‘Screenings key in fighting silent diseases’
DIABETES and hypertension are the two main causes of kidney failure among Malaysians, reveals the Johor Health Department.
State health director Dr Mohtar Pungut@ahmad said data from the Malaysian dialysis transplant registry showed that 51,256 patients underwent dialysis treatment as a result of kidney failure in 2022.
“About 52% of the kidney problems were due to diabetes while hypertension contributed to about 34%.
“This is why we encourage the public to go for annual health screenings, even if they feel like they do not have any ailments.
“Regular health screenings can help identify the silent disease as many people with kidney issues do not display physical symptoms,” Dr Mohtar said at a state-level World Kidney Day event in Iskandar Puteri.
He said the number of recorded patients undergoing dialysis 10 years ago was 29,452.
Apart from regular check-ups, the public should also pay attention to their food intake and physical exercise in order to keep diseases at bay, added Dr Mohtar.
Hospital Sultanah Aminah general medicine and nephrology department head Dr Liu Wen Jiun said patients usually only found out that they had kidney problems after undergoing a blood or urine test.
“This often happens when they go for a pre-employment medical check-up, while people with diabetes learn that they have kidney problems after check-ups at the clinic.
“Although there are usually no physical symptoms, early signs of kidney problems could vary from swollen legs and increased blood pressure levels to red blood cells found in urine,” he said.
Dr Liu, who is also the state physician and nephrologist, added that healthcare providers would then recommend the patient to go for the necessary treatment or biopsy.