One in ten people is affected

Kidney diseases are often detected late

Kidney disease initially causes hardly any symptoms.(Bild: stock.adobe.com null)

 While sudden kidney failure is detected quickly, chronic kidney disease sometimes doesn’t become apparent until a significant portion of kidney function has already been lost. On the occasion of World Kidney Day on March 13, an expert explains risk factors and early detection.

Although the number of unreported cases is high, it is estimated that one in ten adults worldwide is affected. “Internationally, both kidney disease and related mortality are on the rise. According to estimates, chronic kidney disease is expected to be the fifth leading cause of death by 2040,” reports Univ.-Prof. Dr. Erich Pohanka, a specialist in internal medicine, nephrology, endocrinology, and metabolism at the Health Center Vienna Airport Medical Center.