World Kidney Day 2026: Focus on Early Detection and Diabetic Kidney Disease
As World Kidney Day is commemorated this March, specialists and medical organizations are reinforcing the importance of early detection of chronic kidney disease (CKD), a condition that often progresses silently and affects millions globally. In Colombia, over one million people live with CKD, many undiagnosed.
The Growing Burden of Chronic Kidney Disease
The Colombian Association of Nephrology and Arterial Hypertension (ASOCOLNEF) and Bayer have highlighted the critical need to strengthen prevention and early diagnosis of Diabetic Kidney Disease (DKD), a leading complication of diabetes and a frequent cause of kidney failure. Approximately 10% of the world’s population – around 850 million people – suffers from CKD. By 2023, it was the ninth leading cause of death worldwide, affecting 14% of adults over 20 years of age.
Diabetic Kidney Disease: A Significant Threat
Scientific studies indicate that delayed intervention in Diabetic Kidney Disease can reduce a patient’s life expectancy by up to 16 years. Dr. Silvia Rey, Bayer’s medical advisor for cardio-renal issues, emphasizes the interconnectedness of heart and kidney health. “It is essential to understand that the heart and kidneys function as an interconnected system; when one fails, the other suffers,” she explained. DKD should not be viewed as an isolated complication but as a factor accelerating cardiovascular risk.
Dr. Rey advocates for a medical approach that extends beyond glucose control, focusing on therapies that protect both the heart and kidneys simultaneously to halt inflammation and structural damage.
The Silent Nature of Chronic Kidney Disease
One of the biggest challenges with CKD is its often asymptomatic nature in the early stages, making timely diagnosis difficult. Progression is closely linked to metabolic and inflammatory factors, with diabetes playing a central role – approximately 40% of people with diabetes develop some degree of kidney damage. Prolonged high blood sugar levels can deteriorate kidney function even before symptoms appear.
Risk Factors for Chronic Kidney Disease
Beyond diabetes, high blood pressure and overweight or obesity are significant risk factors. Adverse lifestyles and the presence of protein in the urine (albuminuria) also contribute to kidney disease development.
The Situation in Colombia
According to the 2024 High Cost Account report, over one million Colombians live with CKD. However, this number may underestimate the true prevalence due to the disease’s asymptomatic early stages. Many patients are diagnosed when the condition is already advanced and requires complex, expensive treatments like dialysis or kidney transplant.
Early Detection: A Key Strategy
“The great challenge in Colombia is to detect the disease before the patient needs a dialysis machine,” says Dr. Juan Diego Montejo, president of ASOCOLNEF. Expanding the use of simple tests, such as measuring albuminuria, at all levels of care is crucial.
Albuminuria: An Important Indicator
Measuring albuminuria is a sensitive marker for early kidney damage and predicting cardiorenal disease progression. Despite its importance, only four out of ten patients in Colombia currently have this measurement, indicating underutilization of this diagnostic tool.
Economic Impact of Diabetic Kidney Disease
The economic burden of DKD is substantial, estimated at 428 million pesos per 1,000 patients, primarily due to cardiovascular hospitalizations and treatments like dialysis. At the individual level, the disease can reduce quality-adjusted life years by more than 10 years.
The Path Forward: Early Nephroprotection
Specialists emphasize the need to shift towards an early nephroprotection strategy in Colombia. Early detection would improve patient quality of life and reduce the strain on the healthcare system.
Source: Asocolnef