Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is increasing at an alarming pace worldwide and contributing to rising global death rates, particularly in regions with limited treatment access. Early diagnosis and newer medications can prevent severe complications; however, low awareness and uneven access continue to hinder progress.
Global Cases Nearly Double in Three Decades
A new global analysis reports that the number of individuals with reduced kidney function has nearly doubled, rising from 378 million in 1990 to 788 million in 2023. As populations grow and age, CKD has now become one of the top 10 causes of death globally. Researchers from NYU Langone Health, the University of Glasgow, and the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) led the study, focusing on a condition that progresses silently and often reveals symptoms only in advanced stages.
Disease Impact and Mortality Trends
As reported by sciencedaily, the study estimates that about 14% of adults worldwide live with CKD. In 2023 alone, the disease caused approximately 1.5 million deaths. When population age shifts are considered, this marks more than a 6% increase in mortality since 1993. According to co-senior author Dr. Josef Coresh, CKD is “common, deadly, and getting worse,” warranting the same policy priority as cancer and heart disease.
CKD Designated a Global Health Priority
In May, the World Health Organization officially added CKD to its list of priority conditions targeted for a one-third reduction in premature mortality by 2030. Coresh emphasizes that understanding current disease patterns is critical for designing strong global interventions. The findings, published online on November 7 in The Lancet, also form a key presentation at the American Society of Nephrology’s Kidney Week conference.
How Researchers Conducted the Study
The analysis is part of the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2023 study, one of the world’s most comprehensive efforts to track health loss over time. Researchers reviewed 2,230 scientific papers and national datasets from 133 countries. Their assessment included CKD diagnoses, mortality, and disability-related impacts.
Strong Links to Heart Disease and Key Risk Factors
The study highlights impaired kidney function as a major contributor to cardiovascular disease, responsible for about 12% of global heart-related deaths. CKD ranked as the 12th leading cause of disability in 2023. High blood sugar, high blood pressure, and obesity emerged as the top risk factors driving CKD prevalence. Because most detected cases were in the early stages, Coresh stresses that this period offers the best chance to prevent progression to dialysis or kidney transplantation.
Unequal Access to Treatment Across Regions
Despite the availability of effective therapies, treatment access remains deeply uneven. Many people in sub-Saharan Africa, Southeast Asia, Latin America, and other low-income areas cannot obtain dialysis or transplant services due to high costs and limited availability. Study co-lead author Dr. Morgan Grams warns that CKD remains widely underdiagnosed and undertreated and calls for more widespread urine testing.
New Therapies Offer Hope but Require Time
Grams notes that several newer medications can significantly slow CKD progression and reduce the risk of heart attack, stroke, and heart failure. However, she cautions that global improvements will take time, especially since CKD is still not routinely tested for. As a result, its true worldwide burden may be even higher than reported.
Study Support and Research Collaborators
Funding for the study came from the National Institutes of Health, the Gates Foundation, and the National Kidney Foundation. Coresh disclosed advisory roles with Healthy.io and SomaLogic, which are managed under NYU Langone Health policies. The research team also included contributors from the University of Glasgow and IHME at the University of Washington.