Simple urine and blood tests can detect chronic kidney disease, yet as many as half of cases worldwide may remain undiagnosed.
According to a report from Lianhe Zaobao, Duke-NUS Medical School in Singapore issued a press release on the 17th, stating that kidney disease experts from Singapore Health Services Duke-National University Academic Medical Centre, University of Glasgow in Scotland, University of Toronto in Canada, and Peking University in China published three series papers in June in the international medical journal The Lancet. These papers summarize the latest advancements in diagnosis, etiology, and treatment of chronic kidney disease, and highlight clear gaps in early diagnosis and treatment.
The research points out that even in high-income countries such as the UK, 30% to 50% of chronic kidney disease patients remain undiagnosed, with rates likely even higher in low- and middle-income countries. Certain population groups are particularly affected by underdiagnosis; non-whites and women are up to twice as likely to go undiagnosed compared to white men.
● Ninth Leading Cause of Death Globally
In Singapore, the prevalence of chronic kidney disease is 14.9%, with about six people diagnosed every day. Singaporean medical experts pointed out in 2023 that as many as 70% of Singaporean patients may be unaware of their condition.
Currently, chronic kidney disease is the ninth leading cause of death in the world and is projected to rise to the fifth position by 2040, with approximately 844 million adults affected globally.
Chronic kidney disease is a long-term disease in which kidney function declines gradually. During the mild to moderate stages, most people show no obvious symptoms, and by the time symptoms appear, the disease may have progressed to a severe or late stage, approaching kidney failure. If not diagnosed and treated in time, patients may eventually require dialysis or kidney transplantation, or could even die prematurely as a result.
● Early Diagnosis and Medical Treatment Yet to See Satisfactory Progress
The World Health Assembly passed a resolution last year making kidney health a global priority. However, the research team noted that both globally and in Singapore, progress in early diagnosis and medical treatment of chronic kidney disease remains less than ideal.
High-risk groups for chronic kidney disease include those with diabetes, hypertension, obesity, and heart disease, as well as individuals with a family history of kidney disease. The risk also increases with age. In Singapore, Malay patients have the highest incidence rate of kidney failure.
Co-author of the series papers, Professor Wang Yiman from Duke-NUS Academic Medical Centre, SingHealth, said: "Chronic kidney disease remains one of the most concerning health issues globally today. The main message conveyed by our series of studies is that various sectors urgently need to pay more attention to chronic kidney disease and invest more resources to tackle it."
● Importance of Lifestyle
Using Singapore as an example, she said the rise in chronic kidney disease patients is related to increases in diabetes, hypertension, obesity, lifestyle-related risk factors, and an aging population. She emphasized that screening high-risk groups, combined with personalized risk assessment and preventive measures, as well as better implementation of treatment guidelines, can help slow the progression of kidney disease and reduce the incidence of kidney failure.
Wang Yiman added that as advances in biomarkers, kidney biopsy, and genetic testing technologies emerge, the medical community’s understanding of kidney disease causes continues to deepen. Combined with emerging digital technologies and artificial intelligence, precision medicine will also likely further improve the treatment outcomes for patients in the future.