Renal Failure in Women

Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 29 December 2020: The risk of developing chronic renal (kidney) diseases is higher in women as compared to men. Approximately 195 million women worldwide suffer from kidney-related problems. The prevalence of the disease in women is 14% on an average, while in men, it’s 12%. It is currently the 8th leading cause of death in women, causing 600,000 deaths each year globally. 

The leading causes of kidney failure in women are not different from what affects men, which is diabetes, followed by high blood pressure, glomerulonephritis - a renal cyst which is a hereditary disease that results from the presence of a polycystic kidney and Alport syndrome (a genetic condition characterized by kidney failure, hearing loss and eye abnormalities). The diseases can affect in two ways. It can result in SLE, an autoimmune disease that can cause inflammation in many parts of the body (9 women contracting it for every 1 man) or women may suffer from kidney failure more often than men due to repeated infections of the urinary tract.

As for the symptoms of chronic kidney failure, they develop slowly and appear in an advanced stage of the disease, which includes: low urine output, shortness of breath, swollen legs, nausea, vomiting, lack of appetite, fatigue and weakness, sleep difficulties, lack of concentration, itching and muscle contraction.

Sharing advice on the topic, Dr. Ahmed Ewaida, Consultant Nephrologist at Al Zahra Hospital Dubai, said: “Chronic kidney disease is a growing concern in women lately. The low awareness of the disease often leads to delay in diagnosing and results in kidney failure. Early detection and the right treatment is the best way to prevent it from getting worse.” 

 
In short, the treatment of kidney failure relies on early detection and treatment of the underlying conditions causing it. It is advised to avoid consumption of pain-relieving drugs such as ibuprofen, filterin and others, especially when suffering from conditions that can result in kidney failure and malfunctioning kidneys.