Chronic renal disease in Mexico: A preventive uncontrolled epidemic

Abstract

Diabetic and hypertensive nephropathy are the leading causes of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and renal replacement therapy worldwide, due to the accelerated deterioration in renal function suffered by patients who fail to meet metabolic control and blood pressure targets, respectively, as well as associated comorbidities that contribute as additional factors of progression, causing a dramatic drop in the glomerular filtration rate with subsequent need for dialysis therapy. Given this scenario, it is paradoxical that there are no preventive programs aimed at the early detection of nephropathy in the general consultation at the different health-care levels, which ultimately leads to a delayed referral to the kidney specialist. If we consider persistent hyperglycemia and abnormally high blood pressure rates as the main triggers for the progression of incipient nephropathy up to the advanced stage, CKD is classified as a preventable disease, if greater medical intervention in the first and second level of care was available, as this would change the evolution of the disease in patients.