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Abstract
The burden of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and other comorbidities, such as hypertension and diabetes, which increase the risk of developing CKD, is on the rise in the Middle East and Africa. The Middle East and Africa CKD (MEA-CKD) steering committee, comprising eminent healthcare specialists from the Middle East and Africa, was formed to identify and propose steps to address the gaps in the management of CKD in these regions. The current article lists the MEA-CKD steering committee meeting outcomes and evaluates the available evidence supporting the role of novel therapeutic options for patients with CKD. The need of the hour is to address the gaps in awareness and screening, early diagnosis, along with referral and management of patients at risk. Measures to bring about appropriate changes in healthcare policies to ensure access to all benefit-proven protective therapies, including novel ones, at community levels are also vital for reducing the overall burden of CKD on the healthcare system as well as governing bodies, especially in developing countries of the Middle East and Africa.
Data Sharing Statement
Data available on request. The data that support the findings of this study are openly available. If required, readers can connect with the corresponding author for the details using the email id [email protected].
Acknowledgments
We thank BioQuest Solutions Pte Ltd for providing editorial support. We also thank AstraZeneca, Middle East Africa, for funding the expert panel meeting, which helped to identify the gaps in the management of CKD in the region and propose steps to address these gaps. The panel included eminent healthcare specialists from the Middle East and Africa, who came together to identify and address the gaps in CKD management and shape practices that can support the Ministries of Health and patient communities in the region.
Author Contributions
All authors made a significant contribution to the work reported, whether that is in the conception, study design, execution, acquisition of data, analysis and interpretation, or in all these areas; took part in drafting, revising or critically reviewing the article; gave final approval of the version to be published; have agreed on the journal to which the article has been submitted; and agreed to be accountable for all aspects of the work. All authors are eminent healthcare specialists from the Middle East and Africa who have been extensively involved academically and clinically in the field of nephrology and have published several articles related to the diagnosis, prevention, and management of CKD.
Disclosure
Saeed Al-Ghamdi reports personal fees from AstraZeneca, Bayer, Viforpharma, and Astellas, outside the submitted work. Ali Abu-Alfa reports personal fees from Astra-Zeneca, during the conduct of the study; personal fees from Boehringer Ingelheim, Sanofi-Aventis, Astellas, Baxter Healthcare, and Novartis, outside the submitted work; and received honoraria for presentations, educational materials, expert panels, advisory boards, or educational events from Astra Zeneca, Baxter, Boehringer Ingelheim, and Sanofi. Mustafa Arici reports personal fees from Astra Zeneca, during the conduct of the study; personal fees from Amgen, Astellas, Astra Zeneca, Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, Menarini, MSD, Novo Nordisk, Sandoz, and Sanofi, outside the submitted work; and has received payment or honoraria for lectures, presentations, speaker bureaus, manuscript writing, or educational events from Amgen, Astellas, AstraZeneca, Bayer, Baxter, Boehringer Ingelheim, Menarini, MSD, Novo Nordisk, Sandoz, and Sanofi. El Koraei Ahmed F and Hafez Mohamed H have received honoraria for participation in the expert panel meetings with AstraZeneca. The authors report no other potential conflicts of interest in relation to this work.