Chronic kidney disease and its prevention in India

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is an important, chronic, noncommunicable disease epidemic that affects the world, including India. Because of the absence of a renal registry in India, the true magnitude of CKD/end-stage renal disease (ESRD) is unknown. Two community-based studies, although methodologically different, have shown a prevalence of chronic renal failure of 0.16% and 0.79%. The cost of maintenance hemodialysis for a single session varies between US $10 to 40 between government-run and private hospitals. The average cost of erythropoetin is approximately US $150 to 200 per month. The cost of chronic ambulatory peritoneal dialysis with "Y" set at 3 exchanges per week, which most patients in India do, is US $400 per month. The cost of a renal transplant (RT) procedure is approximately US $700 to 800 in the government sector and US $6000 in the private sector. The cost of immunosuppression with basic triple immunosuppression drugs (cyclosporine, steroid, and azathioprin) is US $250 per month. There are hardly any state-funded medical treatment and medical insurance facilities for CKD and ESRD patients in India. India has nearly 700 nephrologists and approximately 400 dialysis units with 1000 dialysis stations, with the majority being in the private sector. A maximum of 2% of patients can be subjected to maintenance hemodialysis. Until now, approximately 3000 patients have been initiated on chronic ambulatory peritoneal dialysis. India has approximately 100 RT centers, mostly in private setup, and not more than 3000 to 4000 RTs are performed annually. Thus, only 3% to 5% of all patients with ESRD in India get some form of renal replacement therapy. Thus, planning for prevention of CKD on a long-term basis is the only practical solution for India. It appears that even in India, diabetes and hypertension are responsible for 40 to 50% of all cases of chronic renal failure. Screening for these 2 diseases and CKD is simple and easy to perform. The best approach will be to start screening for CKD in a high-risk group, like first-degree relatives of patients with diabetes, hypertension, and CKD, and simultaneously making a platform to run the program through the existing health care system of the country. The key issue of funding the program needs to be explored. Initial funding may come from international agencies like the World Health Organization, World Bank, and International Society of Nephrology, along with support from the country itself. Ultimately, funding has to be sustained from our own existing health care system.