Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a growing global health challenge, affecting one in 10 people worldwide, says the International Society of Nephrology, which, along with the International Federation of Kidney Foundations — World Kidney Alliance, marks the second Thursday of March every year as World Kidney Day. Falling on March 12 this year, the occasion is themed ‘Kidney Health for All — Caring for People, Protecting the Planet’.

Often silent in the early stages, CKD can progress unnoticed until it causes severe health consequences. The disease significantly increases the risk of cardiovascular complications, reduces quality of life, and may advance to kidney failure, where survival depends on kidney replacement therapies such as dialysis or organ transplantation, the campaign points out.

Detecting CKD early preserves kidney function and reduces the need for resource-intensive treatments and improves long-term outcomes. Environmental changes add to this burden. Climate-related risks — air pollution, heat stress, dehydration, and extreme weather events — compound the risks of CKD and accelerate its progression. At the 78th World Health Assembly, the World Health Organization adopted its first-ever resolution dedicated to kidney disease, elevating kidney health as a global public health priority.

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Published on March 9, 2026