World Kidney Day - Kidney Disease in Women

All About the Day

World Kidney Day started in 2006 and celebrated on the second Thursday in March. The mission of World Kidney Day is to raise awareness of the importance of our kidneys to our overall health and to reduce the frequency and impact of kidney disease and its associated health problems worldwide. The 2018 theme is focused on Kidney Disease In Women.

World Kidney Day - Are Your Kidneys OK?

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More than 600,000 women die every year from chronic kidney disease, the eighth leading cause of death among women. Chronic kidney disease, a progressive condition in which the kidneys are damaged and function reduced, affects 195 million women worldwide. Women face additional risks to their kidney health, specifically during pregnancy, but may be less likely to access treatment such as dialysis and kidney transplantation in some parts of the world.

To mark World Kidney Day and International Women’s Day 2018, the International Society of Nephrology (ISN) and the International Federation of Kidney Foundations (IFKF) highlights the impact of kidney disease on women’s health and the urgent need for targeted, gender-sensitive prevention and treatment throughout the lifecycle of girls and women.

To reduce the risk of kidney disease in women, advocate for strategies targeting the main risk factors through lifestyle changes, patient education and screening:

1. Implement public health policies that support lifestyle changes by facilitating healthy food choices, promoting physical activity and reducing tobacco use.

2. Increase patient awareness of kidney disease through effective patient education.
3. Implement systematic screening for kidney disease risk factors such as diabetes, high blood pressure and obesity in women throughout the life course.

Resources
1. World Kidney Day
2. The Kidney Foundation of Canada, Kidney Community Kitchen
3. National Kidney Foundation
4. National Institutes of Health, Chronic kidney disease
5. WebMD, Chronic Kidney Disease