World Kidney Day 2025
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is estimated to affect approximately 850 million people worldwide[1]. If left undetected and not treated timely, CKD can progress to kidney failure, leading to severe complications and premature mortality. By 2040, CKD is projected to become the 5th leading cause of years of life lost[2], highlighting the urgent need for global strategies to combat kidney disease.
Populations at high risk for kidney disease should undergo targeted testing.
The major risk factors for kidney disease are:
Other risks include:
Simple, non-invasive, and cost-effective tests for high-risk populations include:
Early detection policies for individuals at risk should be implemented globally to reduce the healthcare costs associated with kidney failure and improve quality of life.
[1] Collaboration GBDCKD. Global, regional, and national burden of chronic kidney disease, 1990-2017: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017. Lancet. Feb 29 2020;395(10225):709-733. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(20)30045-3
[2] Foreman KJ, Marquez N, Dolgert A, et al. Forecasting life expectancy, years of life lost, and all-cause and cause-specific mortality for 250 causes of death: reference and alternative scenarios for 2016-40 for 195 countries and territories. Lancet. Nov 10 2018; 392(10159):2052-2090. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(18)31694-5
[3] Johnson RJ, Wesseling C, Newman LS. Chronic Kidney Disease of Unknown Cause in Agricultural Communities. New England Journal of Medicine. 2019;380(19):1843-1852. doi: 10.1056/NEJMra1813869
[4] McCulloch M, Luyckx VA, Cullis B, et al. Challenges of access to kidney care for children in low-resource settings. Nature reviews Nephrology. 2021/01/01 2021;17(1):33-45. doi: 10.1038/s41581-020-00338-7
[5] Stanifer JW, Muiru A, Jafar TH, Patel UD. Chronic kidney disease in low- and middle-income countries. Nephrol Dial Transplant. Jun 2016;31(6):868-74. doi: 10.1093/ndt/gfv466
[6] Vassalotti JA, Centor R, Turner BJ, et al. Practical Approach to Detection and Management of Chronic Kidney Disease for the Primary Care Clinician. Am J Med. Feb 2016;129(2):153-162 e7. doi: 10.1016/j.amjmed.2015.08.025
[7] Vassalotti JA, Boucree SC. Integrating CKD Into US Primary Care: Bridging the Knowledge and Implementation Gaps. Kidney Int Rep. Mar 2022;7(3):389-396. doi: 10.1016/j.ekir.2022.01.1066
[8] Shlipak MG, Tummalapalli SL, Boulware LE, et al. The case for early identification and intervention of chronic kidney disease: conclusions from a Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) Controversies Conference. Kidney International. Jan 2021; 99(1):34-37. doi: 10.1016/j.kint.2020.10.012
A selection of some of the best pictures of World Kidney Day throughout the years. See your events, our team and all the ways you got involved during one of our many World Kidney Days.
The 2025 WKD collection is coming soon. In the meantime, explore our wide range of WKD-branded items, including T-shirts, tote bags, pens, and more. Get yours today – whether for yourself or to share with friends – and join us in marking World Kidney Day!
World Kidney Day
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