Deaths from chronic kidney disease (CKD) are increasing among both women and men all over the world, according to a recent Global Burden of Disease study published in The Lancet. Mortality due to CKD rose between 2005 and 2015 by 32% to 1·2 million deaths worldwide.

In Mexico, CKD is now the second cause of ‘years of life lost’ after ischemic heart disease, and the third cause is diabetes. The International Society of Nephrology’s (ISN) World Congress in Mexico City in April 2017 will focus on diabetes and kidney disease -- major contributors to CKD.

In 2015, Latin America had the highest CKD death rates in the world, and in Mexico more than half of patients who develop kidney failure did so as a result of diabetes. An additional concern is emerging epidemics of death due to unexplained CKD in younger adults in Central America, as well as in India and Sri Lanka.

Once CKD has advanced to complete kidney failure, the only options for prolonging life are long term dialysis or kidney transplantation -- complex and costly interventions which are not accessible to the general population in many countries.

Health experts say if this uptick in CKD deaths is to be halted, further research is urgently needed to identify and deliver low-cost strategies for prevention, early detection and treatment.

ISN Programs Chair and Past President John Feehally (UK) said the findings confirm the growing pre-eminence of CKD -- and especially CKD due to diabetes -- as an avoidable cause of death worldwide. Feehally added that the International Society of Nephrology is spearheading the development and implementation of realistic and affordable strategies to reduce the impact of CKD worldwide.”

Source: Global, regional, and national life expectancy, all-cause mortality, and cause-specific mortality for 249 causes of death, 1980–2015: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2015.

The International Society of Nephrology is a global not-for-profit society dedicated to improving kidney care and reducing the incidence and impact of kidney disease worldwide. Through its global network and programs, ISN brings together the developing and developed world in a collaborative effort in fighting and treating kidney disease on a global scale. Visit:  www.theisn.org