Chronic kidney disease is increasingly affecting younger patients in Vietnam, with modern lifestyles identified as a significant contributing factor. On 19/6, during a scientific workshop on "Chronic Dialysis at Bach Mai Hospital – 54 Years of Development and Future Directions," Doctor Nghiem Trung Dung, Director of the Center for Kidney - Urology and Dialysis, noted this worrying trend.

Doctor Dung explained that consuming excessive processed and salty foods, combined with a lack of physical activity, late nights, and irregular routines, leads to increased obesity and early metabolic disorders. These conditions, in turn, elevate the risk of kidney damage.

In Vietnam, glomerulonephritis and metabolic conditions such as diabetes, overweight, and obesity are the two primary causes of end-stage kidney failure. The rising prevalence of obesity and diabetes among young people directly correlates with chronic kidney disease appearing at progressively younger ages.

A major challenge with chronic kidney disease is its silent progression over extended periods. Many individuals only discover the condition after significant kidney function decline. According to Doctor Dung, early symptoms are often easily overlooked. These can include persistent foamy urine, blood in urine, changes in urine volume, or frequent nighttime urination. By the time symptoms like edema, difficult-to-control hypertension, heart failure, anemia, nausea, or vomiting appear, the disease is typically in an advanced stage.

A patient undergoing dialysis at Bach Mai Hospital. Photo: Hospital provided

Associate Professor Dao Xuan Co, Director of Bach Mai Hospital, highlighted at the workshop that chronic kidney disease presents a growing healthcare burden, largely because most patients show no clear symptoms in its initial stages. The hospital currently manages about 300 patients undergoing chronic dialysis. Previously, this number reached nearly 700. The transfer of dialysis techniques to provincial and district hospitals has significantly reduced the load on central-level hospitals.

According to Associate Professor Co, kidney replacement therapies, particularly dialysis, are crucial pillars in treating end-stage kidney failure in Vietnam and globally. The objective of dialysis extends beyond merely removing harmful substances and maintaining internal balance to prolong life; it also focuses on improving patients' quality of life.

Bach Mai Hospital offers a full range of modern kidney replacement therapies, including kidney transplant, online hemodiafiltration, adsorption dialysis, high-efficiency filter dialysis, and automated peritoneal dialysis. Thanks to medical advancements, many patients with end-stage kidney failure maintain stable lives for 25-30 years after commencing chronic dialysis.

"Previously, end-stage kidney failure was considered a severe diagnosis," Doctor Dung said. "Today, with modern treatment techniques, patients can extend their lifespan and maintain a better quality of life."

Experts recommend annual health check-ups for everyone. Simple tests like urine analysis and kidney function checks can detect early kidney damage before the disease becomes severe. Individuals with diabetes, hypertension, overweight, obesity, or a family history of kidney disease particularly need regular screenings for early detection.

To prevent the disease, it is essential to limit processed foods and high-salt diets, maintain a healthy weight, exercise regularly, effectively manage blood pressure and blood sugar, and avoid prolonged self-medication without a doctor's prescription.

Le Nga