Health Talk : Doctor Highlights Obesity as Major Factor for Kidney Diseases in Women

·         A Nephrologist at Columbia Asia Hospital, Dr. Kulwant Singh, addressed over 200 Women at Women's College Patiala on World Kidney Day.

·         Doctor highlighted that obese people are at 83% increased risk of chronic kidney disease (CKD),and 24.8% CKD in women and 13.8% CKD in men are associated with the condition.

·         Doctor say, 36% of urban women in Patiala are overweight or obese, and therefore at increased risk of CKD.

·         Studies also suggest that women have a higher prevalence CKD (14% in women against 12% in men).

Patiala, With the International Women’s Day and World Kidney Day coinciding, this year’s awareness campaign for World Kidney Day holds the theme “Kidneys and Women’s Health”. Bringing out startling facts about chronic kidney diseases and women’s health, a Nephrologist from Columbia Asia Hospital, Dr. Kulwant Singh, addressed over 200 women who assembled at Women's College Patiala and explained how obesity is a major risk factor for chronic kidney diseases.  

It is well established that obesity leads to diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and hypertension, but new research also indicates that it appears to have additional independent risk of CKD. Obese people are at 83% increased risk of CKD and 24.8% CKD in women and 13.8% CKD in men are associated with the condition.

“The connection of obesity with diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and hypertension, which are the major risk factors for chronic kidney disease, is well known. However, obesity is now also being associated with increased inflammation, increased hormonal sensitivity to blood pressure and metabolic abnormalities that has a direct impact on kidneys. It is interesting to note that 36%² of urban women in Patiala are overweight or obese, which can translate into thousands of women at risk for CKD in future. This is a grave cause for concern because although obesity can be managed, CKD has no cure. The disease is progressive and gradually leads to kidney failure” said Dr. Kulwant Singh, Consultant Nephrologist, Columbia Asia Hospital, Patiala.

In a span of 10 to 15 years, deaths due to kidney failure, an advanced-stage outcome of chronic kidney disease (CKD), has doubled in India, with an estimated 1.3 lakh deaths in the age group of 15 to 69 years recorded in 2015.The prevalence of the disease is growing due to increased prevalence of major risk factors such as diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and hypertension, creating significant stress on the healthcare system in India.

Globally, the disease is considered as the 8th leading cause of death in women, with an estimated 19.5 crore women being affected by the disease, causing around 6 lakh deaths each year. Studies also suggest that women have a CKD prevalence of 14% against 12% in men.

Kidney diseases are all the more dangerous because most of them develop slowly and silently, without the manifestation of any obvious symptoms. They are known to show real signs only in advance stages, and therefore, it becomes all the more important to get periodic tests done if a person is suffering from an overlying condition. It is time that women in the city get cautious about the disease and undergo periodic health evaluation, apart from following a healthy diet and lifestyle.