Chronic Kidney Disease Is Now the 9th Leading Cause of Death Worldwide

Chronic kidney disease has entered the world's 10 leading causes of death for the first time.

That finding comes from a major international analysis published in The Lancet. Researchers estimated that chronic kidney disease, commonly called CKD, affected 788 million adults worldwide in 2023. The condition was responsible for approximately 1.48 million deaths that year, making it the ninth leading cause of death globally.

The findings were reported in a recent Fox News article about the growing burden of chronic kidney disease. They are based on the Global Burden of Disease 2023 CKD study published in The Lancet, which examined kidney disease trends in adults from 1990 through 2023.

These numbers are serious, but they should not create panic. They should create awareness.

Chronic kidney disease often develops quietly. Finding it earlier may provide more time to identify its cause, address contributing health conditions, and create a plan to preserve kidney function.

What the New Global Kidney Disease Research Found

The Lancet analysis evaluated published medical literature, kidney-failure treatment registries, household surveys, death records, and other data from countries and territories around the world.

Among its key findings:

• An estimated 788 million adults had CKD in 2023.
• Approximately 14.2% of the global adult population was affected.
• The estimated number of cases increased from 378 million in 1990.
• CKD caused approximately 1.48 million deaths in 2023.
• Most people with CKD were in stages 1 through 3.
• High blood glucose, elevated blood pressure, and high body mass index were leading risk factors.
• Impaired kidney function contributed to an estimated 11.5% of cardiovascular deaths.

The finding that most people were in the earlier stages of CKD is particularly important. Early-stage disease may not cause obvious symptoms, but it may still increase long-term kidney and cardiovascular risk.

It also means that there may be an opportunity to intervene before kidney function reaches an advanced stage.

Why Chronic Kidney Disease Often Goes Undetected

Kidney disease does not always cause pain.

Your kidneys can lose part of their filtering capacity while you continue to work, exercise, travel, and handle your normal daily responsibilities. Urination may also appear normal during the early stages.

A National Geographic report on the rise of chronic kidney disease noted that nine out of 10 people with CKD may not know they have it. Many only receive a diagnosis after the disease has progressed.

Symptoms may become more noticeable in later stages and can include:

• Fatigue or weakness
• Swelling in the legs, ankles, feet, hands, or face
• Shortness of breath
• Nausea or loss of appetite
• Itching
• Muscle cramps
• Difficulty concentrating
• Changes in urination

These symptoms can also be caused by other medical conditions. They cannot confirm kidney disease on their own.

The absence of symptoms does not necessarily mean the kidneys are healthy, and the presence of symptoms does not automatically mean CKD is the cause. Testing and careful medical interpretation are essential.

The Connection Between Kidney Disease and Heart Health

CKD is not only a kidney problem.

The kidneys help regulate blood pressure, sodium, fluid balance, electrolytes, red blood cell production, and several hormonal systems. When kidney function declines, the effects can extend throughout the body.

The Lancet study found that impaired kidney function contributed to more than one in 10 cardiovascular deaths worldwide. The National Geographic article also emphasized that people with CKD have an increased risk of cardiovascular disease.

This relationship works in both directions.

High blood pressure can damage the small blood vessels that filter blood inside the kidneys. Damaged kidneys may then retain more sodium and fluid, making blood pressure harder to control.

Diabetes can damage the kidney filters over time. Kidney disease can then complicate diabetes treatment and increase cardiovascular risk.

Heart disease can reduce blood flow to the kidneys, while reduced kidney function can affect fluid balance and place additional strain on the heart.

That is why kidney, cardiovascular, and metabolic health should be managed as connected systems — not as completely separate conditions.

Who Is at Greater Risk of CKD?

Anyone can develop kidney disease, but certain health conditions and personal factors increase the likelihood.

You may benefit from closer kidney monitoring when you have:

Diabetes or Prediabetes

Persistently elevated blood glucose can damage the kidneys' filtering vessels. Kidney changes may begin without noticeable symptoms.

High Blood Pressure

Hypertension is both a cause and a possible result of kidney disease. Blood pressure that remains elevated despite treatment may require a closer evaluation.

Cardiovascular Disease

Heart disease, heart failure, vascular disease, and kidney disease frequently overlap because they share many of the same risk factors and biological pathways.

Obesity or Metabolic Conditions

The new global study identified elevated body mass index as an important contributor to CKD-related illness and disability. Obesity may also occur alongside diabetes, hypertension, fatty liver disease, and cardiovascular risk.

A Family History of Kidney Disease

A family history of kidney failure, dialysis, kidney transplantation, cystic kidney disease, or unexplained early kidney decline may indicate an inherited risk.

Previous Acute Kidney Injury

A sudden loss of kidney function during an illness, hospitalization, infection, surgery, or episode of dehydration may increase the need for follow-up monitoring.

Autoimmune or Inflammatory Disease

Conditions such as lupus and IgA nephropathy may damage the kidney filters.

Certain Medication Exposures

Some prescription medicines, over-the-counter pain relievers, supplements, and antacids can affect kidney function in certain circumstances. Medication risk depends on the dose, duration, kidney function, hydration, and other health conditions.

Two Basic Tests Can Detect Important Kidney Changes

Because early CKD may be silent, screening should not depend on symptoms alone.

Kidney assessment commonly includes two important tests.

Blood Creatinine and eGFR

Creatinine is a waste product measured through a blood test. The result is used to estimate the glomerular filtration rate, or eGFR.

The eGFR provides an estimate of how effectively the kidneys filter blood. One result may be temporarily affected by illness, dehydration, medications, or other factors, so the trend over time is often more informative than one isolated number.

Urine Albumin-to-Creatinine Ratio

Healthy kidney filters generally prevent albumin, an important protein, from leaking into the urine.

A urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio can detect small amounts of protein leakage. Albumin may appear in the urine before a major decline in eGFR becomes apparent.

Blood filtration and urine albumin testing provide different information. Reviewing both can create a clearer picture of kidney health.

What Early Detection Can Change

An early diagnosis does not guarantee that CKD can be reversed. It can, however, create time to understand the cause and address factors that may accelerate progression.

Depending on the individual, care may include:

• Improving blood-pressure control
• Managing diabetes and blood glucose
• Reducing albumin or protein loss in the urine
• Reviewing medications and supplements
• Addressing cardiovascular and metabolic risks
• Making stage-appropriate nutrition changes
• Correcting electrolyte or acid-base abnormalities
• Treating autoimmune or inherited kidney disease
• Monitoring kidney function trends
• Using evidence-based kidney-protective treatment when appropriate

Both the Fox News report and the National Geographic article noted that newer therapies can help slow kidney disease progression and reduce cardiovascular complications for selected patients.

These treatments are not interchangeable, and they are not appropriate for everyone. Medication decisions should be based on the cause and stage of CKD, kidney function, urine findings, blood pressure, electrolyte levels, diabetes status, cardiovascular history, and other medications.

One Normal Test Does Not Provide Lifelong Reassurance

Kidney health changes over time.

A person who had normal kidney tests several years ago may develop new risks because of diabetes, hypertension, aging, cardiovascular disease, illness, medication exposure, or a family condition.

At the same time, one abnormal test does not automatically establish chronic kidney disease. Dehydration, infection, acute illness, urinary obstruction, or medication effects may temporarily change kidney function.

The most useful questions are often:

• Is kidney function stable or declining?
• Is protein leaking into the urine?
• Has blood pressure become harder to control?
• Are electrolyte levels changing?
• Is there a clear underlying cause?
• Are current treatments protecting both the kidneys and heart?

Answering these questions requires more than briefly reviewing a single laboratory report. It requires context and ongoing attention to trends.

Conclusion: Earlier Answers Can Create More Options

Chronic kidney disease becoming the ninth leading cause of death worldwide is a warning that kidney health can no longer be treated as an afterthought.

CKD is common, closely connected to cardiovascular and metabolic health, and frequently missed during its early stages. The good news is that it can often be detected through accessible blood and urine testing before severe symptoms develop.

At NephronMD, we provide calm, personal, and unhurried kidney care focused on early detection, careful interpretation of laboratory trends, and personalized plans to protect long-term health.

Our services include comprehensive chronic kidney disease management, advanced kidney testing, and integrated kidney and heart care.

NephronMD serves patients and families across Greater Dallas-Fort Worth, including Prosper, Frisco, McKinney, Plano, Allen, Dallas, Denton, Fort Worth, Richardson, Irving, and Arlington.

Contact NephronMD to discuss your kidney function, risk factors, or previous abnormal test results with an experienced nephrologist.

Sources: Fox News, "Killer Condition Lands in Top 10 Leading Causes of Death as Global Cases Surge" (November 10, 2025); GBD 2023 Chronic Kidney Disease Collaborators, The Lancet, "Global, Regional, and National Burden of Chronic Kidney Disease in Adults, 1990–2023, and Its Attributable Risk Factors" (November 7, 2025); National Geographic, "Chronic Kidney Disease Is on the Rise — and Many People Don't Know They Have It" (September 3, 2025).