the health strategist
institute for strategic health transformation
& digital technology
Joaquim Cardoso MSc.
Chief Research and Strategy Officer (CRSO),
Chief Editor and Senior Advisor
November 8, 2023
What is the message?
Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) is a global health issue affecting over 850 million people, and it resulted in over 3.1 million deaths in 2019.
The burden of CKD is significant, with it being the 8th leading cause of death, and if not addressed, it is projected to become the 5th leading cause of years of life lost by 2040.
However, recent therapeutic breakthroughs offer opportunities to prevent or delay CKD and its complications, ultimately improving the quality and quantity of life for those affected.
What are the key points?
- CKD Prevalence and Impact: CKD affects more than 850 million people worldwide and caused over 3.1 million deaths in 2019. It ranks as the 8th leading cause of death, and its impact is projected to worsen if not addressed, becoming the 5th leading cause of years of life lost by 2040.
- Therapeutic Breakthroughs: Recent therapeutic breakthroughs offer new possibilities for preventing or delaying CKD and its complications, such as cardiovascular disease and kidney failure, which can improve the lives of individuals with CKD.
- Disparities in Access: Access to these new therapies is not universal and is hindered by barriers such as lack of awareness about CKD, limited knowledge of newer treatment strategies, shortages of kidney specialists, and treatment costs. These disparities are prevalent not only in low- and middle-income countries but also in some high-income settings.
- Shifting Focus: The need to shift focus towards CKD awareness and capacity building of the healthcare workforce is emphasized. Overcoming these barriers requires a multi-pronged strategy.
- Health Policies: Implementing health policies that integrate kidney care into existing health programs, secure funding, and disseminate kidney health knowledge is essential. Equitable access to screening, early diagnosis, and quality treatment should be prioritized to prevent CKD or its progression.
- Healthcare Delivery: Suboptimal kidney care is often a result of limited policy focus, inadequate patient and provider education, insufficient resources for high-quality care, and limited access to affordable medication. Comprehensive, patient-centered, and locally-oriented approaches are needed to address these barriers.
- Healthcare Professionals: Addressing the shortage of healthcare professionals and specialists requires enhancing training, building capacity among healthcare workers, and promoting education on appropriate CKD screening and treatment strategies. Scientific innovation and effective communication are crucial.
- Empowering Patients and Communities: Patients’ access to care and medication is often hindered by high costs and misinformation. Raising awareness about CKD risk factors, improving health literacy, and involving patients in advocacy organizations and local communities are essential to empower individuals to make informed decisions and improve their health outcomes.
What is the burden of this disease?
The burden of Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) is significant, as highlighted in the article. Here are the key statistics that reflect the burden of CKD:
- CKD affects more than 850 million people worldwide.
- In 2019, CKD resulted in over 3.1 million deaths.
- CKD is currently the 8th leading cause of death globally.
- If not effectively addressed, CKD is projected to become the 5th leading cause of years of life lost by the year 2040.
These statistics emphasize the substantial impact of CKD on individuals’ health and the healthcare system, underscoring the urgency of addressing this global health issue.
DEEP DIVE
World Kidney Day 2024 – Kidney Health for All
Advancing equitable access to care and optimal medication practice
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is estimated to affect more than 850 million people worldwide and resulted in over 3.1 million deaths in 2019.[1] Presently, kidney disease ranks as the 8th leading cause of death[2], and if left unaddressed, it is projected to be the 5th leading cause of years of life lost by 2040.[3]
Over the last three decades, CKD treatment efforts have centered on preparing for and delivering kidney replacement therapies. However, recent therapeutic breakthroughs [4] offer unprecedented opportunities to prevent or delay disease and mitigate complications such as cardiovascular disease and kidney failure, ultimately prolonging the quality and quantity of life for people living with CKD.
While these new therapies should be universally accessible to all patients, in every country and environment, barriers such as lack of CKD awareness, insufficient knowledge or confidence with newer therapeutic strategies, shortages of kidney specialists, and treatment costs contribute to profound disparities in accessing treatments, particularly in low-and-middle-income countries, but also in some high-income settings. These inequities emphasize the need to shift focus towards CKD awareness and capacity building of the healthcare workforce.
Achieving optimal kidney care requires overcoming barriers at multiple levels while considering contextual differences across world regions. These include gaps in early diagnosis, lack of universal healthcare or insurance coverage, low awareness among healthcare workers, and challenges to medication cost and accessibility. A multi-pronged strategy is required to save kidneys, hearts, and lives:
- Health policies – Primary and secondary prevention of CKD require targeted health policies that holistically integrate kidney care into existing health programs, secure funding for kidney care, and disseminate kidney health knowledge to the public and the healthcare workforce. Equitable access to kidney disease screening, tools for early diagnosis, and sustainable access to quality treatment should be implemented to prevent CKD or its progression.
- Healthcare delivery – Suboptimal kidney care results from limited policy focus, inadequate patient and provider education, lack of resources for high-quality care, and limited access to affordable medication. To enact strategies successfully, it is essential to adopt a comprehensive, patient-centered, and locally oriented approaches to identify and remedy barriers to high-quality kidney care.
- Healthcare professionals – Addressing the shortage of primary care professionals and kidney specialists requires enhancing training, minimizing loss of healthcare providers, and building capacity among healthcare workers, including primary care physicians, nurses, and community health workers. Education on appropriate CKD screening and adherence to clinical practice guideline recommendations are key to successful implementation of effective and safe treatment strategies. Embracing scientific innovation and utilizing pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic tools for CKD treatment, as well as fostering effective communication and empathy among professionals would greatly impact patient well-being.
- Empowering patients and communities – Globally, patients struggle to access care and medication due to high costs and misinformation, which impact their health behaviors and adherence. Raising awareness about CKD risk factors such as diabetes, hypertension, and obesity, enhancing health literacy about healthy lifestyle choices, self-care, and promoting long-term adherence to treatment strategies can bring large benefits especially when initiated early and consistently maintained. Involving patients in advocacy organizations and local communities will empower them to make informed decisions and improve their health outcomes.
[1]https://vizhub.healthdata.org/gbd-results/
[2]https://www.healthdata.org/news-events/newsroom/news-releases/lancet-latest-global-disease-estimates-reveal-perfect-storm
[3]https://www.thelancet.com/pdfs/journals/lancet/PIIS0140-6736(18)31694-5.pdf
[4]Renin-angiotensin inhibitors, SGLT2 inhibitors, non-steroidal mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists, and GLP-1 receptor agonists, have shown benefits in delaying kidney function decline together with reducing risks of cardiovascular events and death.
Originally published at https://www.worldkidneyday.org
