The study, led by medical lecturer and Hospital Canselor Tuanku Muhriz UKM nephrology specialist Dr Lydia Kamaruzaman, raises concerns about the future of this group, especially those who rely on long-term dialysis treatment.
According to her, the majority of those affected are diabetes mellitus patients (67%) and those suffering from high blood pressure (92.8%), which are main risk factors for CKD.
“Additionally, 55.3% of patients in this study also suffer from obesity, which is associated with various health complications that further worsen their condition,” she said.
Notably, the study found that most of the unemployed CKD patients come from the B40 group, with 86% of them falling into the low-income category.
Lydia said the lack of a steady income causes patients to face difficulties in bearing treatment costs that can reach up to RM40,000 a year, thereby increasing financial burden on families and the national healthcare system.
“Besides health factors, education level also plays a role: patients with higher education levels have an 81% chance of continuing to work, compared with those with only a low level of education,” she said.
“This shows that flexible jobs that rely less on physical strength provide better opportunities for CKD patients to continue with their lives without losing their livelihoods.”
Mental health impact
Lydia went on to highlight that unemployed CKD patients are more likely to experience higher emotional stress, including depression and anxiety.
“The study found that those who are still employed experience a work disability rate of 24.3%, while 13.3% have to take sick leave regularly due to the impact of this disease on their health.”
She therefore calls for immediate action to be taken to introduce more comprehensive policies and support for CKD patients, such as the establishment of flexible work programmes, medical subsidies, and health insurance.
Lydia stressed that joint efforts from all parties, including the government, healthcare providers and the community, are crucial to ensure CKD patients receive adequate support.
“This disease not only affects their bodies but also disrupts their daily lives, including their jobs and finances. As such, proactive measures need to be taken to ensure they have better quality of life,” she concluded.