26 March 2017

By FOUZIA KHAN

JEDDAH: There are nearly 16,000 renal failure patients in the Kingdom, of which two-thirds undergo dialysis, while almost 6,000 are waiting for a kidney transplant, an expert said.

Dr. Kamil Salamah, secretary-general of the Saudi Diabetes and Endocrine Association (SDEA), said the main reason for this high number was the related prevalence of hypertension and diabetes in the Kingdom.

SDEA and the Saudi Foundation for Promoting Organ Donation, popularly known by its Arabic acronym Eithar, both recently participated in the Kidney Disease Symposium held by the Ministry of the Health.

Salamah advised the people at risk from kidney diseases to perform the necessary medical tests. He also asked the food industry in Saudi Arabia to limit adding salt to food, and advised the families of diabetic children in the Kingdom to follow up with doctors regarding to kidney disease prevention.

Salamah stated that other guidelines for better kidney health include weight loss for obese people, lowering the intake of saturated fat, performing regular physical activity, controlling blood sugar for diabetic people and drinking an adequate amount of water, as dehydration badly affects kidney functions.

© Arab News 2017