Kidney Disease Just Became a Top 10 Global Killer—Here's What You Need to Know

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) has officially entered the top 10 causes of death worldwide, affecting an estimated 788 million people globally as of 2023. This represents more than double the 378 million cases recorded in 1990, making kidney disease a rapidly growing health crisis that demands immediate attention.

How Did Kidney Disease Become Such a Major Threat?

The numbers paint a stark picture of this escalating health emergency. About 14 percent of adults worldwide now have chronic kidney disease, and approximately 1.5 million people died from the condition in 2023—a 6 percent increase since 1993 when adjusted for age demographics. "Our work shows that chronic kidney disease is common, deadly, and getting worse as a major public health issue," said Dr. Josef Coresh, director of NYU Langone's Optimal Aging Institute and co-senior author of the comprehensive study published in The Lancet.

The research, conducted as part of the Global Burden of Disease 2023 study, analyzed 2,230 published research papers and national health datasets across 133 countries. Beyond direct deaths, the study revealed that impaired kidney function contributes to about 12 percent of global cardiovascular mortality, making it a significant risk factor for heart disease.

What Are the Main Risk Factors Driving This Epidemic?

Three primary culprits are fueling the kidney disease crisis, all of which are increasingly common in modern society:

• High Blood Sugar: Diabetes remains the leading cause of kidney damage, as elevated glucose levels gradually harm the kidney's filtering system over time
• High Blood Pressure: Hypertension puts constant strain on kidney blood vessels, eventually reducing their ability to filter waste effectively
• High Body Mass Index (BMI): Obesity creates additional stress on kidneys and often leads to diabetes and high blood pressure, creating a dangerous cycle

The global kidney community has made significant strides in recognition and response. In 2025, the World Health Organization adopted its first-ever kidney health resolution, and the condition was referenced three times in the United Nations political declaration on noncommunicable diseases. This marks a historic shift in how kidney disease is viewed on the global health stage.

Why Early Detection Matters More Than Ever?

Most people with chronic kidney disease are in the early stages of the condition, which presents both a challenge and an opportunity. "Chronic kidney disease is underdiagnosed and undertreated," explained Dr. Morgan Grams, co-lead author of the study and professor at NYU Grossman School of Medicine. "Our report underscores the need for more urine testing to catch it early and the need to ensure that patients can afford and access therapy once they are diagnosed."

The good news is that swift treatment with medications and lifestyle changes can prevent the need for more dramatic and expensive interventions like dialysis and kidney transplantation. However, access to these treatments remains severely limited in many parts of the world. In sub-Saharan Africa, Southeast Asia, Latin America, and other low-income regions, relatively few people receive dialysis or kidney transplants due to availability and affordability barriers.

The International Society of Nephrology has responded with unprecedented global initiatives. In 2025, their educational platform welcomed a record 442,591 visitors, while 57 webinars and 8 podcasts delivered accessible learning to kidney care professionals worldwide. The organization also launched the CARE-NEPH East Africa Project, a five-year partnership designed to expand the nephrology workforce and strengthen kidney care skills across local health systems.

New medications have become available in recent years that can slow kidney disease progression and reduce the risk of heart attack, stroke, and heart failure. However, Dr. Grams cautions that it will take time to see improvements on a global scale, and since chronic kidney disease is often undertested, it may be even more common than current statistics suggest.