Changing profile of causes of chronic renal failure

The incidence and prevalence of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) is increasing. Diabetic nephropathy has increased in absolute numbers and as a proportion of patients with ESRD. This is almost totally accounted for by the explosive outbreak of Type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM). The world is in the midst of an epidemic of Type 2 DM and hence this trend is likely to continue for some more time. The contribution of glomerulonephritis as a proportion of patients with chronic renal failure (CRF) has declined due to increase in other causes such as diabetes. The annual incidence of IgA nephropathy, which is also a very common cause of renal insufficiency, has not changed. The incidence of focal segmental glomerulosclerosis is increasing while that of membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis is decreasing. Peak incidence of ESRD due to hypertension has shifted to a higher age-group. The proportion of renovascular disease as a cause of ESRD is also increasing. Human immunodeficiency virus associated nephropathy is the third leading cause of ESRD in African-Americans aged 20-64 years. Other diseases such as analgesic nephropathy and lead nephropathy are slowly disappearing. The significance of elevated body lead in patients with varying degrees of renal insufficiency requires further evaluation. The incidence of CRF is significantly higher in the elderly and hence there is a "graying" of CRF population. Census projections show that this trend will continue into the foreseeable future. The incidence and prevalence of ESRD vary between different populations, countries and within countries. The reason for the variations requires further study.