Media Release 7th January 2010
One Australian is Dying with Kidney Disease Every 30 Minutes
Three hundred and fifty Australians will have died in the first seven days of 2010 with kidney
disease…. Kidney Health Australia.
Kidney Health Australia says on average more than one Australian is dying with kidney related
diseases every thirty minutes with Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) responsible for contributing to
the deaths of more people than breast cancer, suicide and road deaths.
CKD is known as the silent killer as people can lose up to 90% of the use of their kidneys without
feeling sick.
Anne Wilson CEO and Managing Director of Kidney Health Australia said one in seven Australians have
some form of CKD and the organisation is urging people in the high risk categories to use the start of 2010
to include a simple regular kidney health check in their personal health plan with their GP.
Ms Wilson said Chronic Kidney Disease is common, harmful and treatable. People with CKD can delay the
need for dialysis or sometimes halt progress entirely if they implemented a common sense personal health
plan in collaboration with their general practitioner.
Research shows 27% of people going onto dialysis programs have not seen a doctor related to their
kidney disease in the 3 months prior to their kidneys totally failing.
Dr Tim Mathew, Medical Director of Kidney Health Australia said the Australian CKD scene is characterized
by a steady increase in the numbers of people entering dialysis programs and in those dying of kidney
failure. Almost 1 million hospitalizations for dialysis occurred in 2007-8 accounting for 17.4% of all
separations from public hospitals.
Dr Mathew said people in the high risk area of having some form of CKD and who should be having regular
kidney health checks include:
Patients with diabetes mellitus and hypertension
Individuals who are obese or smoke
Individuals over 50 years of age
Individuals with a family history of kidney disease, diabetes mellitus or hypertension
Key preventative measures - The seven golden rules for prevention of CKD are also successful in
protecting against cardiovascular disease:
Reduction of high blood pressure - the lower the blood pressure, the slower the GFR decline
Specific medications to reduce proteinuria as well as lower blood pressure - ACE inhibitors/ARBs
Reduce salt intake to lower blood pressure
Control of glucose, blood lipids and anemia
Stop smoking
Increased physical activity
Control of body weight
Anyone who is suffering from Chronic Kidney Disease and needs help should call the Kidney Health
Australia Help Line on 1800 4 543 639
Dr Tim Mathew, Medical Director, KHA 0416 149 863 from 6.00am
Anne Wilson CEO Managing Director KHA 0400 165 391
Ron Smith Media Communications KHA 0417 329 201
NEWS 
