Chronic Kidney Disease Becomes Ninth Leading Cause of Death

A study published by the Lancet and conducted by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) reveals that chronic kidney disease (CKD) is now the ninth leading cause of death worldwide, affecting nearly 788 million adults in 2023, a significant increase from 378 million in 1990. The rise in CKD cases is largely attributed to unhealthy diets, obesity, diabetes, and high blood pressure, particularly in developing nations.

The study indicates that CKD contributes to approximately 1.5 million deaths annually, marking a 6% increase since 1993. The highest prevalence of CKD is found in North Africa and the Middle East (18.0%), followed by South Asia (15.8%) and Sub-Saharan Africa (15.6%).

Dr. Josef Coresh, director at NYU Langone, emphasized the urgent need for early detection and stronger preventive care, as access to kidney replacement therapies like dialysis and transplantation remains limited, especially in low- and middle-income countries.