Deadly condition ranks among top 10 causes of death as cases rise globally
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Chronic kidney disease has been named the ninth cause of death in the world.
A record number of men and women are now estimated to have reduced kidney function, according to new research following a study published in the journal The Lancet.
Researchers from NYU Langone Health, the University of Glasgow, and the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) at the University of Washington analyzed the rise in kidney disease around the world.
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They examined 2,230 published articles and health data sets from 133 countries, looking for diagnoses, mortality and number of disabilities caused by the disease.
From 1990 to 2023, cases increased from 378 million to 788 million, placing the disease among the world’s top 10 deadliest diseases for the first time.
The biggest risk factors for kidney disease include high blood sugar, high blood pressure, and a high body mass index (BMI). (iStock)
The research, carried out as part of the Global Burden of Disease 2023 study, also revealed that around 14% of the world’s adult population suffers from chronic kidney disease. About 1.5 million people died from kidney disease in 2023, an increase of more than 6% since 1993.
Most people in the study were in the early stages of the disease, which can be improved with medications and lifestyle changes before dialysis or surgery is necessary, the researchers noted.
The research, which was presented last week at the American Society of Nephrology’s annual Kidney Week conference, marks “the most comprehensive estimate of the condition in nearly a decade,” according to the authors.
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Chronic kidney disease causes the kidneys to lose the ability to filter waste and excess fluid from the blood, NYU Langone detailed.
Mild cases may not show any symptoms, but those in more advanced stages may require dialysis, kidney replacement therapy, or an organ transplant.
Chronic kidney disease causes the kidneys to lose the ability to filter waste and excess fluid from the blood. (iStock)
Impaired kidney function was also identified as a key risk factor for heart disease, contributing to approximately 12% of global cardiovascular mortality.
The biggest risk factors for kidney disease, according to the study findings, include high blood sugar levels, high blood pressure and a high body mass index (BMI).
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Study co-senior author Josef Coresh, M.D., Ph.D., director of the New York University Langone Institute for Optimal Aging, said these results classify chronic kidney disease as “common, deadly and worsening as a major public health problem.”
“These findings support efforts to recognize this condition, along with cancer, heart disease and mental health concerns, as an important priority for policymakers around the world,” he said in a statement.
Kidney disease may show no symptoms, but may ultimately require dialysis or an organ transplant. (iStock)
The study’s co-senior author, Morgan Grams, M.D., Ph.D., Susan and Morris Mark Professor of Medicine at New York University Grossman School of Medicine, also commented that chronic kidney disease is “underdiagnosed and undertreated.”
“Our report underscores the need for more urine testing to detect it early and the need to ensure patients can afford and access therapy once they are diagnosed,” he wrote.
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New drugs have recently become available that can slow the progression of the disease and reduce the risk of heart attack, stroke and heart failure, although it may take time to see the overall impact, Grams added.
A doctor urged doctors to be more aware of kidney function and the impact of certain medications. (iStock)
News senior medical analyst Dr. Marc Siegel commented on the “dramatic increase” in an interview with News Digital, agreeing that kidney disease is “grossly underrated and underdiagnosed,” in part due to the lack of symptoms in the early stages.
“The kidneys are waste filters and managers of electrolytes and acid/base balance,” said Siegel, who was not involved in the study. “They are very sensitive to changes in blood pressure and blood flow, and when damaged can lead to a loss of protein and electrolytes.”
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“High blood pressure, obesity, heart disease, diabetes and low blood pressure affect basic kidney function, so there is a high degree of secondary kidney disease and failure, in addition to primary damage to the kidneys themselves,” the doctor added.
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Siegel urged doctors to be more aware of kidney function and the impact of certain medications.
This study was funded by the National Institutes of Health, the Gates Foundation, and the National Kidney Foundation.
Angelica Stabile is a lifestyle reporter for News Digital.