Incidence, DALYs, and death rates of chronic kidney disease in China, 1990–2023: Results from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2023
Jinwei Wang, Minghui Zhao, Luxia ZhangAbstract
Background:
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a global public health concern that causes a remarkable disease burden. Although the prevalence of CKD in China has been investigated by previous national surveys, the incidence, disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), and death of CKD and their temporal trends over the past decades have not been well studied.
Methods:
Incidence, DALYs, and death of CKD, as well as risk-attributable DALYs and death in China from 1990 to 2023, were checked from the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study 2023. The temporal trend of each indicator was estimated by join point analysis.
Results:
In 2023, in China, there were 156.15 (95% uncertainty interval: 146.77–167.88) million patients with CKD. The incidence, DALYs, and death rates of CKD were 240.59 (222.83–266.12), 355.86 (303.29–407.63), and 10.73 (8.96–12.70) per 100,000 population, respectively. Females had a higher incidence but lower DALYs and death rates than males. The elderly population had a much higher disease burden than middle-aged and young people. Incidence rates markedly increased, DALY rates slightly decreased, while death rates mildly increased from 1990 to 2023 with the respective average annual percent change of 1.67%, –0.17%, and 0.40%. However, the metrics all tended to decline after age standardization. Metabolic risk factors accounted for higher risk-attributable DALYs and deaths than other risk factors. High fasting plasma glucose ranked first in 2023 for risk-attributable DALYs and death, while high body mass index was the only risk factor maintaining a nondeclining contribution when comparing 2010 to 2023.
Conclusions:
CKD bears high levels of incidence, DALYs, and death in China, with an increasing trend for incidence observed from 1990 to 2023. The aging of the population and metabolic diseases are the main drivers of the CKD burden. Priority should be given to curb the CKD epidemic.