Chronic kidney disease (CKD) continues to rise as a significant public health challenge worldwide, and South Asia is at the center of this growing burden. A recent study published in The Lancet reported that China had the highest number of adults living with CKD in 2023, at around 152 million. India followed closely with approximately 138 million adults affected. These figures reflect changing health patterns shaped by longer life expectancy, increasing metabolic diseases, and lifestyle transitions across both countries.
Globally, an estimated 788 million adults aged 20 years and older were living with CKD in 2023, more than double the estimate in 1990. The overall age-standardized prevalence was approximately 14 percent, with certain regions showing much higher rates. North Africa and the Middle East recorded prevalence around 18 percent, while South Asia was close behind at around 16…
