Enfermedad renal en la mujer: reflexiones en el Día Mundial del Riñón 2018 / Women and kidney diseases: reflection on World Kidney Day and International Woman's Day

RESUMEN

La enfermedad renal crónica afecta al 10% de la población mundial adulta: está entre las primeras 20 causas de muerte. En 2018, el Día Mundial del Riñón y el Día Internacional de la Mujer coinciden para demostrar a la comunidad el impacto que tiene su salud renal, fomentar el conocimiento de la enfermedad y aplicarlos extensivamente. Las mujeres y las niñas representan, aproximadamente, el 50% de la población. Las diferencias de género persisten alrededor del mundo y afectan su acceso a la educación, los cuidados de salud y su inclusión en estudios clínicos. El embarazo es la oportunidad única para diagnosticar la enfermedad renal. Existen enfermedades autoinmunes y otras que afectan comúnmente a la mujer, con serias consecuencias para la madre y el feto. Las mujeres en diálisis tienen complicaciones diferentes a los hombres y son más donadoras que receptoras del trasplante renal. En esta ocasión, nos enfocamos en qué hacemos y qué no conocemos sobre la mujer, la salud y la enfermedad renal. Así, podremos aprender para mejorar sus condiciones en el mundo.

ABSTRACT

Chronic Kidney Disease affects approximately 10% of the world's adult population: it is within the top 20 causes of death worldwide, and its impact on patients and their families can be devastating. World Kidney Day and International Women's Day in 2018 coincide, thus offering an opportunity to reflect on the importance of women's health and specifically their kidney health, on the community, and the next generations, as well as to strive to be more curious about the unique aspects of kidney disease in women so that we may apply those learnings more broadly. Girls and women, who make up approximately 50% of the world's population, are important contributors to society and their families. Gender differences continue to exist around the world in access to education, medical care, and participation in clinical studies. Pregnancy is a unique state for women, offering an opportunity for diagnosis of kidney disease, but also a state where acute and chronic kidney diseases may manifest, and which may impact future generations with respect to kidney health. There are various autoimmune and other conditions that are more likely to impact women with profound consequences for child bearing, and on the fetus. Women have different complications on dialysis than men, and are more likely to be donors than recipients of kidney transplants. In this editorial, we focus on what we do and do not know about women, kidney health, and kidney disease, and what we might learn in the future to improve outcomes worldwide.