CKD Often Undiagnosed in Women
October 31, 2009 by Peggy Rowland
Filed under Women's Health
Do you know how well your kidneys are functioning? Primary care physicians may be failing to diagnose kidney problems in women soon enough.
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is more likely to go undiagnosed in women than men, says Maya Rao, MD, of Columbia University.
According to the National Kidney Foundation, warning signs of CKD include high blood pressure, puffiness around eyes, and swelling of hands and feet. Other signs include frequent urination, particularly at night, and painful or difficult urination. Tests may show blood or protein in the urine. Around 19 million Americans are affected by CKD.
Rao’s paper, being presented at the American Society of Nephrology’s annual meeting, suggests that educating practitioners about CKD may increase timely diagnosis of the disease. Her study included a review of 900 patients in rural, community-based primary care clinics in Oregon. Rao’s analysis showed that 52.4% of patients found to have CKD didn’t have a diagnosis in their charts. Plus, women were more likely to be undiagnosed than males.
Rao says that instead of just ordering a blood test called creatinine to test kidney function, primary care doctors should also obtain a glomerular filtration rate, a more accurate estimate of kidney function. According to the National Kidney Foundation, a glomerular filtration rate less than 60 is a warning sign for CKD.
Have you discussed kidney function tests with your GP?
(Image via MorgueFile)
