Odisha Grapples with Rising Chronic Kidney Disease Cases in Key Districts
Sambalpur and Cuttack districts in Odisha have reported approximately 7,000 cases of chronic kidney disease (CKD) over the last three years. This figure represents a significant portion of the state's total 19,888 CKD cases during the same period. The concentration of cases in these two districts has raised serious concerns among health officials and medical experts.
Study Gap in Sambalpur District Raises Alarms
While researchers conducted a study on CKD prevalence in Narasinghpur, Cuttack district—a known hotspot—Sambalpur district lacks any government-sponsored investigation. This absence of formal study prevents authorities from understanding the exact reasons behind the increasing CKD cases in Sambalpur. Medical professionals emphasize the urgent need for comprehensive research in both districts.
Dr Bibekananda Kar, a senior nephrologist, explained his team's 2014 study in Narasinghpur. "We discovered heavy metals and fluoride in the drinking water," Dr Kar stated. "These contaminants directly affected kidney function." However, his team did not extend their research to Sambalpur district. Dr Kar stressed the importance of similar studies there to determine whether the same water contamination issues exist.
Health Department Plans CKD Registry and Detailed Investigations
Additional director of health services Susanta Kumar Swain acknowledged the lack of concrete data about CKD prevalence across Odisha. "We are preparing to launch a CKD registry by the end of this financial year," Swain announced. This registry will help track every CKD patient in the state systematically.
Swain further explained that block-level hotspot identification and follow-up investigations will pinpoint exact causes of CKD in specific areas. Currently, the health department only collects data from patients undergoing dialysis at various government hospital units. The concentration of cases in Cuttack and Sambalpur partly results from their major medical facilities—SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack and VSS Institute of Medical Sciences and Research in Sambalpur.
"Many CKD patients prefer dialysis and further treatment at these hospitals," Swain noted. "This naturally leads to higher reported cases in these two districts." He also mentioned that numerous people working outside Odisha develop CKD at their workplaces but return to their native places in Sambalpur and Cuttack for dialysis and treatment.
Medical Experts Call for Comprehensive Research
Dr Sai Prasad Sahoo, a senior consultant nephrologist, emphasized the necessity for thorough medical investigations in affected areas. He recommended conducting genetic studies of the local population alongside environmental assessments. "We need a multi-faceted approach to determine the exact causes," Dr Sahoo asserted.
Health officials agree that only detailed studies will reveal the true picture of CKD prevalence in Odisha. The planned registry and targeted investigations aim to provide much-needed answers about this growing health concern affecting thousands of residents in Sambalpur and Cuttack districts.
