A nephrologist and senior lecturer at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Dr Elliott Koranteng Tanor, has warned that kidney disease remains one of the most overlooked health threats despite affecting a significant number of people who may not even realise they have the condition.
Speaking on the Asaase Breakfast Show on Thursday (12 March) to mark World Kidney Day, Dr Tanor described the kidneys as vital organs that many people rarely think about until they fail.
“The kidneys happen to be organs that people care less about,” he said. “People know about the heart, the lungs or the eyes, but the kidneys are hardly considered until they stop working.”
He explained that the organs play a critical role in maintaining overall body health, including filtering waste from the blood, regulating fluid levels and helping control blood pressure.
Late detection common
According to Dr Tanor, one of the most dangerous aspects of kidney disease is that it often develops silently over many years without noticeable symptoms.
He compared the condition to a mobile phone battery that gradually drains without the user noticing until it becomes critically low.
“In most cases, kidney disease progresses quietly from stage one to stage three without the patient realising it,” he said. “People only discover the problem when they suddenly fall seriously ill, by which time the kidney function may already have declined for years.”
By the time symptoms such as persistent vomiting, fatigue or loss of appetite appear, patients often require renal replacement therapy, including dialysis.
He warned that the financial burden of dialysis can be devastating for families because treatment is expensive and typically required multiple times every week.
Rising cases in Africa
Dr Tanor said kidney disease is becoming increasingly common worldwide.
Globally, about one in ten people are estimated to have some form of kidney disease. However, he noted that the prevalence is higher in Africa.
“In Africa the numbers can be as high as about 14 to 16 out of every 100 people,” he said. “So if you gather ten people in a room, at least one may already have kidney disease without knowing.”
He added that patients in Ghana tend to develop severe kidney disease at a younger age compared with developed countries.
“In some countries the average age of dialysis patients is above 60 or even 80 years,” he said. “But in Ghana the average is around 45 to 47 years.”
Major causes
Dr Tanor identified hypertension and diabetes as the leading causes of kidney disease in Ghana.
Other contributing factors include infections such as HIV and hepatitis, abuse of painkillers, herbal medications with unknown toxic substances, excessive alcohol consumption and genetic predisposition.
Environmental factors may also play a role.
“If the sun is very hot and people are sweating but not drinking enough water, the kidneys can be affected,” he said.
He also warned that pollutants from illegal mining, commonly known as galamsey, could contaminate water sources and indirectly damage kidney health.
Prevention and testing
Dr Tanor urged Ghanaians to take preventive steps by undergoing routine medical checks.
“From age 30, please check your kidney function regularly,” he advised. “Also check your blood pressure, blood sugar and urine tests.”
He also encouraged lifestyle changes such as drinking adequate water, exercising regularly, reducing salt intake and eating more fruits and vegetables.
“It is one thing to hear the advice, but another to act on it,” he said. “If people take these simple steps, many cases of kidney disease can be prevented.”
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