Escalating cases of chronic kidney disease linked to painkillers

Jun 18, 2016 News

An escalation of chronic kidney disease has been linked to the use of painkillers. This is according to Chief

Dr. Shamdeo Persaud

Medical Officer, Dr. Shamdeo Persaud, who disclosed that an increase in such conditions has been as a result of overuse of non-steriodal anti-inflammatory pain relievers.

Dr. Persaud cautioned, “We always have to be careful with medication.”
He made this disclosure as he addressed a Sickle Cell Anaemia Awareness workshop at the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation’s (GPHC) Resource Centre.
According to the CMO, conditions such as the Chikungunya and Zika viruses which often require pain relief can in fact prove to be a challenge to the health sector.
“These conditions don’t help…Everyone would resort to buying more and more of these pain relievers and using excessive amounts,” said Dr. Persaud. He noted that on the labels of these medications are warning of risks which people need to pay keen attention to.
The Minister was at the time also speaking about the condition of sickle cell anaemia, a disease, which causes a great deal of pain to those inflicted. The sicklers – persons suffering from sickle cell disease— too require constant pain relievers. Constant use of opium (narcotic type drugs) is usually sought after by sicklers.
Among the greatest risks is problems being caused to the kidneys, Dr. Persaud said. He pointed out, “You have to be careful because there is a delicate balance even though the doctors might very well want to help you with your pains sometimes it is the balance that we need to strike.”
“I understand, too, that with proper education of the sickler themselves you can actually achieve a level of control…lfewer attack (per year) as you go on …and that should probably be a goal that a sickler should set for him or herself,” related Dr. Persaud. This would by extension mean that fewer drugs would be required.
Reports have been published that suggest that heavy or long-term use of some painkillers such as ibuprofen, naproxen, and higher dose aspirin, can cause chronic kidney disease.
Chronic kidney disease is a worldwide health crisis, health officials have been able to deduce. In 2005, there were approximately 58 million deaths worldwide, with 35 million attributed to chronic disease, according to the World Health Organization.
But chronic kidney disease can be treated. With early diagnosis and treatment, it has been proven possible to slow or stop the progression of kidney disease.
However, 10 per cent of the population worldwide is affected by chronic kidney disease (CKD), and millions die each year because they do not have access to affordable treatment.
According the 2010 Global Burden of Disease study, chronic kidney disease was ranked 27th in the list of causes of total number of deaths worldwide in 1990, but rose to 18th in 2010. This degree of movement up the list was second only to that for HIV and AIDS.
Added to this, it has been reported that over two million people worldwide currently receive treatment with dialysis or a kidney transplant to stay alive, yet this number may only represent 10 per cent of people who actually need treatment to live, health officials have concluded.