A disease that kills 1.5 million people every year, is a leading cause of death and affects 15% of the global population1. With statistics so harrowing, it could be assumed that the disorder is one that is famous and well-known, however that could not be further from the truth. Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a disorder that affects 1 in 7 people, unfortunately even those that are impacted by the disease are unaware of their diagnosis. Numbers show that 9 in 10 people suffering from CKD are oblivious to the fact that they have the condition2. With rates of CKD increasing over the past 2 decades, it is undeniable that the disease is becoming a global issue at a rapid rate4. It goes to show that the public needs to be educated on CKD and more effort needs to be dedicated to its prevention.
This brings up the question “How does CKD actually happen?.” Chronic kidney disease may occur in people due to a number of reasons, such as kidney injuries, infections, toxic drugs etc. Yet, despite the other causes, there are two main culprits behind CKD, diabetes and high blood pressure. This is due to the high blood sugar levels that occur during diabetes, which tend to damage the kidney and its filtration system over time. To the point that the kidneys are no longer able to filter out waste efficiently and allow molecules such as proteins to pass into the urine. As it is caused by diabetes this is also referred to as diabetic kidney disease5.
When it comes to high blood pressure, the story of how the kidney stops working is similar to the above. High blood pressure can damage the blood vessels and negatively impact the filtration process of the kidney. Due to it, waste and extra fluid are not excreted from the body, which is dangerous, as the excess fluid may increase blood pressure further, creating a cycle that may end in death5.
While we may not be informed about the kidney and all the functions it juggles on a daily basis, it is important to realise their significance. As situations like the above leave the kidneys damaged beyond repair and very few and costly treatments remain such as dialysis and organ transplants6. So how can CKD be prevented? From the above it seems that keeping blood pressure and blood sugar levels in check is the solution, and that is one part of it. The other component is to follow a healthy lifestyle, which includes exercising regularly, staying hydrated (especially in hot and humid regions!) and being mindful about the amount of sodium you eat daily3.
We are all bound to get sick at some point in our lives, and that is not our fault, illness is almost never a personal failure. But to ensure that your health is in good condition, it is recommended to get screened regularly, and get full body check-ups every year or so. Because once your organs fail, there is almost no way back, it is better to be preventative and take your health into your own hands.
References:
1Ortiz A, Lees JS, Torra R, Stel VS, Kramer A, Mark PB. The updated global burden of chronic kidney disease: one death every 20 seconds. Nephrol Dial Transplant. 2026 Feb 25:gfag040. doi: 10.1093/ndt/gfag040. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 41739048.
2CDC. (2024a). Chronic kidney disease basics. In Chronic Kidney Disease. https://www.cdc.gov/kidney-disease/about/index.html
3CDC. (2024b). Preventing chronic kidney disease. In Chronic Kidney Disease. https://www.cdc.gov/kidney-disease/prevention/index.html
4Kovesdy, C. P. (2022). Epidemiology of chronic kidney disease: An update 2022. Kidney International Supplements, 12(1), 7–11. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.kisu.2021.11.003
5National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. (2016). Causes of Chronic kidney disease. In National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/kidney-disease/chronic-kidney-disease-ckd/causes
6Mayo Clinic. (2020). End-stage renal disease - diagnosis and treatment - mayo clinic. In Mayoclinic.org. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/end-stage-renal-disease/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20354538