In Denmark, chronic kidney disease affects about 10% of the population, and for some, the condition worsens quickly after diagnosis.
Aarhus University researchers conducted a detailed study to understand the risk factors associated with this rapid progression, offering hope for better treatments.
The study, rooted in Danish health data, aims to equip healthcare professionals with knowledge to identify patients at high risk of their kidney disease worsening quickly.
Professor Christian Fynbo Christiansen from Aarhus University highlighted the importance of identifying patients at risk early to potentially delay or prevent the disease from getting worse.
One of the key findings from the study is that within three years of being diagnosed with mild to moderate chronic kidney disease, there’s a 15% chance of rapid progression. This could lead to serious health issues like severe cardiovascular disease or even death.
Interestingly, the study found that the risk of rapid progression varies significantly among patients. A simple test measuring protein in the urine, specifically the protein albumin, turned out to be a strong indicator of how the kidney disease might progress.
For instance, women without diabetes, high blood pressure, or cardiovascular disease, and without albumin in their urine, had a 7% risk of their kidney disease getting worse quickly.
On the other hand, men with diabetes, high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, and albumin in their urine faced a 47% risk.
This discovery emphasizes the importance of using albumin as a marker to identify patients at high risk for rapid deterioration, which could help prevent complications and improve patients’ quality of life. The study suggests that this simple urine test should be utilized more widely.
By targeting treatment and follow-up for high-risk patients, healthcare professionals can potentially make a significant positive impact on patient outcomes not only in Denmark but globally.
This approach could also lead to reduced healthcare costs by focusing on prevention and early treatment.
Professor Christiansen calls for increased awareness of using markers like albumin in urine to identify high-risk patients. He also points out the need for further research and development of precise treatment methods.
Although the study provides valuable insights into risk groups, a detailed model for predicting individual patient outcomes is still in the works.
Published in Nephrology Dialysis Transplantation, this research marks a significant step towards improving the management and treatment of chronic kidney disease, potentially benefiting both patients and society.
If you care about kidney health, please read studies about drug that prevents kidney failure in diabetes, and drinking coffee could help reduce risk of kidney injury.
For more information about kidney health, please see recent studies about foods that may prevent recurrence of kidney stones, and common painkillers may harm heart, kidneys and more.
The research findings can be found in Nephrology Dialysis Transplantation.
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