The Global Burden of Kidney Disease
Kidney disease has become a common illness in the past few years, resulting in more cases annually and becoming the seventh leading risk factor for mortality worldwide. Low-income countries (LICs) and low-middle-income countries (LMICs) are at a higher risk of kidney disease due to the lack of resources, with over 850 million people estimated to have the disease. When kidney disease is detected, it tends to be too late due to the countries not having several early detection materials and screening programs. The resources they do have access to tend to be too little too late.
Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) and Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) represent distinct kidney-related conditions, although they can develop into one another. Kidney Disease often leads to other non-communicable diseases (NCDs), such as ischaemic heart disease, stroke, peripheral vascular disease, diabetes, and cancer. NCDs could progress to CKD if not treated properly and add more symptoms such as diabetes, heart disease, and hypertension. Focusing on controlling and treating these NCDs would help lower the Kidney Disease rate since it can eventually lead to CKD.
The mortality rate in CKD has risen at an alarming rate over the past couple of years, becoming the third fastest-growing cause of death globally. Many people die not from the kidney disease itself, but rather from the additional symptoms and other diseases that are caused by it.
Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) and Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) represent distinct kidney-related conditions, although they can develop into one another. Kidney Disease often leads to other non-communicable diseases (NCDs), such as ischaemic heart disease, stroke, peripheral vascular disease, diabetes, and cancer. NCDs could progress to CKD if not treated properly and add more symptoms such as diabetes, heart disease, and hypertension. Focusing on controlling and treating these NCDs would help lower the Kidney Disease rate since it can eventually lead to CKD.
The mortality rate in CKD has risen at an alarming rate over the past couple of years, becoming the third fastest-growing cause of death globally. Many people die not from the kidney disease itself, but rather from the additional symptoms and other diseases that are caused by it.
Struggles with kidney disease can lead to trouble with other vital organs.
Image Source: Photo By: Kaboompics.com
Acute Kidney Injury (AKI) affects 7 to 18% of hospitalized patients annually, which translates to 20 to 200 million individuals. Roughly 75% of those AKIs diagnoses come from infections, toxins (such as herbs, animal bites, medications), and pregnancy complications. An estimated 1.7 million deaths result from AKI each year, with 1.4 million of those mortalities located in low-income countries and low-middle-income countries.
Kidney replacement therapy is a common treatment for kidney disease, which includes the process of dialysis and getting a kidney transplant. LMICs and LICs represent only 7% of the patients receiving KRT even though they make up 48% of the population suffering from kidney disease.
While many factors can increase the risk for kidney disease, such as environmental change (i.e. global warming, toxins, and pollution), the location of LICs and LMICs makes them particularly vulnerable. Along with all those risk factors, there are also several background factors to consider such as high levels of poverty which can impact pregnancies and childhood development. Having an underfunded health community, such as the ones the LICs and LMICs have makes these smaller problems lead to bigger ones. All of these factors contribute to low rates of treatment, and detection, and therefore high and increasing mortality.
Kidney replacement therapy is a common treatment for kidney disease, which includes the process of dialysis and getting a kidney transplant. LMICs and LICs represent only 7% of the patients receiving KRT even though they make up 48% of the population suffering from kidney disease.
While many factors can increase the risk for kidney disease, such as environmental change (i.e. global warming, toxins, and pollution), the location of LICs and LMICs makes them particularly vulnerable. Along with all those risk factors, there are also several background factors to consider such as high levels of poverty which can impact pregnancies and childhood development. Having an underfunded health community, such as the ones the LICs and LMICs have makes these smaller problems lead to bigger ones. All of these factors contribute to low rates of treatment, and detection, and therefore high and increasing mortality.
Featured Image Source: Yuri
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