Application of big data in nephrology, what does it give?
One in 10 people may suffer from chronic kidney disease, a problem that gets worse with age. At current growth rates, it is expected to become the fifth leading cause of death in the world by 2040. In Spain, the EPIRCE study in 2010 found that this underdiagnosed disease affects 10% of the Spanish adult population and more than 20% of people over 60 years of age. According to the latest ENRICA-Renal study, the prevalence is 15.1%.
To these data of increasing prevalence should be added one more feature: this disease is deceptive, silent, often recognized only by laboratory abnormalities until its final stages.
For this reason, and also with the aim of reversing this trend of increasing the number of new cases, as well as the early detection of pathology and slowing down its progression, the University Hospitals of General de Villalba, Jiménez Díaz Foundation, Infanta Elena and Rey Juan Carlos have included the use big data in recent Enhanced Prevention of Chronic Kidney Disease (ERCD) Program.
Chronic kidney disease: a silent pathology
The fist-sized kidneys are located under the ribs, one on each side of the spine. They filter the blood, removing toxins and impurities from the body, and produce an anti-aging hormone called Klotho.
In chronic kidney disease, kidney function progressively deteriorates and the kidneys lose their ability to filter toxins and waste from the blood. Therefore, this also affects the production of Klotho. The most serious consequences are the need to use dialysis to replace the function that the kidneys cannot perform and the increased risk premature deaththe worst side effect of this disease is due to Klotho deficiency.
When they don’t work properly and their function declines, symptoms may not appear at first. But there is an indicator blood tests, which is creatinine, one of the substances that must be removed by the kidney’s filtration process. Thus, this becomes a clear sign that there may be a problem. And here big data.
The Big Data Revolution in Nephrology
The ability to predict patient outcomes is key to achieving targeted preventive medicine, in any case. Meaning big data as a tool diagnosis and prognosis provides accurate predictions that can help identify this disease at an early stage and ensure timely treatment.
Currently using big data in the medical field can help improve early diagnosis and treatment effectiveness by detecting early signs of diseases, according to a study published in the journal European Journal of Health Researchwhich also claims to enhance disease prevention by identifying risk factors.
In nephrology, this technology is seen as a way to help diagnose, assess risk and manage patients with kidney disease. A pathology that is becoming more and more famous and which, as we have seen, presents a number of problems when it comes to solving it, since it silent illnessIt is very difficult to detect because in the initial stages it has no symptoms and when they become noticeable, it is already in a very advanced stage.
Therefore, chronic kidney disease often goes undetected until later stages. Clinical epidemiology is key to improving the identification and treatment of those affected by it, as it allows for the management of large volumes of clinical and laboratory data collected in electronic health records.
He big data This allows all this data to be analyzed and makes it easier to identify people at increased risk of developing chronic kidney disease, as well as identifying susceptible people before the disease becomes severe. He Enhanced Prevention of Chronic Kidney Disease (ERCD) Programwhich includes the use big dataallows us to identify people most likely to suffer from this disease.
But that is not all. According to Dr. Alicia García Pérez, head of the nephrology department at the Infanta Elena University Hospital, this program not only promotes the prevention of chronic kidney disease, but also “strives for its early diagnosis.” people with this disease, and also move towards prevention and to ensure that its progression is slowed.
The already described relationship between kidney efficiency and creatinine is one of the keys to how the drug is used. big data for early detection: creatinine is included in blood tests performed in hospitals and big data allows you to analyze this data and identify people who are at increased risk. Once a diagnosis comes, “specialists appreciate a therapeutic approach to the disease, and although it is rarely cured completely, its progress can be slowed,” says Garcia Perez.
How to take care of your kidneys
Prevention is essential to health, and kidneys are no exception. They can be taken care of with very simple steps and all include a healthy lifestyle such as exercise and a balanced diet that is low in sodium and phosphate. Dr. Alberto Ortiz Arduan, head of the department of nephrology and hypertension at the Jiménez Díaz Foundation University Hospital, warns that “excess phosphate in additives in already prepared dishes represents an overload for the kidneys.”
Additionally, it’s crucial to avoid drinking carbonated drinks, which, in addition to being high in calories, also “have significant amounts of sodium and phosphate and lack other nutrients,” admits Ortiz Ardoin. Quitting smoking, controlling blood pressure, detecting diabetes early, and avoiding taking anti-inflammatory medications unless prescribed by a doctor are a list of things to consider when taking care of your kidneys.