World Kidney Day 2024

World Kidney Day is an  annual global event on the second Thursday of March, focusing on raising awareness about kidney health and the impact of kidney diseases on individual well-being. Since its inception in 2006, it has evolved into a significant global health movement, spotlighting the substantial global health impact of kidney disease, a leading cause of global illness and death.

How Common is Kidney Disease?

Kidney disease affects millions globally, making it a significant health challenge. Current figures show about 850 million people worldwide suffer from some form of kidney disease. Notably, approximately 2.6 million of these individuals are dealing with kidney failure, either through dialysis or transplantation, with projections indicating an increase to 5.4 million by 2030.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD), a major non-communicable disease, causes around 1.2 million deaths each year and is among the fastest-growing causes of death worldwide. Alarmingly, 90% of those with CKD do not know they have the condition, primarily because it often lacks symptoms in its early stages and goes unnoticed until it becomes more severe.

The terminal phase of kidney disease, End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD), poses even more challenges, especially with the high number of cases and limited treatment options in less developed regions. Despite these challenges, treatment for ESRD is improving. For example, Mexico has the highest reported incidence of treated ESRD, with 998 cases per million people, the US reports 410 cases per million.

Kidney Disease Statistics in the US

In the US, CDK impacts a significant number of adults, with approximately 35.5 million Americans, or over one in seven adults, affected by this health condition, making it a major cause of mortality. ESRD affected nearly 808,000 individuals across the nation.

• One in three individuals with diabetes and one in five with high blood pressure developing CKD. Additional risk factors include heart disease and a family history of kidney failure.
• Among ESRD affected, 69% relied on dialysis, while 31% had undergone kidney transplantation.
• The incidence rate of ESRD among men surpasses that among women by 60%.
• In 2021, 25,549 kidney transplants were done, with 19,569 sourced from deceased donors and 5,979 from living donors.
• By September 2023, the waiting list for kidney transplants in the United States had reached 88,551 individuals.

Kidney Disease in Europe

Kidney diseases pose a major public health issue in Europe, mirroring the concerning situation observed in the US. It is estimated that as many as 100 million Europeans are living with CKD, positioning it as a significant health concern. Projections suggest that by 2040, CKD could become the fifth leading cause of death in the region.

The Cost of Kidney Disease

CKD significantly strains healthcare systems. In the US, Medicare expenses for individuals aged 66 and older with CKD, not including End-Stage Renal Disease (ESRD), exceeded $76.8 billion in 2021. This expenditure represents 13.5% of all Medicare spending for this age group. Additionally, spending on ESRD patients reached $52.3 billion the same year.

In Europe, the annual cost to healthcare systems from CKD is estimated at around €140 billion. Dialysis, costs about €80,000 per person each year on average. In England alone, the annual cost of CKD is £1.5 billion, exceeding the combined costs of treating lung, colon, skin, and breast cancer.

Clinical Trials in Kidney Diseases

Despite the increasing number of people diagnosed with kidney disease each year, clinical trials in nephrology are not as prevalent as in other medical fields. However, the landscape is gradually changing, with a significant increase in the number of kidney disease-related clinical trials. In 2020, there was only one late-stage renal study for every 39 cancer studies, but by 2023, this improved to one for every ten.

Since 2022, there have been initiated 1,406 clinical trials for kidney diseases, with the majority conducted in the United States, Europe, and China.

Of these, ESRD has the highest focus, with 753 trials, followed by CKD with 365 trials and kidney cancer with 358 trials. This increase in research activity underscores the importance of continuing to explore new treatments to enhance the lives of those with kidney diseases. 

Cromos Pharma’s Role in Nephrology Clinical Trials

Cromos Pharma is at the forefront of conducting clinical trials in nephrology, offering comprehensive experience in managing studies across all phases, including rescue, post-marketing, and observational studies. Our expertise and infrastructure are designed to meet the highest standards of research while accommodating the unique needs of our sponsors.

For more information on how Cromos Pharma can support your next clinical trial in nephrology, please reach out to us at inquiry@cromospharma.com.