The silent epidemic: Chronic kidney disease now impacts nearly 800 million globally
By avagrace // 2025-11-14
Copy
 
  • Chronic kidney disease (CKD) now affects nearly 800 million adults worldwide, representing over 14 percent of the global adult population, with prevalence more than doubling since 1990.
  • CKD is the ninth leading cause of death globally, and its mortality rate is increasing, placing it among the fastest-growing major causes of death.
  • The two most common causes of CKD in adults are high blood pressure and diabetes, which damage the kidneys' blood vessels over time.
  • The study highlights a critical connection, identifying CKD as the seventh leading risk factor for death from cardiovascular diseases like heart attacks and strokes.
  • The situation is urgent but not hopeless, as most cases are in early stages. The report calls for global action focused on prevention, early diagnosis and management to slow progression and avoid kidney failure.
A comprehensive new study has found that chronic kidney disease (CKD) now affects nearly 800 million people worldwide, solidifying its position as the ninth leading cause of death. The research, published on Nov. 7 in the prestigious medical journal The Lancet, exposes a relentless and often silent epidemic that has more than doubled in prevalence since 1990, demanding urgent attention from public health policymakers and individuals alike. The study, part of the extensive Global Burden of Disease 2023 project, analyzed data from 204 countries and territories over three decades. In 2023, an estimated 788 million adults aged 20 and older were living with CKD, a surge of over 25 percent from 2013 and a more than 108 percent increase from 1990. This means approximately 14.2 percent of the global adult population has compromised kidney function, a rate that has climbed steadily over time. The geographical distribution of the disease is telling. China and India bear the heaviest absolute burden, with 152 million and 138 million cases respectively, a reflection of their vast populations. However, the United States, Indonesia, Japan, Brazil and Russia, among others, each report more than 10 million affected adults. The condition is truly a worldwide concern, cutting across developed and developing nations. To grasp the severity of this crisis, one must understand the kidney's function. These bean-shaped organs act as the body's sophisticated filtration system, tirelessly removing waste products and excess fluid from the blood. In chronic kidney disease, this vital filtering apparatus is damaged. The kidneys become incapable of performing their essential duty, leading to a dangerous buildup of toxins and fluid in the body. This systemic failure does not occur in isolation. The consequences of CKD are far-reaching, significantly elevating the risk for a host of other serious health issues. These include heart disease, anemia, dangerously low calcium levels and depression. The body's delicate balance is disrupted, creating a cascade of medical complications.

The primary culprits: Hypertension and diabetes

The study confirms what many health experts have long known: The most common drivers of chronic kidney disease in adults are high blood pressure and diabetes. These two conditions, themselves at epidemic levels globally, place immense strain on the delicate blood vessels within the kidneys. Over time, this sustained damage impairs the organs' filtering ability, initiating the slow, progressive decline that characterizes CKD. Beyond these two primary causes, a range of other factors can trigger the disease. Acute kidney injury, severe obesity, recurring infections and certain medications that are toxic to the kidneys can all be catalysts. Complications from kidney stones and specific types of cancers also contribute to the growing number of cases, painting a complex picture of the disease's origins. The mortality statistics from the study are particularly alarming. In 2023, CKD was ranked as the ninth leading cause of death globally. Perhaps more concerning is the trend; among the top ten leading causes of death worldwide, only the rates of death from Alzheimer's disease and diabetes rose from 1990 to 2023, placing CKD in a category of escalating threats. The disease's impact is not felt equally. The highest age-standardized mortality rates were concentrated in nations like El Salvador, Egypt and several Pacific Island nations such as Tuvalu and Mauritius. This disparity highlights issues of healthcare access, underlying genetic predispositions, and regional differences in the prevalence of risk factors.

The cardiovascular connection and the path forward

A critical finding of the research is the powerful link between kidney disease and cardiovascular mortality. CKD was identified as the seventh leading risk factor for death from heart disease and stroke, ranking ahead of high blood sugar and obesity. This underscores that kidney health is inextricably linked to heart health, and protecting one means protecting the other. Researchers emphasize that this grim picture is not without hope. The study found that the vast majority of people with CKD are in the early stages of the condition. This is a crucial window of opportunity. Swift intervention through lifestyle modifications and accessible medications can dramatically slow the disease's progression, preventing the need for drastic, expensive interventions like dialysis or a kidney transplant. "CKD is a condition involving gradual kidney damage and a decline in kidney function over time," said BrightU.AI's Enoch. "It is often caused by disorders like diabetes and high blood pressure. If untreated, CKD can lead to serious health issues, including kidney failure and cardiovascular disease." The Lancet study serves as a sobering wake-up call. Chronic kidney disease is a common, deadly and rapidly worsening public health issue that demands a concerted response. From individual lifestyle choices to systemic policy shifts, reversing the tide of this silent epidemic will require a renewed focus on prevention, early detection and equitable access to care for the hundreds of millions already living with the condition. Watch and learn more about CKD  and how to treat it naturally. This video is from the Andreeaa channel on Brighteon.com. Sources include:  TheEpochTimes.com News-Medical.net MedicalXpress.com BrightU.ai Brighteon.com
Copy