Chronic Kidney Disease - Europe´s Silent Epidemic

European Kidney Associations Call for Action in the European Parliament

The European Kidney Health Alliance (EKHA) and World Kidney Day
organisations today call for European health polices to support early
identification and treatment of chronic kidney disease (CKD). The
meeting, held in the European Parliament, marks the occasion of World
Kidney Day, which this year will be on 13th March. An eminent panel of
leading renal physicians and nurses, politicians and patient
organisations highlighted the need for policies that reduce the burden
of kidney disease for patients, physicians and society at large.

Speaking at the meeting, MEP Mrs. Frieda Brepoels said, "I
strongly believe that the European Union can play a leading role in
this regard. Efforts can be pulled together at European level by
putting the prevention of kidney disease high on the European agenda.
Furthermore, progress can be made by exchanging best practices between
Member States and by improving existing technologies to detect kidney
disease so as to assure that every European citizen has equal access
to high-quality health care".

In addition to the need to increase organ donation (a proposed
Communication on ´Organ Donation and Transplantation: Policy Actions
at EU-Level´ is currently being discussed in the European Parliament),
it is important to reduce the number of people developing CKD and
renal failure. Recent data show that about 10% of the European
population have some degree of CKD, but in some it progresses to
become so severe as to require Renal Replacement Therapy (RRT) with
dialysis or transplantation. The prevalence of CKD is set to rise
because it is linked to the other modern epidemics affecting Europe:
obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

In most cases people are not aware of the fact that they have CKD.
The incidence of people requiring RRT is about 125 cases per million
per year. But this is just the tip of the iceberg if we refer back to
the data that shows that 10% of the population has some degree of CKD.

"Public health measures to identify CKD at the earliest possible
stage are central to preventing the rapid escalation of the CKD
epidemic," said Professor Andrew Rees, Chairman of EKHA. "As with all
epidemics, decisive action needs to be taken first by recognising the
scale of the problem and then by putting strategies in place that
reverse its consequences. The EKHA brings together the combined
expertise and experiences of patients and healthcare professionals to
work towards preventing the consequences of CKD through better
detection and management. We hope that events like today´s will help
convince policy makers that we now need urgent action to make better
kidney health a priority for Europe."

"We can count the cost of kidney disease in financial terms, but
the impact on the lives of patients as a result of late identification
and diagnosis is incalculable," comments Dr Donal O´Donoghue, the UK´s
National Clinical Director for Kidney Care. "For example, in the UK,
dialysis alone accounts for 2% of the total NHS budget and this is
projected to double over the next five years. In comparison, the cost
of implementing CKD prevention strategies can be modest."

World Kidney Day (WKD) aims to raise awareness about the heavy
burden of CKD on human lives. Celebrated worldwide on 13th March 2008,
WKD offers a crucial, visible opportunity to inform and educate health
policymakers, people who are at highest risk of CKD, and the general
public that kidney disease is common, harmful and treatable. This year
the EKHA and World Kidney Day have joined forces to hold this
awareness-raising event in the European Parliament. The event is
supported by Amgen and HemoCue.

About CKD

CKD is a progressive, irreversible condition characterised by
kidney damage and impaired kidney function. There are five stages of
CKD which are defined by the level of kidney function as measured by
the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and on the presence of
low amounts of albumin in the urine, so called microalbuminuria. The
lower the eGFR, the more advanced the CKD. Screening for eGFR and
microalbuminuria is especially needed when there is an elevated risk
of the disease, e.g. in patients with diabetes or hypertension (high
blood pressure).

Many factors contribute to the progression of CKD. The most common
causes are diabetes, hypertension, and generalised atherosclerosis.
Especially when these factors are associated with the loss of albumin
in the urine, renal function will rapidly progress to end stage renal
disease. An ageing population coupled with the growing prevalence of
obesity-related type 2 diabetes has increased the number of people
with or at risk of CKD.

About the EKHA

The European Kidney Health Alliance (EKHA) is an alliance of
not-for-profit organisations that represent the key stakeholders in
kidney health issues in Europe. EKHA member organisations are CEAPIR
(European Kidney Patients´ Federation), EDTNA/ERCA (European Dialysis
and Transplant Nurses Association/European Renal Care Association),
ERA-EDTA (European Renal Association - European Dialysis and
Transplant Association), ISN (International Society of Nephrology).
More information on www.ekha.eu

About World Kidney Day

World Kidney Day is a joint initiative of the International
Society of Nephrology (ISN) and the International Federation of Kidney
Foundations (IFKF). More information on www.worldkidneyday.org

About Amgen

Amgen discovers, develops, manufactures and delivers innovative
human therapeutics. A biotechnology pioneer since 1980, Amgen was one
of the first companies to realize the new science´s promise by
bringing safe and effective medicines from lab, to manufacturing
plant, to patient. Amgen therapeutics have changed the practice of
medicine, helping millions of people around the world in the fight
against cancer, kidney disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and other
serious illnesses. With a deep and broad pipeline of potential new
medicines, Amgen remains committed to advancing science to
dramatically improve people´s lives. To learn more about our
pioneering science and our vital medicines, visit www.amgen.com.

About HemoCue

HemoCue, a Quest Diagnostics company, is a leading global company
in a field of diagnostics known as near patient, or point of care,
testing. In 1982, HemoCue introduced the first system making accurate
haemoglobin testing possible in near patient settings. The company
also manufactures point of care tests for glucose and urine albumin.
Quest Diagnostics acquired HemoCue in 2007. More information on
www.hemocue.com

Notes to editors: About CKD and its symptoms

CKD generally progresses to ESRD when patients no longer have
kidney function adequate to sustain life and therefore require
dialysis (the artificial process of cleaning waste from the blood) or
kidney transplantation. Without proper treatment to remove waste and
fluids from the bloodstream (i.e. dialysis or kidney transplantation),
CKD at this stage is fatal.

Anaemia is one of the most common symptoms of CKD, causing
fatigue, shortness of breath, poor concentration, dizziness and
pallor, which can have a major impact on a patients´ quality of life.
Anaemia often develops early in CKD and, when patients do not have
access to screening, these symptoms may be the first sign of CKD.