Global Chronic Kidney Disease Surge: 800 M Cases and Growing

A comprehensive global analysis finds that chronic kidney disease (CKD) has ballooned to an estimated 788 million cases in 2023, up from 378 million in 1990 — placing kidney disease among the top causes of death worldwide.

Researchers from NYU Langone Health, University of Glasgow and Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) co-led the study, which draws on health data from 133 countries and 2,230 scientific publications. 

Despite available advances in treatment, the report finds that early-stage disease often goes undiagnosed — especially in low- and middle-income regions — because kidney damage typically shows few symptoms until a late stage. The condition is closely linked with diabetes, high blood pressure and obesity, and is now responsible for about 1.5 million deaths in 2023 alone. 

Alarmingly, CKD is now estimated to account for around 12 % of global cardiovascular deaths and to rank as the 12th leading cause of disability worldwide.

The World Health Organization recently added CKD to its priority list, but access to dialysis and kidney transplantation remains severely limited in many regions of Sub-Saharan Africa, Southeast Asia and Latin America. The authors stress that early detection (via simple urine testing) and lifestyle modifications could slow the disease’s progression — yet global progress is uneven. 

Key Takeaways:

The global burden of chronic kidney disease has more than doubled since 1990, reaching nearly 800 million cases and becoming a major public-health threat.

Early-stage CKD is often silent and under-diagnosed; risk factors include diabetes, hypertension and obesity, while treatment is scarce in many developing regions.

CKD contributes significantly to cardiovascular deaths and disability — reinforcing the need for early screening, improved access to care and global intervention strategies.

Adapted From 

https:/www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2025/11/251117095646.htm