AZE.US
The number of patients with kidney disease is rising in Azerbaijan, and doctors say the trend is increasingly affecting not only adults but also children, including newborns and adolescents.
According to the figures cited, 56 children have undergone kidney transplant surgery in the country since 2011. The youngest of those patients was four years old.
The broader data also point to a worsening trend. Between 2023 and 2024, the number of kidney disease patients in the 0-13 age group rose by 132, reaching 144. In the 14-17 age group, the figure increased from 134 to 139. Among adults aged 18 and over, the number climbed from 6,011 to 6,605.
Hikmat Ismayilov, a nephrologist and specialist at Azerbaijan’s Health Ministry, said the growing spread of chronic kidney disease in recent years has become a serious concern for medical professionals.
He said the rise among children is linked in part to consanguineous marriages, illnesses experienced by mothers during pregnancy and the longer-term effects seen in the post-COVID period. He added that children are receiving special attention and, when necessary, are provided with dialysis and kidney transplantation treatment outside the regular queue.
Ismayilov also said diabetes remains one of the leading causes of kidney disease. Other chronic conditions can also gradually weaken kidney function, placing affected patients into higher-risk categories.
One of the main problems with chronic kidney disease, he noted, is that depending on its cause, stage and rate of progression, it may develop for a long time without obvious symptoms. When signs do appear, they may include pain in the kidney area, fatigue, weakness, loss of appetite, swelling, high blood pressure, nausea and vomiting.
Other possible symptoms include restless legs syndrome, itching and muscle cramps.
The figures suggest the issue is no longer limited to a narrow medical category. With case numbers rising across age groups, including among children, kidney disease is becoming a broader public health concern in Azerbaijan.