A SURVEY has revealed that people in the West Midlands are least aware of kidney disease.

Eighty per cent of people in the region claim to have limited or no knowledge of kidney disease, according to the study by Kidney Research UK.

However the region is also the least at risk of kidney disease of all regions polled, after just 17 per cent of those in the region confirmed they suffered with diabetes, high blood pressure or vascular disease – three of the leading causes of kidney failure.

Sandra Currie, chief executive at Kidney Research UK, said: “If it’s caught early enough, the damage done by some forms of kidney disease can be slowed, stopped or even reversed. But because it displays so few obvious symptoms, many patients go undiagnosed until their kidneys fail completely."

The charity is gearing up to launch its Go Purple campaign, which runs throughout March and aims to raise awareness of, and vital funds for research into, kidney disease. To find out more visit www.kidneyresearchuk.org/gopurple.