A landmark study published in The Lancet reveals that the number of adults living with chronic kidney disease (CKD) has more than doubled since 1990, now affecting nearly 800 million people worldwide. The research, part of the 2023 Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study, tracked CKD trends among adults aged 20+ across 204 countries and territories between 1990-2023.
Conducted by researchers from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME), NYU Grossman School of Medicine, and the University of Glasgow, this analysis represents the most comprehensive assessment of CKD’s global impact to date.
Alarming Mortality Trends and Unique Position
CKD has emerged as the world’s ninth leading cause of death in 2023, claiming approximately 1.5 million lives, while also ranking as the 12th leading cause of disability.
Unlike most other major causes of death, CKD’s age-standardized mortality rate has increased globally—rising from 24.9 to 26.5 deaths per 100,000 people between 1990 and 2023. This troubling trend establishes CKD as one of the few major fatal conditions still experiencing growth worldwide.
Geographic Distribution and Population Impact
China and India reported the highest absolute numbers of CKD cases (152 million and 138 million respectively), reflecting their large populations. However, the disease demonstrates widespread prevalence, with 14 additional countries—including the United States, Indonesia, Japan, Brazil, and Russia—each reporting over 10 million adult cases. This global distribution underscores CKD as a pervasive health challenge affecting both developed and developing nations.
Cardiovascular Connections and Risk Factors
The study highlights CKD’s significant role in cardiovascular mortality, with impaired kidney function contributing to nearly 12% of global cardiovascular deaths in 2023—ranking as the seventh leading cardiovascular risk factor, ahead of diabetes and obesity.
Researchers identified 14 specific CKD risk factors, with diabetes, hypertension, and obesity causing the greatest loss of healthy life years. Dietary factors, particularly low fruit/vegetable intake and high sodium consumption, also substantially contributed to disease burden.
Prevention Opportunities and Global Health Targets
“CKD represents a growing global health crisis, but much of its impact is preventable,” said co-author Lauryn Stafford, researcher at IHME. “Reducing CKD mortality is crucial for achieving WHO’s target of cutting premature non-communicable disease deaths by one-third before 2030.” The findings emphasize that targeted interventions addressing modifiable risk factors could significantly curb CKD’s progression and associated mortality.
Research Methodology and Data Comprehensiveness
The analysis leveraged an unprecedented 2,230 data sources to evaluate both fatal and non-fatal CKD burdens, providing the most detailed assessment of the condition’s global impact.
This robust methodology enables precise tracking of CKD’s evolution and identifies specific areas where intervention could yield the greatest public health benefits, offering policymakers evidence-based guidance for addressing this escalating health challenge.
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