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Diseases

Kidney Disease Mortality Rates Among Older Adults Show Persistent Disparities

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Research has found that kidney disease is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in the United States, with a disproportionate burden on older adults. An analysis of deaths among U.S. adults aged 65 and older found that between 2018 and 2023, there were 263,436 deaths with kidney disease as the primary cause, accounting for 81.5% of all kidney disease deaths during this period. The study also revealed persistent disparities in mortality rates by race and geography, highlighting the need for targeted research and interventions to reduce kidney disease mortality among older adults.

Key Takeaways:

  • Between 2018 and 2023, there were 263,436 deaths among adults aged 65+ with kidney disease as the primary cause, accounting for 81.5% of all kidney disease deaths during this period.
  • Mortality rates were significantly higher among males compared to females (age-adjusted mortality rate (AAMR) ratio = 1.42, 95% CI: 1.42-1.43) and among Black Americans compared to White Americans (AAMR ratio = 1.94, 95% CI: 1.93-1.95).
  • From 1999 to 2009, kidney disease mortality rates increased (annual percent change (APC) = 1.40, 95% CI: 0.90, 2.09), declined between 2009 and 2012 (APC = -5.35, 95% CI: -6.59, -2.33), and remained stable from 2012 to 2023.
  • The majority of kidney disease deaths in the U.S. occur among older adults.
  • Despite a brief decline in mortality between 2009 and 2012, progress has since stalled.
  • Persistent disparities by race and geography highlight the need for targeted research and interventions to reduce kidney disease mortality among older adults.

Statistics:

  • 263,436 deaths among adults aged 65+ with kidney disease as the primary cause between 2018 and 2023 (accounting for 81.5% of all kidney disease deaths during this period).
  • 1.42 (95% CI: 1.42-1.43) age-adjusted mortality rate (AAMR) ratio for males compared to females.
  • 1.94 (95% CI: 1.93-1.95) AAMR ratio for Black Americans compared to White Americans.
  • 1.40 (95% CI: 0.90, 2.09) annual percent change (APC) in kidney disease mortality rates from 1999 to 2009.
  • -5.35 (95% CI: -6.59, -2.33) APC in kidney disease mortality rates between 2009 and 2012.

Sources:

  • Trends and Disparities In Deaths From Kidney Disease Among Older Adults In the United States. Journal of Clinical Medicine, 2025;14(14):4950.
  • Mdpi, St Alban-Anlage 66, Ch-4052 Basel, Switzerland.
  • Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, United States.
  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Wide-ranging Online Data for Epidemiologic Research (CDC WONDER).
  • Benjamin Grobman, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, United States.
  • Connor P. Bondarchuk, Arian Mansur, and Christine Y. Lu.

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