China Tops World in Chronic Kidney Disease Cases, Study Shows
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Global cases of chronic kidney disease have accelerated to approximately 788 million, with China accounting for the largest single population of patients, according to a new study published in The Lancet.
The research estimates that the number of adults aged 20 and older living with the condition globally reached 788 million in 2023, a significant jump from 378 million in 1990. The disease has now become the ninth leading cause of death worldwide, driven largely by rising rates of high blood sugar, hypertension and obesity.
These findings highlight a rapidly expanding global health crisis characterized by high mortality and low public awareness, creating an urgent challenge for health systems where only a fraction of end-stage patients currently receive adequate life-saving treatment.
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- Global chronic kidney disease cases reached 788 million in 2023, up from 378 million in 1990; China leads with 152 million cases.
- The disease is now the ninth leading cause of death worldwide, causing 1.48 million deaths in 2023 and contributing to 11.5% of all cardiovascular deaths.
- Only 20% of end-stage patients receive adequate treatment; WHO recognized kidney disease as a priority, urging expanded screening and low-cost therapies.
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