Doctors from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) note that kidney diseases can damage the body unnoticed for a long time before obvious signs appear. Specialists warn that some patients are only diagnosed when the condition has reached an advanced stage.
Experts explain this problem by stating that kidneys can continue to function even after losing a significant part of their capacity. By the time a patient notices any deviations, the damage may be serious.
Dr. John Cheryan, a nephrologist at Aster Hospital in Mankhool, stated that 'the kidneys function silently.' He emphasized that chronic kidney disease usually develops slowly, and its early symptoms can be so minor that they are overlooked by both patients and during routine check-ups. According to him, they still encounter a significant number of people who are diagnosed with late-stage kidney disease.
Doctors point out that people suffering from diabetes, high blood pressure, and obesity carry the highest risk of developing chronic kidney disease.
Dr. Cheryan noted that type 2 diabetes remains the primary cause among the patients he sees, followed by hypertension. Other causes mentioned include glomerulonephritis, polycystic kidney disease, and chronic kidney infections.
Dr. Omar Makbul, a specialist in general surgery and transplant services at Burjeel Medical City, also reported that diabetes and hypertension are common causes of chronic kidney disease in the UAE, with obesity being another significant risk factor.
Concerns are not limited to the elderly. Dr. Cheryan added that while kidney disease was traditionally associated with older age groups, younger patients are increasingly being diagnosed with this ailment because diabetes and obesity are becoming more prevalent at earlier ages.
Young people can also develop kidney problems due to autoimmune disorders, genetic conditions, and inflammatory processes affecting the kidneys.
Dr. Makbul reminded people about warning signs that should not be ignored. These include foamy urine, swelling of the face or body, blood in the urine, muscle spasms, and shortness of breath.
Nevertheless, doctors strongly recommend not waiting for symptoms to appear, as some patients may develop severe kidney damage before obvious signs manifest.
Therefore, screening is particularly important for individuals who already have diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, or obesity.
Dr. Cheryan noted that awareness has improved, and more people are now seeking kidney screenings, and patients with diabetes and hypertension undergo regular kidney health monitoring.
The doctors reported that kidney problems can often be detected with two relatively simple tests. The first is the glomerular filtration rate (GFR), which helps doctors assess the efficiency of blood filtration by the kidneys. The second test is the albumin-creatinine ratio in urine (ACR), which checks for protein leakage into the urine.
Dr. Cheryan stressed that both tests are widely available and relatively inexpensive. Early detection allows doctors to start treatment before further progression of the disease and potentially delay or prevent kidney failure.
Dr. Makbul advised residents to focus on controlling conditions that damage the kidneys over time. This includes maintaining a healthy lifestyle, regular physical exercise, adhering to a balanced diet, and undergoing preventive medical check-ups.
He also urged people with diabetes or high blood pressure to ensure proper treatment and control of these conditions. Furthermore, he cautioned against unnecessary self-medication, particularly frequent use of painkillers, which can negatively affect kidney health in some patients.
For doctors, the conclusion is simple: kidney disease should not be viewed as a condition that always presents with obvious signs. By the time symptoms become difficult to ignore, some patients may already have developed an advanced form of the disease. Regular screening, especially for people with diabetes, hypertension, or obesity, can help detect kidney damage much earlier, before dialysis or transplantation is required.