World Kidney Day

Are Your Kidneys OK?
Detect early, protect kidney health

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is estimated to affect approximately 850 million people worldwide. 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, 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:

Diabetes
Hypertension
Cardiovascular disease
Obesity
Family history of kidney disease

Other risks include:

Acute Kidney Injury
Pregnancy-related kidney disease
Autoimmune diseases (such as systemic lupus erythematosus or vasculitis)
Being born with a low birth weight or prematurely
Blockages in the urinary tract
Frequent kidney stones
Birth defects affecting the kidneys or urinary tract.
In lower-income countries, kidney disease is often linked to heat stress in farm workers , snake bites, environmental toxins, traditional medicines, infections like hepatitis B or C, HIV, and parasites .

Simple, non-invasive, and cost-effective tests for high-risk populations include:

Blood pressure measurements to check for hypertension.
Body Mass Index (BMI), which is an estimation of body fat based on height and weight. BMI can be calculated here.
Urine test:
Albumin in urine (Albuminuria) to assess kidney damage. Urinary Albumin-Creatinine Ratio (uACR) is preferrable.
Blood tests:
Glycosylated haemoglobin or fasting or random glucose to check for type 2 diabetes.
Serum creatinine (more accurate if in combination with cystatin C) to estimate Glomerular Filtration Rate (eGFR) and evaluate kidney function.

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.

Primary care clinicians and frontline health workers should be trained to integrate CKD testing into routine care for high-risk populations, even when time and resources are limited .
CKD testing should be integrated into existing community interventions (e.g., those targeting maternal health, HIV, tubercolosis, and other non-communicable diseases) to decrease cost and enhance efficiency.
Testing may also occur outside of medical settings, such as in town halls, churches, or markets, depending on local regulations and available resources.
Efforts should also focus on raising awareness among the general population, promoting health, and implementing education programs that empower patients.