India now has the second-highest number of people living with chronic kidney disease (CKD) in the world, according to a new study published in The Lancet. The report reveals that in 2023, 138 million Indians were affected by CKD, second only to China’s 152 million.
The global study, led by researchers from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) at the University of Washington, analysed health data from 204 countries and territories between 1990 and 2023. It found that CKD was the ninth-leading cause of death worldwide, claiming nearly 15 lakh lives last year alone.
CKD emerging as a global health crisis
The highest rates of chronic kidney disease were seen in North Africa and the Middle East (18 per cent each), followed by South Asia (16 per cent) and Sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America (around 15 per cent each). The study warns that CKD is becoming a silent epidemic, particularly in developing nations like India, where diagnosis and treatment are often delayed.
“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,” said Professor Theo Vos, senior author of the study and professor emeritus at IHME. “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.”
A hidden link to heart disease
The researchers revealed that CKD is a major contributor to heart disease and was responsible for nearly 12 per cent of cardiovascular deaths globally in 2023. It ranked as the seventh leading cause of heart-related mortality, ahead of diabetes and obesity.
The report revealed 14 major risk factors for kidney disease, with diabetes, high blood pressure, and obesity being the top reasons for declining kidney health. These conditions often go hand in hand and leads to kidney damage if left unmanaged.
Role of diet and lifestyle
According to the study, dietary habits also play a big role. Low intake of fruits and vegetables and high consumption of salt (sodium) were among the key drivers of CKD risk. In India, where high-sodium processed foods and low fruit intake are common, the findings underscore an urgent need for dietary awareness.
How to keep your kidney health in check?
The researchers shared that most people with CKD are in the early stages of the disease, which makes early screening and preventive care crucial. Timely diagnosis can help delay the progression to advanced kidney failure, a stage that often requires dialysis or a kidney transplant.
However, access to replacement therapies remains uneven across countries, including India. “Improving access to diagnosis and affordable care, tackling key risk factors, and investing in prevention strategies are essential to reduce the growing burden of kidney disease,” the authors of the study said.
