30% Increase In Weight-Gain Linked Kidney Ailments Since Lockdown

New Delhi: Doctors have noticed a 30% increase in kidney ailments linked to weight gain since the lockdown last year. Medical professionals at Gleneagles Global Hospitals here attribute this the inactive life that people were forced to lead due to the pandemic lockdown.

“Sedentary habits have crept into everyday lives of people since the start of Covid-19 pandemic and lockdown due to it. Among those visiting us at the hospital, we observed there are at least 30 per cent patients who are at an amplified risk of kidneys ailments arising due to increased body weight,” said Gandhe Sridhar, Chief Consultant Nephrologist, Gleneagles Global Hospitals according to IANS.

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He added, “The lockdown produced behavioural, psychosocial, and environmental changes which, through a variety of mechanisms, has led to widespread rapid weight gain amongst certain sections of the population. There has been an increase in food shopping, food take away, and surge in alcohol sales, resulted in increase in obesity instances, and related kidney problems.”

Doctors believe obesity is puts people at risks for chronic kidney disease, diabetes and hypertension and that it has a direct impact on the development of even the end-stage renal disease. Being over weight puts people at more risk as the kidneys have to work harder to filter wastes above the normal levels. Obesity raises blood pressure by increasing renal tubular sodium reabsorption, impairing pressure natriuresis, and causing volume expansion because of activation of the sympathetic nervous system and renin-angiotensin system and by physical compression of the kidneys, especially when visceral obesity is present.

Dhananjaya Kappadi Lingappareddy, Consultant Nephrologist & Kidney Transplant Physician, Continental Hospitals told IANS, “Job losses linked to Covid-19 pandemic increased stress levels resulting into high-blood pressure and increase in metabolic syndrome among people, which is dangerous for the kidneys because it can increase the pressure on the glomeruli.” 

Glomeruli is a network of small blood vessels (capillaries) known as a tuft, located at the beginning of a nephron in the kidney where blood is cleaned. But increased pressure damages these vessels and kidney function begins to decline.

Symptoms of Kidney problems generally don’t appear until they enter a more advanced stage. People can get a basic metabolic panel and complete urine examination which are standard tests to check blood for creatinine or urea as early detection will make it easier to treat. However, doctors advice that people should lead a physically active life on a daily basis, to ensure their internal organs do not feel the pressure of excessive body weight or BP leading to problems like kidney failures.