Kidney diseases can be a serious threat to health, but one of the main problems is that these diseases often go unnoticed in the early stages. Most of the existing diagnostic methods, in particular, urine tests, are not always able to accurately detect kidney dysfunction. This is especially true for the elderly, where the decline in kidney function is a natural process, making it difficult to detect the problem early. Japanese scientists decided to solve this problem by developing a new diagnostic method that can significantly improve the detection of kidney diseases, especially in the elderly.
Existing methods of assessing kidney function are based on two main indicators: the level of albumin in the urine and the glomerular filtration rate (GFR), which shows how effectively the kidneys clean the blood. For people with diabetes, for example, kidney problems can occur, leading to diabetic kidney disease, when the kidneys begin to leak the protein albumin into the urine. However, in older people, these indicators often do not give an accurate picture of the state of the kidneys due to natural age-related changes in function. It is especially difficult to detect early signs of hyperfiltration, a condition in which the kidneys filter blood excessively. This process can go on for years before serious symptoms appear. That is why early detection of such disorders is extremely important to prevent serious complications, including kidney failure.
Scientists from Osaka Metropolitan University, led by Dr. Akihiro Tsuda, developed a new formula for calculating GFR, which is not based on body size, as in standard methods, but on natural age-related changes in kidney function. They conducted a study involving 180 healthy people and found that the new method gives much more accurate results for the elderly, allowing problems to be detected at earlier stages. Dr. Tsuda explained that the new approach allows detection of hyperfiltration much earlier than traditional methods allow, giving doctors a chance to start treatment in the initial stages and prevent further deterioration of the kidneys. The discovery, reported in the journal Hypertension Research, is a big step toward improving routine health screenings, particularly for the elderly and those at risk of kidney disease. Given that 37 million adults in the country suffer from chronic kidney disease, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, improving early detection methods could help significantly reduce the number of serious complications, particularly among those with diabetes.
A new approach to diagnosis could become an important tool for preserving kidney health for millions of people around the world.
