These numbers have risen from 378 million affected individuals in 1990 to 788 million in 2023, coinciding with the increase in the world’s population and its aging, making this disease, for the first time, among the top ten causes of death globally.
Led by researchers from NYU Langone Health, the University of Glasgow, and the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) at the University of Washington, the analysis focused on the increase of this disease, where the kidneys gradually lose their ability to filter waste and excess fluids from the blood.
In mild cases, there may be no symptoms, while more severe cases may require dialysis, kidney replacement therapy, or even organ transplantation.
Increasing Kidney Problems
The results showed that approximately 14% of adults worldwide suffer from chronic kidney disease. It also revealed that approximately 1.5 million people died from this disease in 2023, an increase of more than 6% compared to 1993, taking into account changes in the age demographics of countries over time.
The co-lead researcher in the study, and director of the New York Langone Institute for Optimal Aging, Dr. Joseph Coresh, said:
* “Our work shows that chronic kidney disease is common and deadly, and is worsening as a major public health problem.”
* “These findings support efforts to recognize this condition, alongside cancer, heart disease, and mental health problems, as a key priority for policymakers around the world.”
Last May, the World Health Organization officially included chronic kidney disease in its plans to reduce premature deaths from non-communicable diseases by one-third by 2030.
To combat this epidemic, experts first need an updated understanding of its population trends, according to Coresh.
Unexpected Results
In the new study, the team analyzed 2,230 published research papers and national health databases in 133 countries. In addition to looking for patterns in diagnoses and deaths, the team also studied the impact of disability resulting from chronic kidney disease.
Among the other key findings is that impaired kidney function, in addition to being a direct cause of death, is a major risk factor for heart disease, contributing to approximately 12% of deaths from cardiovascular diseases worldwide.
The results also showed that in 2023, this condition ranked 12th among the leading causes of decreased quality of life due to disability. The most important risk factors for kidney disease were found to be high blood sugar, high blood pressure, and high body mass index (a measure of obesity).
Coresh emphasized that early treatment with medications and lifestyle changes can spare the patient the need for more complex and costly interventions, such as dialysis and kidney transplantation.
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