Overview
- The latest analysis estimates roughly 788 million adults had chronic kidney disease in 2023, up from 378 million in 1990, with about 14% of adults affected.
- Researchers report about 1.5 million deaths in 2023, placing chronic kidney disease within the world’s ten leading causes of mortality.
- Impaired kidney function contributes to roughly 12% of global cardiovascular deaths, highlighting its role beyond kidney failure.
- Most cases are in early stages where lifestyle measures and recently introduced drugs can slow progression, but many people are never tested or treated.
- The Lancet study, led by NYU Langone, the University of Glasgow and IHME, synthesizes 2,230 studies across 133 countries and was presented at the American Society of Nephrology’s Kidney Week.