site.btaChronic Kidney Disease Affects 13% of Bulgarians, Data Show

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) affects 13% of Bulgarians. Nine out of ten people do not know that they suffer from CKD, said the Chair of the Association of Patients with Kidney Diseases (APBZ), Hristina Nikolova during a BTA press conference. CKD is asymptomatic, which is why the disease is defined as a silent pandemic.

Worldwide, there are more people who suffer from CKD than those who have diabetes or cancer, according to the APBZ and the Bulgarian Hospital Association. CKD is associated with progressive loss of kidney function. It goes through six stages, and as they progress, the risk of chronic kidney failure and death from cardiovascular causes increases significantly.

Diabetes, high blood pressure, heart problems or stroke, obesity, genetic causes and smoking are among the risk factors for developing CKD, said Prof. Boris Bogov.

It is necessary to work extremely hard to educate the public on the subject, commented Nikolova. She announced the beginning of the three-month educational and informational campaign, titled "Are Your Kidneys Healthy?". The initiative is carried out by APBZ and the Bulgarian Hospital Association with the support of the Bulgarian Society of Nephrology and Cardiology. Seven major hospitals in Sofia, Varna, Plovdiv, Panagyurishte, and Ruse will join the campaign.