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New Zealand needs to brace itself for soaring numbers of chronic kidney disease patients if the diabetes epidemic is not slowed down, researchers say.
Diabetes is responsible for almost half of all patients with end-stage chronic kidney disease.
Chronic kidney disease and its effects account for about one third of New Zealand's health costs, with researchers last year estimating end-stage treatment cost the country a minimum of $36 million a year.
About 20 researchers from across Otago University, led by Professors Rob Walker and Zoltan Endre, have formed a renal health research group, dedicated to investigating innovative ways to prevent and treat kidney disease.
The group's expertise ranges from molecular and cellular-level investigations of kidney function, to applying therapies to prevent kidney injury or the progression of kidney disease.
Today is World Kidney Day, part of the current National Drink Water Week promoted by the New Zealand Kidney Foundation.
In a statement, Prof Walker said chronic kidney disease has a terrible impact on the lives of sufferers.
"And we are going to see more people suffering from kidney disease as the nation's diabetes epidemic continues to worsen.
"To help combat this alarming trend we need to prevent acute kidney problems from progressing to chronic kidney disease, which leads to renal failure and the need for dialysis."
Professor Endre, based at Otago's Christchurch School of Medicine and Health Sciences, said the group hopes to achieve this through bringing together researchers from many fields in a "benchtop to bedside" approach to investigating the disease.
"This collaborative approach will also aid the cross-fertilisation of ideas between scientists and clinicians from diverse backgrounds," he said.
"This is a key requirement for innovative research."
Research topics include efforts to find new markers for early acute renal failure so it can be treated before irreversible damage or death occurs.
- NZPA
