HEFEI, March 14 (Xinhua) -- Diabetic nephropathy has replaced chronic glomerulonephritis to be the primary cause of chronic kidney disease (CKD) among Chinese patients, medical experts have said.
According to the World Kidney Day website, 850 million people worldwide are now estimated to have kidney diseases.
Internationally, diabetic nephropathy is the primary cause of end-stage renal disease. Previous research has shown that about half of Chinese patients in renal replacement therapy suffered from chronic glomerulonephritis, which is different in developed countries, said Zhang Luxia, professor of nephrology at Peking University First Hospital.
The growing number of diabetic patients in China might have a profound effect on the spectrum of CKD, Zhang added. She is also one of the editors of the China Kidney Disease Network (CK-NET) 2015 Annual Data Report, which was published by Kidney International, the official journal of the International Society of Nephrology, last month.
Yang Mu, chief physician with the department of nephrology at the First Affiliated Hospital of University of Science and Technology of China, said that unhealthy lifestyles - excessive intake of carbohydrates, fat and salt - had not only increased the burden on people's kidneys, but also the risks of CKD triggers, such as diabetes and hypertension.
Overwork, lack of sleep, smoking and alcohol abuse are likely to cause damage to the kidney, Yang said.
To avoid CKD, experts suggest early detection and treatment of hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidemia and hyperuricemia.
March 14 marks the 14th World Kidney Day, a global campaign that aims to raise the awareness of the importance of kidneys.
