Less than a third of Malaysians with chronic kidney disease know they have it, says nephrologist

Borneo Post

11-05-2025

Dr Tan delivers her talk at the launch of the World Kidney Day 2025 held at The Hills here today. – Photo by Jude Toyat
KUCHING (May 11): Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a silent but escalating health crisis in Malaysia, with over 15.5 per cent of the population estimated to be affected — yet less than one third of these patients are aware they have the disease.
Sarawak General Hospital (SGH) consultant nephrologist Dr Clare Tan disclosed this during her health talk titled 'Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD): The Silent Threat' in conjunction with the World Kidney Day 2025 held at a shopping mall here today.
'Only about five per cent of people with chronic kidney disease are actually aware of their condition. That means the vast majority are completely unaware that their kidneys are slowly failing,' she said.
Dr Tan warned that CKD often presents no symptoms in its early stages, with many individuals only discovering they have the disease when it has reached an advanced stage or progressed to kidney failure, requiring dialysis.
She disclosed that more than 50,000 Malaysians are currently undergoing dialysis therapy due to end-stage kidney failure, and that number continues to rise annually.
In 2022 alone, over 10,000 new patients began dialysis. In Sarawak, 4,800 individuals are currently on dialysis, with numbers steadily climbing.
However, she stressed that these figures only represent the 'tip of the iceberg.'
'There are many more Malaysians living with earlier stages of chronic kidney disease. If not properly managed, these patients will eventually progress to kidney failure and require dialysis. Early detection is the key to preventing that,' she said.
According to national surveys conducted in 2011 and 2018, the prevalence of CKD in Malaysia rose sharply from nine per cent to 15.5 per cent — a staggering increase in just seven years.
This means that about one in six to seven Malaysians may have CKD.
Dr Tan attributed the rise to lifestyle-related risk factors, particularly diabetes and high blood pressure.
'In Malaysia, 53 per cent of patients on dialysis developed kidney failure due to diabetes, while another 30 per cent was due to hypertension. Combined, these two causes account for more than 80 per cent of all dialysis cases,' she explained.
The rising incidence of obesity is another emerging risk factor.
In 2023, over 54 per cent of Malaysians had a body mass index (BMI) above 25, indicating overweight or obesity.
This is significant, as studies show that obesity increases the risk of CKD, especially when combined with diabetes or hypertension.
Dr Tan also highlighted a worrying trend — CKD and diabetes are affecting increasingly younger Malaysians.
'Young people often don't realise they can have diabetes or high blood pressure. Without regular check-ups, many go undiagnosed until complications like kidney failure arise,' she said.
The financial burden of CKD is also substantial.
Patients on dialysis often suffer from multiple health complications, including heart problems and infections, which increase hospitalisation and healthcare costs.
The government spends substantial resources to provide dialysis treatment and manage associated health issues.
Because early CKD is often symptomless, Dr Tan urged Malaysians — especially those with risk factors such as diabetes, hypertension, obesity, family history of kidney disease, or a history of taking chronic painkillers — to undergo regular screenings.
'Screening is simple. It just involves a blood test to check kidney function and a urine test for protein leakage,' she said.
'For high-risk individuals, especially those with diabetes or high blood pressure, annual screening is strongly recommended.'
Early detection enables timely intervention that can slow disease progression.
'If we can detect kidney disease early, control the underlying conditions like diabetes and hypertension, and use medications that reduce protein loss in the urine, we can delay or even prevent the need for dialysis,' Dr Tan said.
She concluded with a powerful reminder: 'Chronic kidney disease is common, dangerous, and often silent. But it is not hopeless. With awareness, screening, and early intervention, we can save kidneys — and lives.'
World Kidney Day 2025 is celebrated annually to raise awareness of kidney health and promote preventive health measures. chronic kidney disease diabetes Dr Clare Tan hypertension lead