N-VA : Chronic kidney disease and hypertension: Twin challenges for the 21st century

[Politics.be]

Unchecked high blood pressure may severely damage kidneys and is a major cause of chronic kidney disease (CKD). Frieda Brepoels MEP (EPP-ED, BE) hosts a meeting in the European Parliament today - 10 March - calling attention to the need for early identification and treatment of CKD and its associated diseases such as cardiovascular disease, hypertension (high blood pressure) and diabetes. The MEP Group for Kidney Health, together with the European Kidney Health Alliance (EKHA) and World Kidney Day (WKD) organisations calls for action at EU level.

Frieda Brepoels said: "At least 8% of the European population is affected by chronic kidney disease, an illness which has a severe impact on the quality of life. We want to increase awareness of CKD and promote effective public health management to fight this fast spreading illness. Especially people with cardiovascular diseases and high blood pressure are at risk of developing CKD. Prevention and early detection can prevent complications of decreased kidney function and slow the progression of kidney disease to kidney failure."

In severe cases chronic kidney disease requires dialysis or transplantation. The European Parliament’s resolution on organ donation and transplantation recognises the importance of cooperation between Member States on addressing the shortage of organs for transplantation. The European Parliament also emphasizes the necessity for public health measures to facilitate the early detection and management of the chronic diseases such as CKD, and so prevent those affected from ever developing kidney failure. Preventative strategies are the only way to minimize the number of people needing organ transplants in the future.



Frieda Brepoels: "The European Union can play a significant role in encouraging Member States to take urgent action to acknowledge the size of the problem of chronic kidney disease and high blood pressure and the other diseases linked to them; and to develop effective strategies to prevent the death and suffering they cause. Progress can be made by exchanging best practices between Member States and by improving existing technologies to detect kidney disease so as to assure that every European citizen has equal access to high-quality health care”.



Note to editors:

A pan-European survey was conducted among 486 patients with cardiovascular disease to support this event and the WKD 2009 ‘Keep the pressure down’. The survey shows that three quarters of patients (73%) with cardiovascular are not aware that their condition places them at increased risk of developing CKD. In addition only half (47%) of those surveyed have had their kidney function checked by their physician and a staggering 8 out of 10 (82%) surveyed haven’t discussed with their doctor any steps to help look after their kidneys, despite being in a high risk group.


Voor meer informatie:
Frieda Brepoels, Europarlementslid N-VA,
EVP-ED-Persdienst, Greet Gysen,
website: www.friedabrepoels.eu


Bron: politics.be