Kidney disease is
looming over the isles

Hawaii's chronic rate is higher than
the national average and could prove costly

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Star-Bulletin staff

Hawaii residents have a 30 percent higher risk for chronic kidney disease than the national average, according to a study published in the February issue of the American Journal of Kidney Diseases.

Nationally, an average of one person in nine, 20 and older, is at increased risk or already has the disease and does not know it because it often is not detected, the study says.

Afflicted persons total 40 million nationally and almost 200,000 in Hawaii, says the National Kidney Foundation of Hawaii.

Dr. Roland Ng, Honolulu nephrologist, said early detection is the only answer to Hawaii's high rate of kidney failure.

"Hawaii's dialysis population is comprised of approximately 50 percent diabetics, which is much higher than the mainland dialysis population," he said.

While pre-screening diabetics is important, he said this only reaches half of those at risk. "Not everyone who gets kidney disease is in the at-risk category. Not everyone will show early warning signs."

People with high blood pressure or a family history of kidney disease, as well as diabetes, are most at risk. Others are Hawaiians, Filipinos, Japanese and seniors.

The kidney foundation urges islanders to take advantage of its free kidney screenings and ask their physicians for three routine tests: a blood test for creatinine, a urine test for protein and a blood pressure measurement.

Untreated chronic kidney disease may lead to kidney failure, requiring a kidney transplant or dialysis for survival, the foundation points out.

The number of kidney failure patients in the country is expected to more than double by 2010 without intervention.

"This means Hawaii's dialysis population will exceed 3,000 at a projected cost to Medicare (and therefore all taxpayers) of $130 million in Hawaii and $28 billion nationwide," the foundation said.

"We need to stop this terrible disease," Ng said.

For more information or to receive a free kidney screening, call the National Kidney Foundation of Hawaii at 593-1515, or visit www.kidneyhi.org.