Chronic kidney disease and the global public health agenda: an international consensus

Early detection is crucial to prevent kidney disease and its complications, but public awareness is low. Increasing knowledge and implementing early detection measures are public health priorities. Kidney disease is becoming more prevalent globally, now ranking as the seventh leading cause of death. Factors such as demographic changes, the obesity epidemic, and climate change will likely worsen this trend, affecting survival, quality of life, and healthcare costs. Disadvantaged populations, with limited access to treatments, bear the highest burden, exacerbating health disparities. This statement from several nephrology societies calls for kidney disease to be included in the WHO's focus on major non-communicable diseases causing premature death.