Chronic Kidney Disease: A Silent Global Epidemic
Alarming new research reveals that cases of chronic kidney disease have more than doubled worldwide in just three decades. This incurable condition, where the kidneys gradually cease to function, is already implicated in 45,000 deaths annually in the UK.
American researchers, after analysing over 2,000 data sets, now estimate that a staggering 800 million adults are living with this potentially fatal illness. The study points to rising rates of diabetes, obesity, and high blood pressure as key drivers behind this dramatic increase.
Preventable Risks and Global Hotspots
Scientists identified 14 risk factors for the disease, noting that many, such as low fruit and vegetable intake and high salt consumption, are preventable. While China and India, with 152 million and 138 million cases respectively, account for the largest number of sufferers, the problem is growing rapidly in nations like Vietnam, Japan, and Turkey.
Lauryn Stafford, a senior population health researcher at the University of Washington and study co-author, stated: 'Chronic kidney disease is a growing global health crisis, yet much of its impact is preventable.'
A Rising Death Toll and the NHS Burden
The research found that in 2023, chronic kidney disease became the ninth-leading cause of death globally, claiming nearly 1.5 million lives and overtaking tuberculosis. Unlike other leading causes like heart disease, its death rates have increased since 1990.
Most of the 800 million patients are in the early stages, highlighting the critical need for screening and early treatment, such as blood pressure management. Once kidney damage occurs, it is irreversible, making prevention and early detection the primary defence.
For the NHS, dialysis is a major expense, forecast to cost £13 billion a year by 2030. Many patients require dialysis multiple times a week, and some need kidney transplants. Ultimately, kidney failure can trigger fatal heart attacks and strokes.
Experts warn that the danger lies in the condition's often silent progression, with no symptoms until the kidneys are close to failing. They have called for targeted testing from age 45 to save hundreds of thousands from deadly complications.
