Symptoms of killer condition as it enters top 10 leading causes of death worldwide

Record numbers of people around the world are suffering from a chronic condition that has shot up the charts as one of the world's leading causes of death in recent years.

The top 10 causes of death were behind more than half (57 percent) of the total 68 million deaths around the globe in 2021, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

The top eight relate to cardiovascular issues, like ischaemic heart disease and stroke, and respiratory issues - notably, Covid-19 as well as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease - followed by lung cancers, Alzheimer's disease and diabetes.

But in ninth place came kidney disease for the first time, ahead of tuberculosis.

Now, a new study has revealed record numbers are suffering from reduced kidney function, which can prove deadly when it's not caught early.

Experts warn it's imperative that the disease is caught early (Getty Stock Image)

What is chronic kidney disease?

According to the CDC, more than one in seven US adults are estimated to have chronic kidney disease (CKD), and terrifyingly as many as nine in 10 don't know they have it.

The condition refers to kidneys that have become damaged and therefore unable to clean the blood as efficiently as they once could.

When kidneys don't work well, the CDC states 'toxic waste and extra fluid accumulate in the body and may lead to high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke and early death.'

The study also revealed that high blood sugar, high blood pressure and high body mass index (BMI) were the largest risk factors for kidney disease.

The good news is that people can take steps to minimise the risk - if only they know the symptoms to look out for.

Early stages of CKD

In the early stages, the NHS warns kidney disease does not tend to cause symptoms since the body is 'able to cope with a significant reduction in kidney function.'

Here, a diagnosis tends to be found during a routine test for another condition which involves a blood or urine test.

However, once found at this stage, medicine and other tests can prevent it from becoming more advanced.

Your most obvious symptoms might emerge at night (Getty Stock Image)

Sleep and weight

A common sign to look out for is a sudden shift in appetite and your sleep routine.

People suffering from later stages of CKD might notice some significant weight loss and poor appetite, and/or tiredness or even insomnia.

Swelling

Swollen ankles, feet or hands could be another sign, which the NHS says occurs due to water retention, called oedema.

Muscle cramps, shortness of breath, itchy skin, feeling sick and suffering from headaches are also some tell-tale signs.

The feet and other areas of the body can become swollen from water retention (Getty Stock Image)

Urine changes

CKD sufferers also tend to experience new bathroom habits, notably the emergence of blood in urine and/or an increased need to pee, especially during the night.

For men, erectile dysfunction (ED) can also occur.

What happens in later stages of chronic kidney disease?

When patients reach the point of suffering a number of symptoms, it may indicate they're suffering from kidney failure, end-stage renal disease or established renal failure, the NHS states.

You might eventually lead to dialysis treatment or even a kidney transplant.

How many people die from CKD?

Researchers at NYU Langone Health, the University of Glasgow and the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) at the University of Washington found cases of kidney disease soared from 378 million to a staggering 788 million between 1990 to 2023, so it's no wonder it's landed on the top 10 deadly diseases list for the first time.

The researchers found around 14 percent of the world's adult population has CKD, claiming the lives of around 1.5 million people in 2023, an increase of more than six percent since 1993.

Fortunately, the study revealed how early interventions can improve the condition, not only through drugs but also lifestyle changes.

Dialysis may be required to treat the problem (Getty Stock Image)

Lifestyle changes

The NHS adds that while there's no cure for CKD, treatment can at least relieve the symptoms and stop it from getting worse.

The key here is lifestyle changes, like stopping smoking, eating a healthy and balanced diet, regularly exercising and keeping fit and managing alcohol intake as much as possible.

It also recommends to reduct salt to less than 6g a day, around one teaspoon, and avoid non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen.

'Under-diagnosed and under-treated'

Study co-senior author Josef Coresh, M.D., Ph.D., director of NYU Langone’s Optimal Aging Institute, said their results class CDK as 'common, deadly and getting worse as a major public health issue.'

Morgan Grams, M.D., Ph.D., the Susan and Morris Mark Professor of Medicine at the NYU Grossman School of Medicine, who also co-authored the research said that the disease is often 'underdiagnosed and undertreated.'

“Our report underscores the need for more urine testing to catch it early and the need to ensure that patients can afford and access therapy once they are diagnosed," she added.