The British Heart Foundation (BHF) reports that people with kidney failure are many times more likely to have a heart attack or stroke than the general population, according to research published today in the European Heart Journal and funded by the BHF.
Fiona Loud, Policy Director at Kidney Care UK, has responded to the research findings.
“Chronic kidney disease (CKD) affects 1 in 10 people in the UK and the number of people with CKD in the UK is expected to grow significantly over the coming decade because of an ageing population, and increasing prevalence of type 2 diabetes and hypertension.
"All CKD stages are associated with increased risk of death and cardiovascular disease yet data shows that less than 30% of people with high blood pressure are given the appropriate urine tests to identify if their kidneys are working properly. As this study highlights, cheap and simple treatments may have a significant impact on improving survival rates of people with kidney failure who have had a heart attack or stroke. Failing to identify people early and make sure they receive all appropriate treatments is costing lives, and we hope that this study will act as a call for improvement.
“This research also highlights the inequality of vulnerable groups being excluded from clinical trials. The scientific community has a responsibility to improve the designs of clinical trials to enhance equitable access to new treatments, and include people with CKD in clinical trials in order to build an evidence base for treatments for everyone with CKD.”