Why Kidney Disease Contributes To 12% Of Heart-Related Deaths
A new study shows that chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a major, often overlooked factor in heart disease.
Published on Friday in “The Lancet”, the research links the rising cases of CKD to the increasing prevalence of other health problems such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and obesity.
The study analysed data from the Global Burden of Disease 2023 project, tracking CKD trends in adults across 204 countries from 1990 to 2023.
The findings are concerning: CKD was the ninth-leading cause of death worldwide in 2023, killing nearly 1.5 million people, and ranked 12th as a cause of disability.
Around 788 million adults over 20—about 14% of the global adult population—were living with CKD in 2023, up from just over 12% in 1990.
Unlike many other major health issues, the global death rate from CKD has also increased, from 24.9 to 26.5 deaths per 100,000 people over the same period.
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Researchers say an aging population and the growing rates of diabetes, high blood pressure, and obesity are driving this trend. Better awareness and diagnosis may also play a role in the rising numbers.
CKD affects millions worldwide. China and India have the largest numbers, with 152 million and 138 million adults affected, respectively.
Other countries with more than 10 million adults living with CKD include the United States, Indonesia, Japan, Brazil, Russia, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Iran, the Philippines, Vietnam, Thailand, and Turkey.
The study also highlights CKD’s role in heart disease. In 2023, kidney problems contributed to nearly 12% of global deaths from heart disease—more than diabetes or obesity.
Researchers identified 14 major risk factors for CKD. The biggest contributors are diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity, and a poor diet high in salt and low in fruits and vegetables.
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Theo Vos, the study’s senior author, noted that CKD receives far less attention from health policymakers than other major diseases.
“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,” he said.
“Yet, it continues to receive far less policy attention than other non-communicable diseases, even as its impact grows fastest in regions already facing the greatest health inequities.”
The highest CKD rates are seen in North Africa, the Middle East, South Asia, sub-Saharan Africa, and Latin America.
Most people with CKD in 2023 were in the early stages of the disease. This shows the importance of early screening, better access to treatment, and controlling blood sugar and blood pressure.
Because access to dialysis and kidney transplants is limited in many places, the study emphasizes the need to focus on preventing CKD from getting worse, improving care and diagnosis, and addressing key risk factors to slow its growing global impact.
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