Health Outcomes From IHD

The kidney care system in Pakistan is being developed on the basis of new strategies, which have been incorporated from the kidney care systems of developed countries. Currently, renal diseases account for nearly all the deaths in Pakistan, mainly due to infections, complications of pre-existing medical conditions, mortality due to causes not specifically related to kidney disorders. The incidence of kidney diseases and related deaths continue to decline steadily despite the availability of effective treatments. Despite this encouraging trend, there are still a number of people who die of renal disorders every year. This is mainly because of ignorance and poverty-based issues. This has resulted in an increased number of patients opting out of dialysis and other costly dialysis treatments.

As per recent estimates, there are approximately 20 million people living with kidney disease in Pakistan. Most of them are affected by one or more kidney diseases, which can range from acute kidney failure (AKF), chronic kidney disease (CVD), kidney cancer, end stage renal disease (ESRT), and cystic fibrosis. The kidney care system in Pakistan is developing in response to these various forms of kidney disease. The Kidney Care First (KCIF) and Comprehensive Kidney Care (CIKD) Structured, Professional, and Global Models are developing, based on the existing Comprehensive End Stage Renal Disease [CESD] models that aim at improving quality of life and prolonging life.

 

The objectives of the kidney care system in Pakistan are two-fold. First, it aims at improving the overall quality of life of the individuals who are insured by it. Second, it aims at extending life expectancy and preventing diseases, which are associated with increased mortality. One such disease is in-center hemodialysis [IHD] and its complications. IHD is a disease characterized by accumulation of excessive wastes in kidneys. The main reasons for IHD are exposure to environmental toxins and excess protein in body fluids.

Because of its negative effects on bladder problems and urinary tract functioning, in-center kidney care is aimed at preventing the occurrence and aggravation of symptoms of IHD. Through this kidney care program, the kidney is made to work harder and remain strong to filter toxins from the body through urine. However, most patients of kidney failure may have no or little IHD despite accumulation of excessive wastes in their kidneys; and if this is the case, other important aspects of kidney failure treatment will have to be undertaken to address the health issues arising out of the kidney stones.

In Pakistan, there are various kidney disease rehabilitation centers available to cater to the medical needs of patients who are suffering from kidney failure. These centers aim at improving overall health, treating different kidney disease symptoms and preventing the occurrence and progression of kidney failure. Patients who are treated at these facilities are given ample amount of fluids as per their requirement throughout the treatment. They are also provided with dietary supplements that are made available to them to prevent further kidney failure and the recurrence of symptoms. These treatment centers aim at promoting general wellness of patients and helping them lead normal lives. They provide treatment to kidney disease patients who do not respond positively to dialysis or transplant, in addition to patients who suffer from chronic kidney disease.

 

On the whole, Pakistani society does not accept the concept of kidney transplant and hence the country's population remains one of the few with poor immunity to IHD. It is for this reason that kidney disease patients in rural areas face great difficulties in getting treatment for their disease and they are likely to succumb to diseases like tuberculosis, cholera and HIV even after receiving treatment at the best possible facilities. Only those people living in the urban areas who have received extensive IHD education and are known to lead a healthy lifestyle can hope of surviving this disease.

As per recent estimates, there are nearly 19 million people living in the United States - just two percent of whom suffer from chronic kidney disease. In spite of increasing awareness and a focus on prevention and treatment of this disease among Americans, the number of kidney transplants performed on an annual basis is still very low. More people in the United States are still waiting for the day when kidney failure, kidney infections and the like become a thing of the past. On an average, patients wait up to 15 years for a kidney transplant. Those who suffer from chronic kidney disease may have to wait even longer.

The best way to avoid such delays is by taking immediate action and exploring all possible health outcomes from IHD. By getting more information on kidney disease, patients can now decide on the kind of treatment that will help them live a healthy life despite their conditions. Patients can go through the web sites of dialysis associations and dialysis centers to learn more about their respective services and Ajmal Dawakhana UK. This information is also available in the print media, as well as in IHD brochures and informational books.