Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 29, 2026
10:51
A Possible Zebrafish Model of Polycystic Kidney Disease: Knockdown of wnt5a Causes Cysts in Zebrafish Kidneys
Published on: December 2, 2014
11.5K
Burden, access, and disparities in kidney disease
Deidra C Crews1,2,3, Aminu K Bello4, Gamal Saadi5
1Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 301 Mason F. Lord Drive, Suite 2500, Baltimore, MD, 21224, USA. dcrews1@jhmi.edu.
Pediatric Nephrology (Berlin, Germany)
|February 14, 2019
Summary
Kidney disease impacts over 750 million globally, with significant disparities in detection and care due to socio-economic factors. Strengthening infrastructure and adopting pragmatic approaches are crucial for kidney health equity worldwide.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Nephrology
- Global Health Disparities
Background:
- Kidney disease is a major global health issue affecting 750 million+, with care disparities influenced by socio-economic, cultural, and political factors.
- World Kidney Day 2019 highlighted the unequal burden of kidney disease and global capacity gaps in prevention and management.
- Many nations lack essential diagnostics, a skilled nephrology workforce, universal primary healthcare, and renal replacement therapies.
Discussion:
- Significant disparities exist in kidney disease detection, treatment, and overall care globally.
- Socio-economic, cultural, and political determinants significantly influence kidney disease prevalence and management.
- Addressing these disparities requires a focus on strengthening healthcare infrastructure and ensuring equitable access to care.
Key Insights:
- Global kidney disease burden is substantial and unevenly distributed.
- Lack of basic diagnostics, trained workforce, and treatment access exacerbates kidney disease impact.
- Pragmatic approaches to renal replacement therapies are needed.
Outlook:
- Strengthening healthcare infrastructure is vital for early detection and management of acute kidney injury and chronic kidney disease.
- Achieving kidney health equity necessitates tailored, feasible strategies for renal replacement therapies.
- Progress towards universal health coverage by 2030 must incorporate essential kidney care elements for global health equity.
Related Concept Videos
01:25Chronic Kidney Disease I: Introduction
725
Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) arises when the kidneys progressively lose their ability to function, ultimately leading to end-stage renal disease. At this advanced stage, the kidneys can no longer filter waste or maintain essential body functions, requiring renal replacement therapy (RRT) through dialysis or a kidney transplant for survival.Early-stage chronic kidney disease and detection challengesIn CKD's early stages, symptoms often remain absent because healthy nephrons compensate for...
725
01:24Chronic Kidney Disease II: Clinical Manifestations
641
Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) progressively impairs multiple body systems due to the accumulation of uremic toxins, which disrupt cellular functions across various organs.Neurologic symptomsNeurologic symptoms often arise early in CKD, as uremic toxin buildup drives changes in cognitive and motor functions. Patients frequently experience fatigue, headache, confusion, difficulty concentrating, and, in severe cases, seizures. Peripheral neuropathy commonly manifests as burning sensations in the...
641
01:28Chronic Kidney Disease III: Interprofessional Care
466
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) requires collaborative and comprehensive management. CKD progresses through stages and can lead to end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) if untreated. Interprofessional collaboration and patient education are crucial, enabling patients to manage their health and improve their quality of life.Diagnostic approach for chronic kidney diseaseThe diagnosis of CKD primarily focuses on the glomerular filtration rate (GFR), which assesses kidney function by measuring how well...
466
01:18Chronic Kidney Disease IV: Nursing Management
388
Nursing management is essential for preventing complications, maintaining stability, and improving patients' quality of life in chronic kidney disease (CKD). By using a structured approach, nurses help slow CKD progression and support effective patient care.1. Comprehensive patient assessmentEffective management begins with nurses reviewing the patient’s medical history, and identifying key risk factors like diabetes, hypertension, and nephrotoxic drug use. Nurses assess signs of...
388
01:45Kidney Structure
75.1K
The kidneys are two large bean-shaped organs located in the upper abdomen. They filter the blood several times a day to remove toxins and rebalance water and electrolytes of the circulatory system via the renal veins. The kidneys receive blood directly from the heart via the renal arteries. These arteries enter the kidney at the hilum, the concave surface of the bean, where they branch and divide into smaller vessels and capillaries.
75.1K
01:21External Anatomy of the Kidney
3.7K
The kidneys are a pair of bean-shaped organs in the human body that play a critical role in maintaining overall health. They filter out waste products from the blood, regulate blood pressure, maintain electrolyte balance, and stimulate the production of red blood cells.
The kidneys are located in the retroperitoneal space on either side of the vertebral column, protected posteriorly by the 11th and 12th ribs. The right kidney sits slightly lower than the left owing to the presence of the liver...
The kidneys are located in the retroperitoneal space on either side of the vertebral column, protected posteriorly by the 11th and 12th ribs. The right kidney sits slightly lower than the left owing to the presence of the liver...
3.7K