Experts stress early screening ahead of World Kidney Day 2026

Kidney specialists have said failure to detect kidney disease at an early stage can cause serious harm to patients.

They made the remarks on Sunday at the inaugural programme of a mobile kidney disease awareness campaign held at the B Block premises of Bangladesh Medical University (BMU), formerly PG Hospital, ahead of World Kidney Day 2026.

The programme was inaugurated by Professor Dr Md Nazrul Islam, convener of the Bangladesh Renal Association. Among those present were the association's joint convener Dr Mezbah Uddin Noman, associate professor at Dhaka Medical College Hospital, Dr Shahnewaz Dewan, member secretary Dr Md Farhad Hasan Chowdhury, treasurer Dr Md Abdul Mukit and organising secretary Dr Md Rezaul Alam.

Nazrul Islam said kidney disease is a "silent killer" and regular screening should be done before symptoms appear. He said treatment for kidney disease, such as dialysis and transplant, is highly expensive and can place a heavy burden on families. Early detection, he said, can make the disease treatable and manageable.

He also said the number of kidney patients is rising steadily and there is no alternative to raising public awareness to prevent the disease. He urged people to avoid adulterated food, maintain a healthy weight and keep high blood pressure and diabetes under control.

Farhad Hasan Chowdhury said the number of kidney patients has nearly doubled over the past decade. He said many patients seek medical help only after significant kidney damage has already occurred, making treatment and control more difficult. He added that common tests such as urine R/E and creatinine, costing around Tk200 to Tk300, can help detect kidney problems early.

Other speakers said World Kidney Day has been observed worldwide on the second Thursday of March since 2006 through a joint initiative of the International Society of Nephrology and the International Federation of Kidney Foundations. This year's theme is: "Are your kidneys OK? Detect early, protect kidney health."

They said a 2019 systematic review based on eight studies found the prevalence of kidney disease in Bangladesh at 22.48%. If applied to a population of 17 crore, the number of kidney patients would stand at around 3.82 crore. They added that 30,000 to 40,000 people develop kidney failure in Bangladesh every year, but only 15% to 20% receive transplant, dialysis or other treatment. Globally, more than 850 million people are living with kidney disease, they said.