NCD Watch

Prevent Kidney Disease • Protect the Kidneys

10 March 2026 (Tue)

Chronic kidney disease represents a major public health challenge. If not detected and treated promptly, it can lead to a range of complications and ultimately end-stage kidney failure that necessitates long term kidney dialysis or kidney transplantation to sustain life. Beyond population growth and ageing, key drivers of increasing global burden of chronic kidney disease were the rising prevalence of type 2 diabetes, hypertension and obesity.

In 2021, Hong Kong recorded 405 833 prevalent and 40 723 incident chronic kidney disease cases among adults. In 2024, 1 226 registered deaths were due to chronic kidney disease with a crude death rate of 16.3 per 100 000 population.

Diabetes is the most common cause of chronic kidney disease: 1 in 6 diabetes patients project a rapid deterioration of renal function. Among the 1 471 new cases of kidney failure requiring replacement therapy in 2022, over half was related to diabetes and being one of the highest percentages worldwide.

To protect kidney health and guard against chronic kidney disease, members of the public are urged to adopt a healthy lifestyle and actively control the risks of high blood glucose, high blood pressure and obesity.

Source: NCD Watch March 2026 (https://www.chp.gov.hk/files/pdf/ncd_watch_mar_2026_en.pdf)