A medical expert says more needs to be done about chronic kidney disease in New Zealand.
Nurse in hospital renal unit starting dialysis on patient. Photo: 123RF
"The actual ramifications are much much higher than we expect" - Kidney disease researcher
University of Otago research shows chronic kidney disease is more prevalent among the Pacific population than previously thought.
Study co-author professor Rob Walker told Morning Report more intervention is needed because the disease is hurting a group already known to experience inequalities in health care.
"We looked at two health providers in South Auckland providing a large amount of care to Pacific people, when we looked at how many had been tested for chronic kidney disease we found an incident of 16 percent in the Samoan population.
"But if you look at those who actually had tested their kidney function, then the prevalence was as high as 33 percent so there are very alarming high figures in the Samoan community but also in other Pacific Island communities as well," Walker said.
He said the disease was also found in Māori communities at a rate of around 24 percent.
If not addressed the prevalence of kidney disease had the potential for long-term health impacts on both affected individuals and their communities, he said.
University of Otago professor Rob Walker. Photo: Otago University Magazine
Poverty played a part, with difficulty accessing healthcare meaning many failed to be diagnosed at the right time.
Walker said the disease was presenting in Maori and Pacific people in an age range 10-15 years younger than non-Māori and non-Pacific communities.
He said this was particularly concerning as many in that age-range were the bread winners for their families.
"It's hitting those in their forties who are obviously the major income earners for families, the major care supporters for their families so the actual ramifications are much much higher than we expect."
Raising awareness was key to addressing the prevalence of disease amongst these communities but screening for the disease during medical check-ups was the first line of defence, he said.
"Unfortunately, kidney disease is silent it doesn't have a flag saying you've got kidney disease so we need to be able to look for it each time."
He said measuring blood pressure, and testing both urine and blood were the key steps to assessing the function of the kidneys.
Walker said with an early diagnosis there were effective interventions that could reduce the risk of the disease worsening.