About 15,000 kidney patients underwent dialysis nationwide last year and the number is expected to increase to 20,000 by 2010, a chief nephrology doctor of Kuala Lumpur Hospital (HKL) said Thursday.

"So far, 57 percent of the chronic kidney disease cases are caused by diabetes and if not treated early, the patients may haveto undergo dialysis," Ghazali Ahmad was cited by Malaysian national news agency Bernama as saying.

Most kidney failure cases were caused by diabetes, Ghazali told reporters after the launch of the World Kidney Day by HKL director Zaininah Mohd Zain.

He advised the public to maintain balanced and nutritious diet to prevent diabetes, gout, and high blood pressure which are associated with kidney problems.

In her speech, Zaininah said steps should be taken not only to treat kidney patients, but also to slow down the process of kidney failure to delay dialysis and prevent disease that increase the risks of kidney problems.

The annual World Kidney Day organized by the HKL Nephrology Department in collaboration with its Catering and Dietetic Department is aimed at raising public awareness in the prevention, detection, and treatment of kidney disease.

(Xinhua News Agency March 14, 2008)