CKD Burden Rising Significantly in the US

From 2002 to 2016, the burden of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in the United States increased at a faster pace than other noncommunicable diseases, due in part to metabolic and dietary risk exposure manifesting in an increased risk of death due to diabetic CKD in adults aged 20 to 55 years.

“Over the past 15 years, changes in demographic, social, and epidemiologic trends occurred in the United States. These changes likely contributed to changes in CKD epidemiology,” the study authors explained.

In order to further explore changes in the burden of CKD at the state level in the US, they conducted a systematic analysis of data from the 2016 Global Burden of Disease study.

Overall, from 2002 to 2016, CKD disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) increase by 52.6%, from 1,269,049 DALYs to 1,935,954 DALYs, and death due to CKD increased by 58.3%, from 52,127 deaths to 82,539 deaths.

CKD burden increased in all states, but the rate of change varied by state, with states in the southern US exhibiting more than 2 times the burden in other states. This change was attributed to increased risk exposure, aging, and population growth. CKD due to diabetes was the primary reason for the 26.8% increase in the risk of death due to CKD in adults aged 20 to 54 years. Among adults aged 55 to 89 years, the 25.6% increase was also driven by CKD due to diabetes, as well as decreases in the probability of death from non-CKD causes.

“The findings suggest that an effort to target the reduction of CKD through greater attention to metabolic and dietary risks, especially among younger adults, is necessary.”

—Michael Potts

Reference:

Bowe B, Xie Y, Li T, et al. Changes in the US burden of chronic kidney disease from 2002 to 2016: An analysis of the global burden of disease study [published online November 30, 2018]. JAMA Netw Open. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2018.4412