According to a comprehensive global analysis conducted in 2025, the prevalence of chronic kidney disease has surged dramatically, increasing from 378 million cases in 1990 to 788 million by 2023. This alarming trend positions chronic kidney disease among the top ten leading causes of mortality worldwide for the first time.
Led by researchers from NYU Langone Health, the University of Glasgow, and the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) at the University of Washington, the study highlights the escalating burden of a condition that gradually diminishes the kidneys' efficiency in filtering waste and excess fluids from the bloodstream.
Often asymptomatic in its early stages, chronic kidney disease can advance to severe cases requiring dialysis or even kidney transplants. The analysis revealed that approximately 14% of adults globally are affected, with around 1.5 million deaths attributed to the disease in 2023--a figure that marks a more than 6% increase from 1993.
Dr. Josef Coresh, co-senior author and director of NYU Langone's Optimal Aging Institute, emphasized the urgency of addressing chronic kidney disease as a critical public health challenge alongside other major health concerns such as cancer and heart disease. In May 2025, the World Health Organization included chronic kidney disease in its agenda aimed at reducing premature deaths from noncommunicable diseases by one-third by 2030.
The findings were published in The Lancet and presented at the American Society of Nephrology's annual Kidney Week conference, marking the most extensive global assessment of chronic kidney disease in nearly a decade.
As part of the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2023 study, researchers analyzed data from 2,230 published studies and national health datasets across 133 countries. Their findings indicate that impaired kidney function poses significant risks not just to kidney health but also contributes to about 12% of global cardiovascular deaths.
In 2023, chronic kidney disease was the 12th leading cause of diminished quality of life due to disability, with primary risk factors identified as high blood sugar, hypertension, and obesity.
Most individuals diagnosed with chronic kidney disease are still in its early stages, which is crucial since timely intervention can significantly alter the disease's progression, potentially averting the need for more drastic treatments later on. Dr. Morgan Grams, co-lead author, noted that lifestyle changes and new medications can effectively slow disease progression.
Despite these advancements, access to treatment remains inconsistent, particularly in low-income regions like sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia, where dialysis and transplantation services are limited and often unaffordable.
The rising attention to chronic kidney disease reflects a paradigm shift in how it is perceived--no longer viewed merely as a late-stage condition, but as a prevalent and silent threat that can be identified and managed earlier.
As global health priorities evolve, the ongoing focus on chronic kidney disease could pave the way for more effective interventions, ultimately improving health outcomes for millions worldwide.
