Kidney Health Week

Governor General Launches Kidney Health Week

Kidney Health Week 24-30 May 2009

The Governor General and Patron in Chief of Kidney Health Australia, Her Excellency Ms Quentin Bryce AC, will officially launch Kidney Health Week 2009 at the Canberra Hospital this morning before visiting the Hospital's dialysis unit.

Anne Wilson, Chief Executive of Kidney Health Australia said with one in three Australians at increased risk of kidney disease, the need for people to keep their blood pressure down to reduce the risk of damaging their kidneys is a major target in the battle against Chronic Kidney Disease in Australia.

Ms Wilson said "high blood pressure affects 1 in 4 Australians and recent research has revealed that 50% of patients do not have blood pressure managed to the target levels.

"Research has also shown that 80% of patients with failed kidneys had high blood pressure which is a major contributor to Chronic Kidney Disease with CKD being responsible for 12% of all hospital admissions in 2007."

Australian Bureau of Statistics figures released earlier this year showed that diseases of the kidney and urinary tract have jumped to 10th on the leading cause of death list with 3230 deaths in 2007 being attributed as the single underlying cause.

This number has increased 123% in the last decade. Most of this increase appears to be due to an increase in chronic kidney failure deaths that have risen 148% in the last decade - 2046 deaths in 2007 compared with 1386 in 1998, with a striking 133% rise over the last 3 years.

A highlight of the 2009 Kidney Health Week launch will be the official recognition of two Canberra residents who will receive Kidney Health Australia Operation Angel Awards for their outstanding contribution to assisting people with Chronic Kidney Disease.

Bill Handke cares for his wife Jenny who has kidney disease, requiring dialysis regularly. Jenny, like hundreds of other Australians is hopeful of eventually receiving a kidney transplant. Bill is head of the Kidney Health Australia Consumer Group.

David Parker has suffered from Chronic Kidney Disease from birth and started on dialysis in 2005 and he received a transplant in 2008. David is involved with seven different boards and advisory committees nationally and in the ACT working on organ donation, renal service delivery and public health and consumer advocacy.

Ms Wilson said Chronic Kidney Disease if detected at an early stage is treatable and patients may never have to undertake the extreme treatment of going onto dialysis three times a week when their kidneys fail. Kidney Health Australia encourages everyone to look after their health and reduce the risks of developing the disease by maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

Chronic Kidney Disease Fact - Although Indigenous Australians represent less than 2.5% of the national population, they account for approximately 10% of people commencing kidney replacement therapy.