As the World Health Assembly prepares to convene its 78th meeting on May 19, global health leaders face a daunting agenda amid ongoing crises such as armed conflicts, economic instability, and the United States’ withdrawal from the World Health Organization (WHO). While the WHO navigates a severe budget shortfall, the health ministers must prioritize initiatives that can have long-lasting global impacts. One critical issue that demands immediate attention is the escalating, often overlooked burden of chronic kidney disease (CKD).
A resolution, co-sponsored by Guatemala and 19 other countries, urges the WHO to officially recognize kidney disease as a major cause of death and disability, placing it alongside other non-communicable diseases (NCDs) like cancer, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases on the organization’s priority list. The resolution has garnered widespread support from researchers, clinicians, and international medical societies, as highlighted in a recent Consensus Statement published in Nature Reviews Nephrology.
Kidney disease is a global epidemic, affecting an estimated 674 million people, or 8.5% of the world’s population, according to the 2021 Global Burden of Disease study. It is one of the fastest-growing causes of premature death and is projected to be the fifth leading cause of years of life lost by 2040. Beyond the direct toll of kidney dysfunction, the disease significantly increases the risk of death from other major NCDs, such as cardiovascular disease, and exacerbates conditions like diabetes and hypertension.
In many regions, particularly Mesoamerica, India, and Sri Lanka, chronic kidney disease of uncertain origin is wreaking havoc, contributing to a surge in mortality and disability. The widespread lack of awareness—especially in low- and middle-income countries—means that millions may be living with undiagnosed kidney disease, contributing to delayed diagnoses and worsened health outcomes.
Even in high-income countries, kidney disease remains a pressing issue. People diagnosed with kidney failure in these nations have a survival rate after five years that is lower than for many common cancers, with just a third of patients living that long. This stark statistic highlights the importance of expanding access to treatments like dialysis and transplants, which could prevent countless deaths.
Despite the growing evidence, some high-income countries have yet to fully support the resolution, citing concerns over the WHO’s financial crisis. However, the estimated $16 million required to implement the resolution over seven years is a relatively small price to pay compared to the potential savings in healthcare costs, such as the $9.3 billion annual economic burden of kidney disease in the United Kingdom alone. By elevating kidney disease on the WHO’s priority list, countries would be sending a strong message that the disease must be addressed, ultimately unlocking more funding for diagnosis, treatment, and research.
Kidney disease, like other NCDs, needs to be tackled within existing public health frameworks, integrating affordable therapies to slow disease progression. Efforts to reduce the impact of diabetes, heart disease, and hypertension have already gained significant traction through WHO support; kidney disease should be no different.
As emphasized in the Consensus Statement from nephrology societies worldwide, failing to recognize kidney disease as a key NCD would be a grave oversight, missing a major opportunity to reduce preventable mortality. The global community cannot afford to ignore the growing toll of kidney disease. The adoption of this WHO resolution represents a crucial first step toward a coordinated, worldwide effort to reduce its impact and save lives.
The upcoming assembly marks an urgent crossroads for the global health community. As nations consider their next steps, the recognition of kidney disease as a priority NCD could have far-reaching effects on public health, helping to curb the escalating crisis and protect millions of lives worldwide.
