Global figures show staggering increase in chronic kidney disease
Over a ten-year period from 2005 to 2015, the number of people dying from chronic kidney disease across the world rose by 31.7%.
The Lancet has today published its 2015 Global Burden of Disease study assessing the state of the world’s health. The analysis shows that the numbers of people affected by and dying from chronic kidney disease (CKD) has risen markedly.
The burden of the disease, measured by the number of years lost due to ill-health, disability or early death, increased by 19.6%. Kidney Research UK estimates that, in the UK alone, some three million lives are at risk from CKD with one million of these cases undiagnosed. This is all the more concerning as CKD can be managed in its earlier stages, but much of this disease burden is a consequence of missed opportunities to control the condition.
Around 1.2 million people are dying across the world every year because of chronic kidney disease. These statistics serve to show how critical the global situation is.
Diabetes and high blood pressure remain the two top risks for developing chronic kidney disease, with 29% of CKD deaths being due to diabetes, and 22.9% due to high blood pressure. By stark contrast, the number of people dying from HIV/AIDS over the same period has decreased by 42.1%, pointing to the success of the enormous international investment in research, treatment and prevention in this area in the last decades.
Donal O’Donoghue, President of the Renal Association said:
“Around 1.2 million people are dying across the world every year because of chronic kidney disease. These statistics serve to show how critical the global situation is. National governments and funders need to sit up and take action – ignore the huge upsurge in this debilitating, life-limiting disease at your peril.”
John Feehally, Chairman of Kidney Research UK added:
“Current treatments for kidney disease (ie dialysis and transplantation) come at a significant cost to the NHS and there is no cure for this silent killer. Fortunately, the UK’s kidney community has taken a lead and this year published the very first UK Renal Research Strategy, which sets out the actions needed to give our country the best fighting chance in tackling the challenges ahead. We call upon the UK government to acknowledge the urgency of the situation and work with us to fund and support research for a brighter future for kidney patients.”
Original Article by Rosie Loft for Kidney Research UK - click here to read