Fresenius Medical Care

No one should face difficult news alone

PERSPECTIVES

an interactive film

CHOOSE YOUR PERSPECTIVE:
the patient
/the patient
Play
the wife
/the wife
Play
the doctor
/the doctor
Play
the nurse
/the nurse
Play

Follow the story of a patient who learns he has end-stage Chronic Kidney Disease, and discover how the same news affects those around him in different ways. The interactive format lets you choose whose perspective to follow and hear the characters’ thoughts beyond what they say out loud.

A disease we do not talk about enough

Chronic Kidney Disease can progress for years without obvious symptoms. This is why awareness, prevention and regular check-ups are essential.

Risk factors

Diabetes and high blood pressure are risk factors and the leading causes of Chronic Kidney Disease:

1 IN 3

adults with diabetes

1 IN 5

adults with high blood pressure

will develop Chronic Kidney Disease.4,5

Other risk factors include genetics, family history, age, obesity, smoking and heart disease.6-9

What is Chronic Kidney Disease?

Chronic Kidney Disease is the progressive loss of the kidneys’ ability to filter blood and remove toxins from the body. In advanced stages, when the kidneys can no longer function properly, patients need renal replacement therapy: dialysis or a kidney transplant.

By 2040, Chronic Kidney Disease is projected to become the fifth leading cause of death.1

1 IN 10

people worldwide have Chronic Kidney Disease at various stages2-4

9 IN 10

people do not know they are in an early, asymptomatic stage of the disease5

Possible symptoms

In its early stages, Chronic Kidney Disease usually has no symptoms. As the disease progresses, symptoms gradually worsen.5

The most common symptoms include fatigue, drowsiness, reduced mobility, and bone and joint pain. Pay attention to these signs! Your kidneys are asking for help.10

Prevention and check-ups

When detected early, the decline in kidney function can be slowed or delayed. Make kidney checks a priority and include them in routine check-ups, using urine and blood tests.13 Talk to your doctor about your kidney health and the most suitable options for assessing kidney function.

A healthy lifestyle can help reduce the risk of Chronic Kidney Disease. Eat more vegetables, exercise regularly, get enough rest, and limit excessive salt and alcohol consumption.9-11

1.

Foreman KJ, Marquez N, Dolgert A, et al. Forecasting life expectancy, years of life lost, and all-cause and cause-specific mortality for 250 causes of death: reference and alternative scenarios for 2016-40 for 195 countries and territories. Lancet. 2018;392(10159):2052-2090. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(18)31694-5

2.

Kovesdy CP. Epidemiology of chronic kidney disease: an update 2022. Kidney Int Suppl (2011). 2022;12(1):7-11. doi:10.1016/j.kisu.2021.11.003

3.

GBD Chronic Kidney Disease Collaboration. Global, regional, and national burden of chronic kidney disease, 1990-2017: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017. Lancet. 2020;395(10225):709-733. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(20)30045-3

4.

Hill NR, Fatoba ST, Oke JL, et al. Global Prevalence of Chronic Kidney Disease - A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. PLoS One. 2016;11(7):e0158765. Published 2016 Jul 6. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0158765

5.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Chronic Kidney Disease in the United States, 2023. Atlanta, GA: US Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; 2023.

6.

Kim K CJLCNHAALJ. Epidemiology of Diabetic Kidney Disease among US Veterans. Diabetes Metab Syndr Obes. 2024;17:1585-1596.

7.

Francis A, Harhay MN, Ong ACM, et al. Chronic kidney disease and the global public health agenda: an international consensus. Nat Rev Nephrol. 2024;20(7):473-485. doi:10.1038/s41581-024-00820-6

8.

American Kidney Fund. Risk factors for kidney disease. Updated 2024. Accessed December 2, 2024.

9.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Risk factors for chronic kidney disease. Updated April 3, 2023. Accessed December 2, 2024.

10.

Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) CKD Work Group. KDIGO 2024 Clinical Practice Guideline for the Evaluation and Management of Chronic Kidney Disease. Kidney Int. 2024;105(4S):S117–S314.

11.

A National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Prevention of chronic kidney disease (CKD). National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Updated February 2021. Accessed December 2, 2024.

12.

B Kelly JT, Su G, Zhang L, et al. Modifiable Lifestyle Factors for Primary Prevention of CKD: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. J Am Soc Nephrol. 2021;32(1):239-253. doi:10.1681/ASN.2020030384

13.

World Kidney Day. About Kidney Health: What Is Chronic Kidney Disease? Diagnosis. Accessed December 30, 2024.

14.

Blankenstijn PJ et al., N Engl J Med. 2023; 389(8):700-709. Key results of CONVINCE study.

Real life stories

Beyond the numbers, treatments and machines are people who live with Chronic Kidney Disease every day.

Hobbies that give life meaning – Interview with Mădălina Movileanu

Hobbies that give life meaning – Interview with Nelu Enache

43 years on dialysis

Florin Lăcătușu’s story

About courage, routine and the confidence to keep going.

Camino de Santiago

A story about journeys, resilience and the things that give us strength to keep going.

MyCompanion

The mobile app by your side every day