Chronic kidney disease in NJ on the rise. What is cause?

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The number of New Jerseyans suffering from a gradual decline in their kidney function is increasing, with more Black residents having worse outcomes, said a new report released Wednesday, Dec. 10.

The local rise in chronic kidney disease mirrors a global trend that experts say is caused by increasing occurrence of three underlying health conditions: diabetes, hypertension and obesity.

The number of patients diagnosed with chronic kidney disease increased to 6.1% in 2024 from 3.9% in 2016, said a report by the New Jersey Hospital Association. The numbers had increased so much that by 2024,18.3% of New Jersey patients admitted to the hospital had the disease.

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The number of kidney transplants almost doubled during that period, with 875 performed in 2024 compared with 452 in 2016.

While their primary function is filtering waste from the bloodstream, kidneys also help regulate blood pressure, manage urine excretion to prevent dehydration, and regulate levels of electrolytes and nutrients such as calcium, potassium and magnesium — which help with nerve transmission and muscle contraction.

Symptoms often mild at first

Kidneys that are injured can be cured, but chronic kidney disease is often irreversible. Symptoms are so mild at the beginning that many patients don’t know they have it until it reaches a more serious stage. Patients often go on dialysis, and some will need a transplant to survive.

Kidneys are overwhelmingly the most sought-after organ. As of this week, there were 2,473 New Jerseyans on an organ transplant waiting list, and almost 93% were seeking kidneys.

Kidney disease is the ninth leading cause of death globally, with 1.5 million people dying in 2023. The disease was in the spotlight locally in October when retired Jets football player Nick Mangold died from kidney complications only two weeks after issuing a public plea for a transplant.

The study showed that men had a higher rate, at 7.7%, than women, at 4.8%. All races saw a rise, but Black patients often had worse outcomes.

Black males had the highest age-adjusted mortality rate, 39 per 100,000, compared with the average for all males, at 19. For Black women, the age-adjusted mortality rate was 28, compared with an average of 14 for all women. The report did not delve into the possible causes of the disparity.

This article contains information from USA Today.

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