March is National Kidney Month! To promote the discourse around kidney disease, we sat down with ANC’s Dr. Cara Walz to gather her perspective on how kidney disease impacts people around the world. In this week’s blog, we’re discussing the severity of kidney disease in the general population, insights on what groups are most at-risk, prevention techniques, and more to help spread awareness leading up to World Kidney Day 2025. Enjoy!
The Silent Killer: Undiagnosed Cases of Kidney Disease
Dr. Walz explains that kidney disease is often under-recognized or underdiagnosed globally primarily because it is a silent disease in its early stages and requires specific testing for diagnosis. Unlike conditions like cardiovascular disease, kidney disease doesn’t tend to be highly discussed in the news and media because it isn’t seen as “high-profile”.
The World Health Organization classifies kidney disease as a non-communicable disease – i.e., a group of chronic diseases that are not transmitted from person to person through infectious agents – alongside other major health issues like stroke and cancer. Even with this classification, however, kidney disease fails to be met with the same level of attention, despite being a leading cause of death globally and one of the top five contributors to premature mortality rates.
Though there is still more work to be done, Dr. Walz notes that the past 5-10 years have seen a productive shift in the dialogue around kidney disease, with increasing awareness being featured across channels like social media, for instance, helping educate people more than ever before.
Prevalence and Global Impact
Globally, the fight against kidney disease faces different disparities. For instance, kidney disease remains highly prevalent in high-income countries – like the U.S. – compared to low-access countries because of improved detection which leads to more diagnoses.
While treatments for chronic kidney disease (CKD) are challenging due to its silent nature, research has been poured into recent advancements like SGLT-2 inhibitors – which have shown up to a 30% reduction in disease progression. Additionally, medications like GLP-1 inhibitors, initially designed for diabetes and obesity, are now helping kidney patients thanks to the way they regulate comorbidities commonly linked to CKD.
Despite the brilliant developments in the field, Dr. Walz notes how the economic and social burden on healthcare systems remains significant. Various patient populations may face longer-lasting impacts from their conditions making it the goal of nephrologists to evaluate cases in their unique ways.
At-Risk Populations
Research over the years has identified certain populations may be at higher risk for developing kidney disease than others. Among them are pregnant women with hypertension or preeclampsia which can lead to temporary or even permanent kidney damage. Another population we tend to see, in Minnesota particularly, is the Hmong population. Hmong people have been reported at higher risk due to metabolic factors. In general, however, Asian populations with IgA Nephropathy are more prone to kidney issues. African Americans are another group nephrologists see develop CKD, especially those with the APOL-1 gene. Having one copy of the APOL-1 gene elevates the risk of kidney disease and possessing two copies makes it significantly higher.
In addition to genetic factors, socioeconomic factors also play a role in kidney disease trends in the United States. Understanding both inherited and environmental risks is essential in identifying unique characteristics patients may experience in their battle against kidney disease. Dr. Walz notes how In some cases, DNA testing can be helpful in contextualizing risk factors among high-risk individuals by informing them of their susceptibility early on.
At ANC, our team encourages you to take advantage of your annual check-ups to reclaim power over your health, utilizing this knowledge in the larger fight against kidney disease. For more information on how to connect with our team or access valuable resources, visit our website and follow us on social media for weekly tips and updates!
