Global, regional, and national burden of chronic kidney disease and its underlying etiologies from 1990 to 2021: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021

Abstract

Background

We aimed to investigate global, regional, and national burden of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and its underlying etiologies from 1990 to 2021.

Methods

We summarized the results of the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2021 to derive the disease burden of CKD by considering four distinct types of epidemiological data, namely incidence, prevalence, mortality, and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs). The Joinpoint regression analysis, which is skilled in calculating annual percentage change (APC) and average annual percentage change (AAPC), was used to estimate global trends for CKD from 1990 to 2021.

Results

The age-standardized mortality rate (ASMR) and age-standardized DALYs rate of CKD were more prominent in regions with Low and Low-middle socio-demographic index (SDI) quintiles. From 1990 to 2021, the countries with the largest increases in ASMR were Ukraine. Globally, the most common cause of death for CKD was type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), while the most common cause of prevalence, incidence, and DALYs was the other and unspecified causes. The main causes of death and DALYs from CKD varied in different parts of the world. The disease burden of CKD increased with age. In most age groups, the global prevalence and incidence of CKD were higher in females than males. At all ages, the global mortality rate and DALYs rate of CKD were higher in males compared to females. Joint point regression analysis found that from 1990 to 2021 the global age-standardized prevalence rate (ASPR) revealed a downward trend, while age-standardized incidence rate (ASIR), ASMR, and age-standardized DALYs rate showed an upward trend, with the most notable increase in ASMR during the 1997–2000 period and in age-standardized DALYs rate during the 1996–2003 period.

Conclusions

The study unveiled the uneven global distribution of the burden of CKD and its attributable causes. From 1990 to 2021, an increase in the burden of incidence, mortality, and DALYs due to CKD was observed. Population growth and aging will contribute to a further increase in the burden of CKD. Healthcare providers should develop health policies, and optimize the allocation of medical resources, based on age, sex, region, and disease type.