Kidney ailments rising due to diabetes

MORE than 100 new cases of kidney ailment are recorded every year in Brunei and more than 55 per cent of kidney failures in the country are due to diabetes, a figure that is higher than our neighbouring countries.

Minister of Health Pehin Orang Kaya Indera Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Hj Suyoi Hj Othman cited the statistics at the World Kidney Day celebration yesterday at the Rimba Dialysis Centre.

Themed "Protect your kidneys, control diabetes", World Kidney Day, observed annually on March 11, is "a wake-up call to the public on the dangers of kidney disease," said the minister.

Pehin Dato Hj Suyoi stressed the importance of understanding what the World Kidney Day means amid the increasing number of kidney patients in Brunei.

"A total of 500 patients are currently on dialysis and more than 1,500 people have been referred to a nephrologist for kidney ailments," he said.

The number may seem small, said the minister, but it is a worrying situation, particularly considering that more than 100 new cases of kidney disease are recorded every year in the country.

"This will bring a negative impact to the individual, their families, society and the government," he added.

The quality of life of these patients will decrease due to the time spent on treatments, as well as the pain and side effects that will result from undergoing treatments, the minister added.

In addition, the minister said, "the high cost of the treatments and its effect on a patients' work productivity will impact the government greatly".

Pehin Dato Hj Suyoi also highlighted that the main cause of kidney failure is diabetes in Brunei.

"Some 20 per cent of Brunei's total population is likely to suffer from diabetes if it is not controlled, based on the percentage of obesity cases which is the main cause of diabetes in the country," said the minister.

"If diabetes is not controlled in early stage, the incidence of kidney ailments will be higher," he said.

According to Renal Services Department's Acting Chief Executive Officer Hjh Roshima Hj Kamal, "the theme was chosen because diabetes is the main cause of kidney disease in Brunei and more than 50 per cent of kidney disease cases are due to diabetes".

Hjh Roshima added: "The theme hopes to disseminate the message that diabetes can result in kidney failure if blood sugar level is not controlled. Kidney problems have many effects on a patient's life."

Yesterday's function also saw the launching of the Diabetic Kidney Disease Guideline, a book which will serve as a source of reference for health professionals in Brunei.

The guideline lists the criteria to use in identifying and referring patients with kidney problems to nephrologists.

The one-day event, organised by the Ministry of Health's Renal Services Department, also featured an aerobic session, a walkathon, a health promotion exhibition and health screening. A total of 300 people were expected to undergo their health screenings at the dialysis centre yesterday.

Also present at the event was Deputy Minister of Health Pehin Orang Kaya Pekerma Laila Diraja Dato Paduka Hj Hazair Hj Abdullah and other senior officials.

The Brunei Times