Young and at risk: The growing burden of kidney ailments in India's youth

Kidney ailments like Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD), once considered diseases of the elderly, are now alarmingly prevalent among India’s youth. Recent studies have also indicated a rising incidence of CKD in individuals below 40 years of age, with many cases diagnosed at advanced stages due to lack of early symptoms and poor awareness. Slowly and steadily, CKD has emerged as a major contributor to global disease and mortality burden. Developing countries, like India, have seen a serious rise in ailments like CKD. According to the International Society of Nephrology’s Kidney Disease Data Centre Study reported a prevalence of 17%. The country has also observed a 38% increase in the proportion kidney failure mortality between 2001–03 and 2010–13. Factors like sedentary lifestyles, poor dietary habits, rising obesity, and uncontrolled diabetes and hypertension are behind this sudden drop in median age of developing renal issues. Even increasing use of over-the-counter painkillers, gym supplements, and energy drinks further aggravates renal stress. Additionally, genetic factors, recurrent urinary tract infections, and glomerular diseases also play a significant role in the younger demographic of the CKD prevalence. India is also battling a rise in diabetes prevalence, a chronic condition that can go undetected for a long time as screening is rare. An interim analysis from the START-India study, involving 1,500 Type 2 diabetes patients aged 30 years and above across 18 centers, found that over 46% showed signs of CKD while 23% had reduced kidney function based on Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate, which measures how well the kidneys are filtering blood. In addition, 35% had elevated Urinary Albumin-to-Creatinine Ratio levels, which measures how much protein is being leaked into urine. Despite this, nearly 80% still had preserved kidney function (eGFR >60 mL/min), allowing flexibility in treatment choices, providing deeper insights into CKD prevalence among diabetics in India.

Prevention is the best cure
This growing burden has major implications—not only for individual health outcomes but also for national productivity and healthcare costs. Urgent steps are needed to address this crisis through preventive strategies, routine screening, lifestyle modification, and strengthening of nephrology services at the primary care level. Early education and intervention can help protect India’s young population from a lifetime of renal complications. Early detection is essential for treating kidney ailments since if left untreated it can advance to end-stage renal disease (ESRD). After the ailment gets detected, doctors usually try treating it by treating the underlying conditions like hypertension or diabetes by opting for a combination of lifestyle changes and medication. This is when younger individuals have a fighting chance since they might not have a host of co-morbidities their chances of reversing or even limiting the kidney ailment is higher.



Dialysis
A blessing in disguise Since kidneys are one of the most vital organs in the human body, a defect in the kidney can lose its ability to filter waste from the blood. In such a scenario, dialysis becomes the last resort for the people suffering from the end stage renal disease. The India Dialysis Market is expected to reach USD 870 million by 2030 due to the growing incidence of CKD cases (End-Stage Renal Disorder) which has reached 2.2 lakh. In India, awareness levels of how chronic conditions can impact renal function is low. Most individuals consider CKD to be a death sentence and are unaware of how dialysis mechanisms have evolved in the past decade. Accessibility is not a major issue anymore as even rural areas have dialysis centers and mobile vans that offer quality dialysis care across the country. Rental dialysis machines are also gaining popularity as they allow individuals to undergo dialysis from the comfort of their homes. Dialysis increases life expectancy for up to 30 years and is not a stop-gap measure anymore. However, early detection and timely screening remain crucial for any meaningful intervention.


Way Forward
To manage and prevent a host of kidney ailments, it is important to follow a disciplined and controlled lifestyle. Exercise regularly for at least 150 minutes a week (5 days a week for 30 mins per day), abstain from smoking and alcohol, as both can worsen kidney function. Regular health check-ups are essential. Annual check-up of kidneys’ functioning is recommended, especially for those with chronic conditions like diabetes or hypertension. It is also important to exercise caution before consuming any medicine and refrain from opting for painkillers, especially without consulting a doctor. Caution and awareness are the two most important tools we possess in the fight against ailments like CKD and ESRD.


Authored by: Dr. Shriniwas Ambike, Senior Nephrologist, Transplant Physician and Consultant Nephrologist, NephroPlus 123528117 123495210 16474317 112498726