Online health misinformation is accelerating kidney damage, expert warns < Hospital < Article

The number of patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) in Korea is steadily increasing.

CKD often shows few or no specific symptoms in its early stages, and by the time symptoms appear, kidney function has frequently deteriorated significantly. As a result, regular check-ups and early detection are critical. CKD is a condition in which the kidneys gradually lose their ability to remove waste products and excess fluid from the body.

Hypertension, diabetes, and obesity are the leading causes of the disease.

Even after a diagnosis of kidney disease, accurate evaluation and consistent management can significantly slow the decline in kidney function. Patients with CKD and reduced renal function require appropriate medications to delay disease progression and prevent complications.

However, without proper management, the condition can progress to end-stage renal disease (ESRD), necessitating dialysis or kidney transplantation. In recent years, social and behavioral factors have further aggravated CKD progression.

“In clinical practice today, we are seeing a growing number of patients who encounter and act on incorrect or misleading health information from the internet and social media,” said Professor Lee Ji-young of the Department of Nephrology at Konkuk University Medical Center. “This misinformation may lead patients to discontinue prescribed medications, try unproven remedies, or neglect appropriate medical care, ultimately worsening kidney function.”

Professor Lee stressed that CKD patients must continuously adjust blood pressure and diabetes medications according to changes in kidney function, and when necessary, receive additional treatments to slow disease progression. She warned, “Stopping medications without medical guidance or relying on unscientific methods can accelerate kidney damage.”

Patients with ESRD typically undergo hemodialysis (HD), peritoneal dialysis (PD), or kidney transplantation. Each treatment option sustains life but imposes significant time, physical, and lifestyle burdens, and the choice depends on both medical considerations and patient preferences.

Hemodialysis is usually performed in a hospital or dialysis center three times a week, with each session lasting about four hours. It uses an artificial kidney to remove waste products and excess fluid from the blood. Hemodiafiltration, an advanced form of dialysis, enhances the removal of middle-molecular-weight toxins by combining diffusion and filtration. This approach may help reduce inflammation and cardiovascular complications.

Peritoneal dialysis allows patients to perform dialysis at home by instilling dialysate into the peritoneal cavity. While it offers greater independence and flexibility, strict infection prevention and careful self-management are essential.

Kidney transplantation is considered the most physiologically optimal and long-term treatment for patients with ESRD. Compared with dialysis, it is associated with better survival rates and improved quality of life. However, it involves surgical risks and persistent challenges in securing donor organs. After transplantation, lifelong immunosuppressive therapy is required, along with careful monitoring for infection and rejection.

“CKD is a lifelong condition that requires continuous and individualized management,” Professor Lee emphasized. “Patients should engage in thorough consultations with kidney specialists to choose the treatment that best fits their medical condition and lifestyle. Seeking accurate information, early diagnosis, and personalized care is key to preserving kidney function and improving long-term quality of life.”