[콕!Health] "The Silent Organ 'Sinjang', Should Be Regularly Checked"

Advice has been issued that regular check-ups are necessary for the diagnosis of chronic kidney disease, which has almost no early symptoms. If diagnosed with chronic kidney disease, treatment along with dietary management such as low-sodium and low-protein diets is required.

According to Korea University Guro Hospital on the 28th, the kidneys are responsible for filtering waste and excreting it through urine. In addition, they release hormones that regulate blood pressure, maintain body homeostasis, assist in hematopoiesis, and activate vitamin D to aid in calcium reabsorption.

Chronic kidney failure can occur if the kidneys are damaged for more than three months due to various causes. Chronic kidney disease is classified into stages 1 to 5 based on the glomerular filtration rate, and when it progresses to end-stage renal failure with loss of kidney function, treatments such as dialysis or kidney transplantation are necessary.

Chronic kidney disease has almost no early symptoms, making early detection difficult. Usually, when patients recognize chronic kidney disease and visit a hospital, kidney function is likely to have dropped below 30%. According to the Health Insurance Review & Assessment Service, the number of chronic kidney disease patients increased by 36% over five years, from 203,978 in 2017 to 277,252 in 2021. The causes of this increase include the rise in chronic disease patients such as hypertension, diabetes, and obesity, as well as kidney function decline due to aging.

Although chronic kidney disease has almost no early symptoms, various symptoms appear in almost all organs over time. These include chronic fatigue, sensory disturbances, neurological symptoms, cardiovascular symptoms such as hypertension and arteriosclerosis, pulmonary edema, loss of appetite, and vomiting. Additionally, if there are changes in urine such as increased frequency of urination during sleep over a long period, proteinuria, or hematuria, it is advisable to suspect chronic kidney disease and promptly seek specialist medical care.

For the diagnosis of chronic kidney disease, related tests such as blood tests and urine tests are conducted. Diagnosis is made through various tests including glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), serum creatinine, urine protein, and kidney ultrasound. In stages 1 to 2 of chronic kidney disease, intensive treatment of underlying diseases (diabetes, hypertension, obesity, etc.) is performed, and from stage 3 onwards, drug therapy aims to delay kidney function loss as much as possible. Dietary control such as low-sodium and low-protein diets is also necessary along with drug therapy.

Prevention is most important for chronic kidney disease. Currently, there is no way to restore damaged kidneys to health.

Professor Kim Ji-eun of the Department of Nephrology at Korea University Guro Hospital advised, "To prevent chronic kidney disease in advance, it is best to thoroughly implement appropriate diet, exercise, and medication therapy to prevent the occurrence of chronic diseases, and to manage diseases or complications related to chronic kidney disease through regular urine and blood tests. Especially for blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol, consistent exercise, weight control, and taking any prescribed medications without omission are important," she said.

Professor Kim Ji-eun, Department of Nephrology, Korea University Guro Hospital.
[Photo by Korea University Guro Hospital]

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