transplanted kidney or they are kept alive with “dialysis” – usually by a machine which cleans their blood about three times a week.

Fortunately, we can detect chronic kidney disease early on, and detection is easy. Simple, routine tests of our urine, blood and blood pressure can show early signs of kidney problems. And the good news is that once we know these problems, we can slow down and even stop chronic kidney disease, by taking medicines and changing some of our living habits.

Early detection and treatment of CKD can not only slow or halt the progression of patients to end-state renal disease, but it can also significantly reduce the incidence of cardiovascular diseases, which are today by far the most common cause of premature deaths worldwide.

Hospital Selayang

Time & Date: 13hb Mac 2008 (Thursday)

Public Forum: 10.30 am - 12 pm

Title: "Kenali Buah Pinggang anda"

Venue: Main Auditorium

Free Screen Test: 9 am - 4 pm, Main Lobby, Hospital Selayang