DOUBLE-EDGED: Many people have survived diseases because of treatments that can damage their kidneys, while others are living long enough to develop kidney diseaseBy Lin Chih-yi and Hou Chia-yu / Staff reporters請繼續往下閱讀...The number of deaths, the mortality rate and the age-standardized mortality rate associated with kidney disease all increased in Taiwan last year, with healthcare providers warning of the growing challenges posed by multimorbidity as people take multiple medications or supplements that might harm their kidneys.About 10,000 new patients go on dialysis every year, and although Taiwan’s overall age-standardized mortality rate last year was 3.7 percent lower than the previous year, the deaths, mortality rate and age-standardized mortality rate associated with kidney disease all increased, Ministry of Health and Welfare data showed.Last year, 5,980 deaths were reported as associated with nephritis （kidney inflammation）, nephrotic syndrome （a kidney disorder in which too much protein is released in urine） and nephropathy （kidney disease or damage）, for a mortality rate of 25.6 deaths per 100,000 people and an age-standardized mortality rate of 10.6 deaths per 100,000, representing increases of 5.3 percent, 5.6 percent and 1.7 percent respectively from the previous year.National Cheng Kung University Hospital Department of Internal Medicine deputy director Sung Chun-ming （宋俊明） yesterday said that standardized mortality rates for kidney disease have been rising in Japan and the US, a trend he linked to the increasing complexity of comorbidities among people with chronic kidney disease.While the incidence and prevalence of dialysis in Taiwan are falling, the age of people on dialysis is rising and their comorbidities are increasing, so many physicians are seeing conditions becoming “increasingly severe,” he said.“Many people have survived diseases that can be treated, but at the cost of damaging their kidneys,” Sung said.Medical advances enable the treatment of many previously incurable diseases, but these therapies might impair renal function, he said.These developments — coupled with an aging population, cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic syndrome and other comorbidities — are creating new challenges in Taiwan’s nephrology care, he added.Kaohsiung Medical University Chung-Ho Memorial Hospital Division of Nephrology attending physician Hwang Shang-jyh （黃尚志） said that as medical care advances, more people are living long enough to develop kidney disease, which might be why kidney disease deaths are increasing.However, a conclusion cannot be drawn from short-term data on changes in kidney disease mortality rates alone, and a slight increase in the mortality rates does not imply that past prevention and control efforts have failed, he said.Clinically, patients often have multiple coexisting conditions, such as diabetes, liver cirrhosis, kidney failure and infections, Hwang said, adding that which condition is the primary cause of death can significantly influence statistical outcomes.Kidney disease mortality rates among middle-aged adults have shown a slight upward trend over the past few years, ministry data showed.Among people aged 45 to 64, the mortality rate associated with nephritis, nephrotic syndrome and nephropathy has ranged from 9.9 to 10.4 deaths per 100,000 people over the past five years, compared with a low of 9.2 deaths per 100,000 people in 2019.Metabolic syndrome is occurring at younger ages, and the number of people with early-onset type 2 diabetes has increased, Sung said.Middle-aged adults have poor adherence to medical advice for controlling the “three highs” — high levels of blood pressure, blood sugar and blood lipids, he said.Moreover, many people purchase over-the-counter drugs or health supplements without consulting a doctor to “protect their kidneys,” but doing so can instead harm their kidneys, he said.Public awareness of the importance of controlling the “three highs” should be improved, and the government should crack down on illegal advertisements for medicines and health supplements, and also consider requiring high-risk drugs to carry warning labels reminding people to consult a doctor before taking them, Sung said.Federation of Taiwan Pharmacists Associations spokesman Huang Yen-ju （黃彥儒） said that as some painkillers can affect blood flow in the kidneys, a person’s medication use and medical history must be carefully evaluated before analgesics are prescribed.People should also make a habit of asking a pharmacist before taking any new medicine, he said.People should also not believe the myth that taking supplements will protect their kidneys, avoid purchasing drugs or health products from unknown sources and not take them long-term simply based on a friend’s or family member’s recommendation or online ads.新聞來源：TAIPEI TIMES
评论 (0)