Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) is rapidly emerging as a major global health concern, with new research showing it has become the ninth leading cause of death worldwide. A landmark analysis published in The Lancet and led by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) reports that CKD claimed nearly 1.5 million lives in 2023.
The study, part of the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2023 Report, reveals that an estimated 788 million adults aged 20 and above are now living with CKD, more than double the figure recorded in 1990. Researchers warn that this sharp rise reflects a growing public-health emergency affecting both developed and developing nations.
The burden of CKD is particularly heavy in regions such as North Africa, the Middle East and South Asia, where prevalence rates remain among the highest in the world.
The report also highlights the disease’s broader impact on global health. Impaired kidney function was responsible for an estimated 11.5 per cent of all cardiovascular-related deaths in 2023, underscoring CKD’s role as a major driver and amplifier of heart disease.
Health experts say the findings underscore the urgent need for early detection, improved treatment access, and stronger prevention strategies to address risk factors such as diabetes, hypertension and poor access to healthcare.
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