Lucknow: Doctors warned that prolonged use of painkillers, along with uncontrolled diabetes and high blood pressure, is emerging as a major cause of kidney failure. Many patients reach hospitals only after the disease advances to a critical stage, doctors said on the eve of World Kidney Day.Lifestyle diseases are now the leading drivers of chronic kidney disease (CKD). When diabetes and hypertension remain uncontrolled for years, they gradually damage the kidneys’ filtering units. Because early symptoms are mild or absent, patients often discover the disease only after kidney function declines.Prof Namrta Rao from Ram Manohar Lohia Institute of Medical Sciences (RMLIMS) said the institute currently has about 50-60 patients on maintenance dialysis and conducts 30-40 dialysis sessions daily. She said diabetes accounts for nearly 40% of kidney failure cases, while CKD of unknown aetiology contributes up to 20%. Renal stone disease and surgical causes account for 10-20%, while hypertension is present in nearly 50-70% of CKD patients.Doctors are also seeing a shift in the age profile of patients. Kidney failure was earlier common among people above 50, but hospitals are now reporting a growing number of cases in the 30-40 age group.Dr MH Usmani, nephrologist at Balrampur Hospital, said nearly 30% of CKD patients now fall in this age group, which is worrying as it affects people in their most productive years. “Another common reason for kidney damage is prolonged use of painkillers without medical supervision. Many people take medicines regularly for headaches, body pain or joint problems, assuming they are harmless. Over time, these drugs reduce blood flow to the kidneys and damage their filtering tissues. Those who need pain medicines for long periods should take them only under medical advice and undergo periodic kidney function tests,” he said.Dietary habits are further increasing the risk. Dr Usmani said high salt intake through processed food and restaurant meals raises blood pressure and harms kidney function. Many people also do not consume sufficient water during the day, especially those working long hours. Director of nephrology at Medanta Hospital, Dr Raj Kumar Sharma said dialysis sessions at his centre increased sharply. Doctors say the biggest challenge is that kidney disease progresses silently.
