A doctor working on a dialysis machine at AAR hospital/HANDOUT
Local hospitals have been forced to adjust schedules for dialysis on increased patient numbers
Data from the Ministry of Health shows that more than 5,000 patients are currently on dialysis, while more than 12,000 have reached end-stage kidney disease.
An estimated five million Kenyans have some form of chronic kidney condition, with many unaware of their status.
Following increased kidney concerns in the country, patients were allowed a 24-hour access to dialysis services at AAR Hospital during the celebration of this year’s World Kidney Day.
AAR Hospital CEO Dr. Aysha Edwards says the all-day access was in keeping with AAR Hospital's twice-a-week, 24-hour dialysis sessions during which patients with Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) can get treatment any time of the day every and .
"Our data shows rising Kidney Disease cases and increased demand for dialysis services, which has informed the expanded services including the and 24-hour dialysis sessions," said the Dr. Edwards.
Dialysis sessions at the Muthaiga North-based AAR Hospital increased by nearly a fifth (17.5 per cent) in one year between and .
Edwards says that AAR Hospital is among the few health facilities offering continuous dialysis treatment on specific days, ensuring no patient is turned away due to time constraints.
Kidney failure is caused by factors such as being diabetic, hypertensive, autoimmune and urinary tract diseases, but it could also be genetic.
It can be prevented through lifestyle choices such as eating a healthy diet and regular exercise.
"Most important, the hospital is also focusing on awareness and early screening to help curb late-stage kidney disease diagnoses," Dr. Edwards said.
Kenya is estimated to have a chronic kidney disease (CKD) prevalence rate of 4 per cent, significantly lower than the sub-Saharan Africa prevalence of 14 per cent, as per a study published by the US National Library of Medicine in .
The survey found that those most vulnerable to CKD are senior citizens aged above 60, and those with HIV infection.
“Unpublished data from the Kenya Renal Registry indicates that hypertensive renal disease and diabetic nephropathy are the two most identified kidney diseases in patients receiving kidney replacement therapy (KRT). There are no formal studies of the incidence and prevalence of end-stage kidney disease, (also known as stage 5 CKD), but informal estimates are that KRT is accessed by fewer than half of the patients who need it,” states the report.
International guidelines recommend dialysis three times a week for patients with end-stage kidney disease, but this is not attainable in many sub-Saharan African countries, including Kenya.
