Asians at high risk of kidney disease, says Kidney
THE Asian community in Birmingham are being urged to take up free Kidney checks as part of a national screening pilot by Kidney Research UK.
The screenings, which will take place every Saturday at the Aston Pride Community Health centre until 4 April, are part of a national pilot being conducted in association with the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham.
The charity said the screenings, which are also being offered in London and Oldham, are being specifically targeted to the Asian community as they are five times more likely to suffer from kidney disease then their white counterparts.
Dr. Dwomoa Adu, the principal investigator for the screening pilot from Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham, said: “We are very keen for Asian people to come forward to be screened as they are three to five times more likely to suffer from kidney disease than white Caucasians, and we believe that this screening programme will be an effective way to find them before the disease becomes critical and help them to manage the condition with medication and lifestyle changes.
“Kidney disease is a silent killer and can cause a lot of suffering to individuals if left undiagnosed. If we can find sufferers in the early stages, we can manage the condition and avoid the need for dialysis and even transplantation.”
Appointments last 45 minutes and patients will have their height, weight and blood pressure checked, and will be asked for blood and urine samples.
People wishing to be screened in Birmingham can walk in without an appointment to any of the Aston Pride sessions which will run on Saturdaysuntil 4th April, 9.30-3pm.
Further information can be obtained by calling the Kidney Health Information Line on 0845 300 1499.
