Global, regional, and national burden of chronic kidney disease and its associated anemia, 1990 to 2021 and predictions to 2050: an analysis of the global burden of disease study 2021.

BACKGROUND

Our objective was to conduct a thorough evaluation of the burden of CKD and its associated anemia by age and sex at the global, regional, and national levels, with projections extending to 2050.

METHODS

The data from the Global Burden of Diseases (GBD) 2021 were used to describe relevant indicators of CKD and its associated anemia. At different geographic levels, subgroup analysis was carried out by sex, age, and Socio-Demographic Index (SDI). The time trend was examined using the joinpoint regression and decomposition analyses, and predictive analysis was utilized to further estimate the disease burden to 2050.

RESULTS

The incidence, prevalence, mortality, and Disability-Adjusted Life Years (DALYs) of CKD, along with the prevalence and Years Lived with Disability (YLDs) of CKD-associated anemia, maintained a steady increase and would continue until 2050. In addition, the ASRs of mortality and DALYs attributable to CKD in 2021 were highest in low SDI regions. Regionally, CKD exhibited the greatest ASRs of mortality and DALYs in Central Latin America in 2021. Meanwhile, the disease burden of CKD and its associated anemia also showed significant differences at different national levels probably mainly due to population growth and aging. Moreover, the prediction analysis showed that the ASR of incidence attributable to CKD continued to increase.

CONCLUSIONS

With the global population growth and aging, the disease burden of CKD and its associated anemia is still high and varies significantly at the global, regional, and national levels, which requires healthcare professionals to refine targeted interventions.