PDF printable version of Healthier Choices Can Reduce the Risk of Kidney Disease (PDF 28 KB)
20 July 2009
Kidney Health Australia’s “Wee Week”, which is being held from 19 – 25 July, will raise much-needed awareness about the importance of keeping healthy to avoid urinary tract infections (UTI) which can lead to chronic kidney disease and even kidney failure.
UTIs can differ in severity, and are treatable if detected early. Left untreated, they can cause lasting damage, chronic kidney disease, and even death from kidney failure.
The Commonwealth Chief Medical Officer, Professor Jim Bishop, advises that UTIs should never go untreated.
“Although women are more at risk of UTIs than men, anyone experiencing symptoms should go to a doctor. Symptoms can include painful burning when urinating, feeling like you need to urinate often without being able to, and cloudy or bloody urine,” Professor Bishop said.
“A variety of other risk factors for kidney disease including diabetes and high blood pressure can be prevented through healthy lifestyle choices, such as a balanced diet and increased exercise, along with regular check-ups,” he added.
People living in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities also have an elevated risk of end-stage kidney disease, which is eight times higher than the risk for non-Indigenous Australians.
Kidney Health Australia estimate that one in three adult women will get UTIs in their lifetimes and, while not as common in men, one in 20 may contract a UTI in their lives.
Kidney Health Australia believes that 1 in 3 Australians have an increased risk of chronic kidney disease, and that many Australians don’t even know their kidneys have been impaired, as people can lose up to 90 per cent of kidney function without having any symptoms.
The Rudd Government recognises the impact that kidney disease has on families and is significantly investing in measures to reduce its incidence, including:
- A projected $16 million for 107 grants in 2009 for kidney disease research through the National Health and Medical Research Council.
- Increasing the kidney treatment capacity of hospitals with a higher proportion of Indigenous and at-risk patients, such as the $8.6 million investment to improve access to dialysis services in the Kimberley region of WA.
- A $5.3 million investment to improve access to dialysis services for remote communities in the Northern Territory.
- Providing $7 million for the construction of a Renal Dialysis Unit at the North Lakes Health Precinct in south-east Queensland. This 2008-09 Budget initiative will provide 12 renal dialysis chairs and an additional two isolation chairs, enabling treatment of up to 48 patients each year.
- More than $1 million for the Chronic Kidney Disease Monitoring Centre to help reduce the burden of chronic kidney disease.
The National Preventative Health Taskforce is also working to provide evidence-based advice to governments and health providers on preventative health programs and strategies so we can better prevent conditions like kidney disease from affecting so many Australians.
For all media inquiries, please contact the Minister's Office on 02 6277 7220.
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