EKHA Marks World Kidney Day 2025

Are Your Kidneys OK? Detect early, protect kidney health

Today, EKHA joins the international kidney health and care community in marking World Kidney Day, a valuable international awareness day that, this year, highlights the value of testing and detection in the prevention of chronic kidney disease.

In Europe, approximately 100 million people suffer from kidney disease, with around 300 million being at risk of developing a kidney condition.[1] Advanced chronic kidney disease (CKD) – but, also, reductions in kidney function to below half of normal kidney filtration function – is associated with increased mortality. For instance, in 2019, CKD resulted in close to 130,000 deaths in the EU.[2] In addition, regarding implications for health expenditures, CKD entails cost increases for many other chronic conditions by a factor of over two, and overall costs linked to CKD are comparable – and, possibly, higher – with those of cancer and diabetes.[3]

To address the rise in cases of kidney disease in Europe and beyond, screening and early detection and diagnosis are crucial. Here, considering risk factors (e.g., hypertension) and co-occurring conditions that can increase the risk of kidney disease (e.g., cardiovascular conditions, diabetes) are key.

This year, World Kidney Day once again highlights the need for action to improve kidney health in Europe and globally, and the urgency in enhancing testing and detection practices, and EKHA is pleased to join in observing this day.

[1] Vanholder R, Annemans L, Bello AK et al. (2021) Fighting the unbearable lightness of neglecting kidney health: the decade of the kidney. Clin Kidney J 14:1719–1730. https://doi.org/10.1093%2Fckj%2Fsfab070

[2] Ibid

[3] Ibid.