With 138 million cases, India recorded the second-most chronic kidney disease (CKD) cases worldwide in 2023, as per the new global analysis published in The Lancet. With 152 million cases, China has topped the list.

Among the top 10 diseases that caused death, CKD is in ninth place, claiming nearly 15 lakh lives, as per the study by teams from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) at the University of Washington, US, and UK. The prevalence of CKD varies across regions — North Africa has recorded the highest cases, followed by the Middle East at 18%, South Asia at nearly 16%, and over 15% in Sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America, and the Caribbean, as per the study.

CKD aggravates other serious health conditions

In 2023, about 788 million people aged 20 years and above had CKD — a drastic doubling in three decades. 378 million cases were recorded in 1990. The report revealed that globally, about 14.2% of adults were suffering from CKD in 2023.

However, most of the cases that were used in the data analysis had moderate CKD (stages 1 to 3). CKD is a major cause of illness and death and aggravates other serious health conditions, including heart disease.

The researcher behind the report, Theo Vos, Professor Emeritus at the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME), said, “Chronic kidney disease is both a major risk factor for other leading causes of health loss and a significant disease burden in its own right.” However, he noted, “Yet, despite its growing impact, CKD continues to receive far less attention in health policies compared to other non-communicable diseases.”

Are heart-related deaths related to CKD?

The report revealed that 12% of deaths in 2023 related to heart problems are due to CKD. This is the 7th biggest cause of heart-related deaths, surpassing diabetes and obesity worldwide.

The research is based on data from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2023 study. Samples from 204 countries have been taken, examining diseases, injuries, and health risk factors. The research further states that diet plays a major role in most CKD cases.

The study states that early detection and healthy lifestyle changes can prevent serious kidney and heart problems.

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