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World Kidney Day

Assess your chronic kidney disease risk

On World Kidney Day, like every day at Fresenius Medical Care, we emphasize that kidney health matters and highlight the often silent and deadly onset of kidney disease.

Kidneys are silent superheroes. They filter blood, balance electrolytes, and remove toxins and extra water from the body. Basically, they ensure the body stays healthy by filtering out what it doesn’t need. But when kidneys begin to fail, the warning signs are often silent.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a hidden threat affecting millions worldwide.

By 2040, CKD is expected to become the fifth leading cause of premature deaths worldwide.1

More than 1 in 10 people around the world live with some stage of CKD.2-3-4

Yet 9 in 10 adults with CKD have no symptoms and don't know they have CKD in its early stages.5

Chronic kidney disease: Silent, serious, and preventable 

Learn the warning signs, play our interactive memory game to explore simple prevention steps, and discover how kidney health and sustainability go hand in hand this World Kidney Day 2026.

The silent killer

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) often develops silently, and symptoms progressively worsen as it advances. But there are early clues to watch for. Recognizing these signs can help detect CKD sooner to slow or delay its progression. Watch for fatigue, poor mobility, bone or joint pain, and drowsiness.

What our doctors wish everyone knew about chronic kidney disease:

 

Early detection

Early detection of kidney disease is vital as it often develops silently, without obvious symptoms. Identifying signs early allows for timely treatment, helping prevent serious complications and protecting your long-term health.

Recognizing the risks and symptoms can help you and your loved ones act sooner and protect long-term health.

Here are the biggest risk factors:

1 in 3 adults with diabetes4-5, and 1 in 5 adults with hypertension4-5 have CKD.

Genetics, age, obesity, smoking, and heart disease also play a role in the development of CKD.6-9

Climate-related threats like air pollution, heat stress, dehydration, and extreme weather events further increase the risks of kidney disease.10-13

Ready to test your memory and discover simple ways to keep your kidneys healthy?

Match the pairs to unlock the eight golden rules to reduce the risk of developing chronic kidney disease (CKD) and related conditions, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and obesity.14-17 Each match reveals a healthy action you can put into practice.

Play the memory game and learn how to protect your kidney health

Ready to test your memory and discover simple ways to keep your kidneys healthy?

Match the pairs to unlock the eight golden rules to reduce the risk of developing chronic kidney disease (CKD) and related conditions, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and obesity. Each match reveals a healthy action you can put into practice.

START GAME

Back to Start

Play the memory game and learn how to protect your kidney health

Don't smoke
Don't smoke
Eat healthy
Eat healthy
Get tested
Get tested
Stay active
Stay active
Stay hydrated
Stay hydrated
Check your blood sugar
Check your blood sugar
Limit the use of pain relievers
Limit the use of pain relievers
Monitor your blood pressure
Monitor your blood pressure

Great job! You've completed the kidney match challenge

Every healthy choice counts to protect your kidney health and prevent chronic kidney disease (CKD), a hidden threat affecting millions worldwide. Keep the eight golden rules in mind and share them with friends and family!

For decades, Fresenius Medical Care (FME) has been driven by compassion, innovation, and a shared commitment to improving lives. We remain dedicated to delivering better outcomes for people living with kidney disease while advancing kidney care for generations to come.

At FME, every day is World Kidney Day.
Learn more at www.FreseniusMedicalCare.com.

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Kidney care and sustainability

This year’s World Kidney Day, observed on March 12, highlights an often-overlooked aspect of kidney health. Led jointly by the International Society of Nephrology (ISN) and the International Federation of Kidney Foundations – World Kidney Alliance (IFKF-WKA), our global campaign emphasizes not only the importance of maintaining healthy kidneys and preventing disease early, but also the vital connection between human health and sustainability. This is reflected in World Kidney Day’s official theme for 2026: “Kidney Health for All – Caring for People, Protecting the Planet.”

Sustainable kidney care is inseparable from environmental, social, and economic sustainability – and the relationship works both ways. A healthy planet supports kidney health through access to clean air and water, nutritious food, and responsible healthcare, while protecting kidney health reduces long-term pressures on health systems, resources, and the environment. Caring for kidneys, in this sense, means caring for people, economies, and the planet. This sits at the core of Fresenius Medical Care’s approach to both kidney care and sustainability.

Against this backdrop, World Kidney Day highlights the urgent need to rethink how kidney disease is prevented, detected, and treated with patients, equity, and sustainability at the center. Prevention and early detection are fundamental, as routine testing – particularly for high-risk populations – can significantly reduce the need for costly hospital-based care. At the same time, dialysis care is being reimagined through home-based therapies and lower-impact technologies, including water reuse and material recycling, without compromising the quality of care. Across all these priorities, one principle remains clear: Patients must always come first. Sustainable kidney care should protect and improve patients’ lives, supported by strong policies, collaborative partnerships, and practical solutions that meet patients’ needs in every setting.18-22

 

Publication date: March 2026

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    1 Foreman KJ, Marquez N, Dolgert A, et al. Forecasting life expectancy, years of life lost, and all- cause and cause-specific mortality for 250 causes of death: reference and alternative scenarios for 2016-40 for 195 countries and territories. Lancet. 2018;392(10159):2052-2090. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(18)31694-5 

    2 Kovesdy CP. Epidemiology of chronic kidney disease: an update 2022. Kidney Int Suppl (2011). 2022;12(1):7-11. doi:10.1016/j.kisu.2021.11.003 

    3 GBD Chronic Kidney Disease Collaboration. Global, regional, and national burden of chronic kidney disease, 1990-2017: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017. Lancet. 2020;395(10225):709-733. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(20)30045-3 

    4 Hill NR, Fatoba ST, Oke JL, et al. Global Prevalence of Chronic Kidney Disease - A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. PLoS One. 2016;11(7):e0158765. Published 2016 Jul 6. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0158765 

    5 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Risk Factors for Chronic Kidney Disease. Chronic Kidney Disease Initiative. Published 2024. https://www.cdc.gov/kidney-disease/risk-factors/index.html Kim K CJLCNHAALJ. Epidemiology of Diabetic Kidney Disease among US Veterans. Diabetes Metab Syndr Obes. 2024;17:1585-1596. Kim K CJLCNHAALJ. Epidemiology of Diabetic Kidney Disease among US Veterans. Diabetes Metab Syndr Obes. 2024;17:1585-1596. 

    6 Francis A, Harhay MN, Ong ACM, et al. Chronic kidney disease and the global public health agenda: an international consensus. Nat Rev Nephrol. 2024;20(7):473-485. doi:10.1038/s41581- 024-00820-6 

    7 American Kidney Fund. Risk factors for kidney disease. Updated 2024. Accessed December 2, 2024. https://www.kidneyfund.org/all-about-kidneys/risk- factors

    8 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Risk factors for chronic kidney disease. Updated April 3, 2023. Accessed December 2, 2024. https://www.cdc.gov/kidney-disease/risk-factors/index.html 

    9 Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) CKD Work Group. KDIGO 2024 Clinical Practice Guideline for the Evaluation and Management of Chronic Kidney Disease. Kidney Int. 2024;105(4S): S117–S314. 

    10 A National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Prevention of chronic kidney disease (CKD). National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Updated February 2021. Accessed December 2, 2024. https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/kidney-disease/chronic-kidney-disease-ckd/prevention

    11 B Kelly JT, Su G, Zhang L, et al. Modifiable Lifestyle Factors for Primary Prevention of CKD: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. J Am Soc Nephrol. 2021;32(1):239-253. doi:10.1681/ASN.2020030384 

    12 World Kidney Day. About Kidney Health: What is Chronic Kidney Disease? Diagnosis. Accessed December 30, 2024. https://www.worldkidneyday.org/about-kidney-health/

    13 Bowe B, Artimovich E, Xie Y, et al. The global and national burden of chronic kidney disease attributable to ambient fine particulate matter air pollution: a modelling study. BMJ Global Health 2020;5:e002063. doi:10.1136/bmjgh-2019-002063 

    14 Liu J, Varghese BM, Hansen A, et al. Projection of high temperature-related burden of kidney disease in Australia under different climate change, population and adaptation scenarios: population-based study. Lancet Reg Health West Pac. 2023;41:100916. Published 2023 Oct doi:10.1016/j.lanwpc.2023.100916 - Quantifies current and future kidney-disease burden in high temperate climates

    15 Liu J, Varghese BM, Hansen A, et al. Hot weather as a risk factor for kidney disease outcomes: A systematic review and meta-analysis of epidemiological evidence. Sci Total Environ. 2021;801:149806. doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.149806 -  Includes a pooled meta-analysis of 32 studies that found a 1 degree C increase in temperature was linked to an 11% increase in kidney failure (CI 1.09-1.13)

    16 Lee J, Oh S, Byon JY, et al. Long-term exposure to high perceived temperature and risk of mortality among patients with chronic kidney disease. Heliyon. 2024;10(3):e25222. Published 2024 Jan 24. doi:10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e25222 - Found an increased all-cause mortality risk in CKD with chronic heat exposure (HR 1.29; CI 1.25-1.33; p < 0.05)

    17 kidney.org/treatment/askthedoctor. Accessed 22 January 2024

    18 The Complex Relationship Between Kidney Health and Our Environment, The Complex Relationship Between Kidney Health and Our Environment | Docwire News

    19 ASN Statement on Climate Change: https://www.asn-online.org/policy/webdocs/22.4.22StatementOnClimateChange.pdf

    20 Chronic Kidney Disease in Outdoor Workers in Latin America

    21 Cardio-renal-metabolic diseases and climate adaptation strategies

    22 Journal of Renal Nutrition (Bergling K, Wang LC, Shivakumar O, Nandorine Ban A, Moore LW, Ginsberg N, Kooman J, et al. From bytes to bites: application of large language models to enhance nutritional recommendations. Clin Kidney J. 2025 Mar 17;18(4):sfaf082. doi: 10.1093/ckj/sfaf082. PMID: 40226366; PMCID: PMC11992566.)

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