Cyprus has more than 1,200 patients with end-stage chronic kidney disease who undergo auxiliary therapy, either hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis, Clea Papaellina, President of Cypriot Association of Friends of Kidney Diseases told the Cyprus News Agency, on the occasion of the World Kidney Day on March 14th.
Hemodialysis units and nephrology clinics operate in all government hospitals as well as in private clinics and as Papaellina said there is a continuous increase in the number of patients with chronic kidney disease, especially those who reach the final stage and need support, and this has started to create problems.
Papaellina told the Cyprus News Agency that despite the fact that nephrology in Cyprus is at a high level and the number of registered nephrologists has almost doubled in the last five years, there is still difficulty in meeting the needs of kidney patients.
She said that the Association of Friends of Kidney Diseases works on voluntary basis and assists the patients and their families i
n meeting treatment needs as well as providing financial assistance to needy kidney patients.
They also run campaigns to inform the public and raise awareness. ?he association has organized an annual fundraiser to be concluded end of month.
Papaellina said that people need to understand that we are all potential kidney patients and it is important to choose quality of life.
The Association of Friends of Kidney Diseases was founded in 1984 on the initiative of the Honorary President of the Association, distinguished doctor Alkis Pierides.
Cyprus Nephrology society said in an announcement that there is a 115% increase in the number of patients undergoing hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis.
According to the statement, kidney health problems are the 10th cause of death worldwide, while 1:10 people worldwide is affected by chronic kidney disease.
The Society pointed out that a simple blood test to assess kidney function and glucose, a general urinalysis to check for the presence of albumin or other signs o
f kidney damage, and a blood pressure check are often enough for early diagnosis and treatment of kidney diseases.
Nephrology Nurse Section of the Cyprus Association of Nurses and Midwives in an announcement said that a series of barriers must be overcome to achieve optimal kidney health care.
These barriers, it said, include omissions in early diagnosis, lack of universal health care and/or insurance coverage, low awareness of health care workers and challenges regarding the cost and accessibility of medication.
The Association also said that chronic kidney disease is estimated to affect more than 850 million people worldwide and was responsible for more than 3.1 million deaths in 2019.
Kidney disease ranks as the 8th leading cause of death and, if left untreated, is predicted to be the 5th leading cause of death by 2040.
Source: Cyprus News Agency