Medical experts have raised serious concerns over the increasing number of kidney failure cases in Nigeria, highlighting that late hospital visits and poor treatment adherence are worsening patient outcomes. The immediate past President of the Nigerian Association of Nephrology, Prof. Jacob Awobusuyi, stated that many individuals diagnosed with kidney disease fail to continue their treatment or return for follow-up care, a pattern he described as dangerous for survival rates.
Prof. Awobusuyi emphasized that early detection of kidney disease significantly improves the chances of slowing its progression. However, this advantage is often lost when patients discontinue care after an initial diagnosis. He explained that once kidney disease is identified early, medical interventions can help delay further damage and enhance quality of life.
“What we know is that when kidney disease is detected early, there are several things we can do to reduce the rate at which the kidney function deteriorates,” he said. “We can give medications and advise patients properly so they understand what is happening to them and guide them to avoid certain things. For many patients, the rate of decline in kidney function can be slowed down significantly. But many people do not follow up with treatment when they get diagnosed.”
He warned that many patients only return to hospitals when the disease has already progressed to advanced stages, making treatment more difficult and outcomes poorer. “By the time we see them, the kidneys are already failing, or they are already in an advanced stage of the kidney disease. So it remains a serious problem,” he added.
Awobusuyi attributed this trend partly to low health awareness, noting that many Nigerians still rely on self-medication or unregulated traditional remedies before seeking proper medical care. “Many people treat themselves with herbal mixtures, traditional medicines, or other remedies for illnesses that are not clearly diagnosed. Also, they do not seek adequate medical attention early,” he said.
According to data from the Nigerian Association of Nephrology, over 20 million Nigerians are currently living with kidney disease, with about 20,000 progressing to end-stage kidney failure annually, requiring dialysis or kidney transplantation. Kidney failure, also known as end-stage renal disease, is the final stage of chronic kidney disease, where the kidneys lose their ability to properly filter waste and excess fluid from the blood. The condition is irreversible but can be managed through dialysis or kidney transplant, which may extend a patient’s life.
Health experts have previously identified hypertension, diabetes, and glomerulonephritis as major causes of kidney failure in the country. However, recent clinical observations also point to the increasing abuse of painkillers as a contributing factor. Awobusuyi emphasized that the rising cases being recorded may also reflect improved screening and awareness, but stressed that late presentation remains a major challenge undermining treatment success.
