Worldwide,700 000 people suffer from chronic renal failure which means their kidneys can never again perform the way they should.
Approximately 10 percent 10 % of the population (1 in 10) may have a some form of chronic kidney disease (CKD). It is more common in the elderly and Asian and Black populations.
Two thirds 2/3 of people with moderate to severe stages of chronic kidney disease (stages 3 to 5) will be over the age of 70, a quarter (¼) will have diabetes and (¾)three quarters will have high blood pressure.
However even people with milder forms of Chronic Kidney Disease are at risk of developing high blood pressure, heart disease and may go on to develop more advanced chronic kidney disease.
Fortunately the most severe forms of Chronic Kidney Disease (those which result in the need for dialysis or kidney transplantation) are quite rare.
It is therefore essential to try and detect people with chronic kidney disease early and start treatment to prevent complications. This can usually be done using a simple urine and blood test.
As people grow older (over the age of 40) kidney function does start to deteriorate slowly.
There is no evidence that these people have a greater risk of developing Chronic Kidney Disease or its complications.
In older adults, a slight reduction in kidney function is not considered abnormal unless there is some other evidence of kidney damage.
It is not until over 70% of the normal combined function of both kidneys is lost that most patients begin to experience symptoms of kidney failure.
