Major New Resource on Kidney Disease for Black and Minority Ethnic Patients

LONDON, March 11, 2010 - Over 3,000,000 people in the UK are at risk of Chronic Kidney Disease
(CKD); 45,000 people in the UK are being treated for kidney failure and the
prevalence of kidney failure is increasing at 5% per year

The Kidney Research UK (www.kidneyresearchuk.org/home.php) and NHS
Kidney Care have launched a DVD aimed at providing better information for
black and minority ethnic patients diagnosed with chronic kidney disease or
end stage renal failure.

Welcoming the launch of the DVD, Beverley Matthews, Director NHS Kidney
Care said: "These DVDs are an incredibly valuable resource for patients and
we are delighted to have been able to support their production.

This is the third DVD in the 'Living with Kidney Disease' series which
aims to support anyone who has been told by their doctor that they have some
level of kidney damage. The series of DVDs provides vital information for
people with the disease and has been driven by people who themselves have
been diagnosed with CKD and can provide a first hand view of their
experiences.

Michael Nation of Kidney Research UK said "We are delighted we can launch
our DVD on World Kidney Day. Patient information and empowerment are vital
tools in our fight against kidney disease, complementing the research we
undertake into the causes, prevention and treatment of the condition. We also
want to recognise and thank everyone involved in the DVD production including
our Patients, NHS Kidney Care, the British Renal Society, the Renal
Association, the British Transplantation Society and the National Kidney
Federation."

The DVD is presented by Dr Addo Djangmah and covers what the kidneys do,
what causes chronic kidney disease, managing kidney disease, diet and
lifestyle and how patients can work in partnership with clinicians to manage
their disease.

The mission of World Kidney Day is to raise awareness of the importance
of our kidneys to our overall health and to reduce the frequency and impact
of kidney disease and its associated health problems worldwide. This DVD will
help sufferers and their families understand more and have the confidence to
ask more questions and understand their treatment

The Facts & Figures

    - 45,000 people in the UK are being treated for kidney failure and the
      prevalence of kidney failure is increasing at 5% per year

    - Every year around 6,600 people start renal replacement therapy

    - 90% of people, that's around 7,000, on the transplant list are waiting
      for a kidney

    - There are over 7,000 new cases of kidney cancer diagnosed each year and
      this figure seems to be rising

    - every 90 minutes someone is diagnosed with kidney cancer

    - Kidney diseases can affect people of any age

    - The only medical treatments currently available for renal failure are;
      dialysis, where a patient has to be connected to a machine for up to
      several hours a day and several days a week unable to get up and move
      around; or transplantation, for which there is a huge shortage

    - Diabetes is the single largest cause of kidney failure

    - Uncontrolled, or poorly controlled, high blood pressure can cause
      chronic kidney failure. Yet worryingly, large numbers of people with
      high blood pressure have not been identified

www.kidneyresearchuk.org/dvdproject

www.worldkidneyday.org/

Note to Editors:

A picture accompanying this release is available through the PA
Photowire. It can be downloaded from www.pa-mediapoint.press.net or
viewed at www.mediapoint.press.net or www.prnewswire.co.uk.

Media enquiries: Jo Moore +44-780-395-6452

Media enquiries: Jo Moore +44-780-395-6452