Renal failure isn't just a nephrologist problem.

Area of Science:

• Nephrology
• Public Health
• Internal Medicine

Background:

• Uraemic patients are commonly misperceived as only those on dialysis, who represent a small fraction of the total uraemic population.
• Chronic kidney disease (CKD) affects approximately 700 million individuals globally, constituting a significant public health issue.
• CKD presents a substantial economic burden and high mortality rate, with 2.6 million deaths estimated in 2017.

Purpose of the Study:

• To highlight the discrepancy between the public perception of uraemia and the actual prevalence of renal dysfunction.
• To emphasize the urgent need for new strategies focusing on early detection and prevention of CKD.
• To advocate for a conceptual shift in viewing CKD as a multisystem condition rather than solely a nephrological disorder.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of global epidemiological data on kidney dysfunction.
• Review of mortality and economic burden statistics associated with CKD.
• Conceptual analysis of CKD's classification and required medical attention.

Main Results:

• Renal dysfunction impacts approximately 10% of the population in industrialized nations, totaling around 700 million people.
• CKD is a leading cause of mortality, responsible for an estimated 2.6 million deaths annually.
• The current approach to CKD is insufficient, necessitating a broader, multisystem perspective.

Conclusions:

• CKD is a widespread global health concern, affecting a much larger population than commonly perceived.
• Effective management of CKD requires a paradigm shift towards early detection, prevention, and a collaborative, multisystem approach.
• Internists, cardiologists, diabetologists, and general practitioners must be involved in CKD management alongside nephrologists.