Kidney Foundation holds 12th Sherbrooke Kidney Walk
Kidneys 101: Test Your Knowledge!
Kidney disease is on the rise in Quebec. The Kidney Foundation - Quebec Division is organizing its 12th annual Kidney Walk on Sunday, May 27 to support all those living with kidney disease.
The number of people undergoing dialysis treatment continues to increase and kidney failure can strike no matter what age or situation one is in. Globally, one in ten people suffer kidney failure. In Quebec, one in fourteen people is affected.
In Sherbrooke, it is estimated that more than 1,000 people are affected by kidney failure and over the past two decades, the number of people treated for end-stage renal disease has increased dramatically. Factors such as the aging of the population, as well as an increase in the number of cases of diabetes and high blood pressure, mean that kidney failure continues to gain ground.
An important aspect of the fight against kidney disease is the need to improve organ donation rates. For people waiting for a transplant, it is their only hope to find a better quality of life. The Foundation has been advocating for many years for an increasing number of kidney transplants, which is the best treatment for many patients. The latest statistics are encouraging. The waiting list for a cadaveric kidney has greatly diminished to 493 days last year while it stood at 1,220 days in 2012. Despite this improvement, the fact remains that Quebec can do better. As of December 31, 534 people in the province were still waiting to receive a kidney. In an advanced stage of the disease, only dialysis or transplantation can ensure survival.
Funds raised during the Kidney Walk will allow thousands of people with kidney disease or who are waiting for a transplant in Quebec to hope for better days. The Foundation focuses on research, but also on innovative services for patients and their families, as well as prevention and early detection.
This year’s Sherbrooke Kidney Walk takes place on Sunday, May 27, at the Lucien-bouchard Woods. Walkers should arrive around 9 a.m. for a 10 a.m. departure.
Those wishing to register can do so online at marchedurein.ca
To raise awareness of kidney disease and the importance of organ donation, the Kidney Walk will be held in 22 Quebec cities, including Sherbrooke, on May 27.
But what exactly do you know about the kidneys? It's time to check your knowledge!
TRUE OR FALSE: Every hour, our kidneys filter a liter of blood.
FALSE! - Our kidneys filter a liter of blood every minute. One of the main functions of the kidneys is to remove waste from the blood and return purified blood to the rest of the body.
TRUE OR FALSE: The kidney is one of the organs that can be donated while alive.
TRUE - We are born with two kidneys, but the body can live with only one. Anyone in good health can decide to donate a kidney.
QUESTION: What is the alternative to dialysis for people with end-stage renal disease?
ANSWER -: When the kidneys are functioning at less than 15 per cent of their capacity, only dialysis or transplantation can ensure the patient's survival.
TRUE OR FALSE - The success rate of kidney transplants is 85 per cent.
TRUE. Overall, the success rate of kidney transplants is very good. The success rate of cadaveric kidney transplants is 85 to 90 per cent in the first year. This means that after one year, 85 to 90 grafted kidneys out of 100 continue to function.
TRUE OR FALSE - Money raised during the Kidney Walk will be invested in medical research.
TRUE - and more: The money raised will also be used for programs and services for patients and their loved ones to improve their quality of life.