A silent kidney crisis is spreading far faster than experts expected
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- Chronic kidney disease now affects nearly 800 million people worldwide, up from 378 million in 1990, according to a 2025 global analysis.
- The study found CKD is among the top 10 causes of death globally for the first time, with about 1.5 million deaths in 2023 and a >6 % increase in age‑adjusted mortality since 1993.
- World Health Organization added CKD to its non‑communicable disease agenda in May 2025, targeting a one‑third reduction in early deaths by 2030.
- NYU Langone Health co‑senior author Josef Coresh said the findings support treating CKD as a priority alongside cancer and heart disease for policymakers.
- The Lancet published the findings, and the results were presented at the American Society of Nephrology’s Kidney Week conference.
Why it matters: Policymakers should prioritize CKD screening and treatment, as the disease kills 1.5 million annually and is now a top‑10 cause of death, while patients benefit from earlier detection.
