Chronic Kidney Disease Spreading Faster Than Expected, Global Analysis Shows - Video

Nearly 800 million people worldwide are now living with chronic kidney disease (CKD), making it one of the fastest-growing health threats of the 21st century. Often called a “silent disease,” CKD can progress for years without noticeable symptoms, quietly damaging the kidneys until serious complications develop.

A major 2025 global analysis published in The Lancet found that the number of people with CKD has more than doubled over the past three decades, rising from 378 million in 1990 to 788 million in 2023. Researchers estimate that about 14 per cent of adults globally now have some degree of kidney disease. The condition was linked to approximately 1.5 million deaths in 2023 and has entered the world's top 10 causes of death for the first time.

The kidneys play a crucial role in filtering waste, excess fluid, and toxins from the blood. When kidney function declines, harmful substances accumulate in the body, increasing the risk of heart disease, stroke, and kidney failure. In advanced stages, patients may require dialysis or a kidney transplant to survive.

Researchers found that high blood sugar, high blood pressure, and obesity remain the leading drivers of CKD worldwide. Alarmingly, impaired kidney function was also associated with nearly 12 per cent of global cardiovascular deaths, highlighting the disease's impact far beyond the kidneys.

One of the biggest challenges is that most people remain undiagnosed until significant damage has already occurred. Experts say simple urine and blood tests can detect kidney disease early, when treatment and lifestyle changes are most effective.

Recent advances in medications have offered new hope. Newer therapies can slow kidney damage and reduce the risk of heart attacks, strokes, and heart failure. However, access to testing and treatment remains limited in many low- and middle-income countries.

Researchers warn that without stronger screening programs and better access to care, CKD deaths could continue to rise in the coming decades. The findings underscore the urgent need to treat chronic kidney disease as a major global public health priority rather than a hidden complication of other illnesses.

REFERENCE: Patrick B Mark, Lauryn K Stafford, Morgan E Grams, et al.; Global, regional, and national burden of chronic kidney disease in adults, 1990–2023, and its attributable risk factors: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2023. The Lancet, 2025; 406 (10518): 2461 DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(25)01853-7