Little kidneys amid large global inequities

Abstract Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a common non-communicable disease in children, and kidney dysfunction is the leading metabolic risk factor for death. Despite this, awareness of the CKD burden remains limited, and significant inequities exist in access to diagnosis and care worldwide. Kidney disease risk in children begins in utero and is dependent on the mother’s health and wellbeing. This is further impacted each day by poverty, nutrition, education, infection, and safety. Greater community awareness is needed, especially in lower resource settings, where children present late and may have no access to care. Early diagnosis, possibly supported by screening at schools, can have important public and individual health consequences. Catastrophic health expenditure is common if families attempt to pay out of pocket for kidney replacement therapy. Health systems require strengthening from the antenatal clinic through tertiary care to ensure children with kidney disease are identified and treated early, appropriately, affordably, and well. Local non-governmental organizations have had some success in mitigating inequities. Governments must step up, measure, and acknowledge the burden of kidney disease in children, ensure appropriate public health measures to reduce risk, strengthen primary care to improve the quality of diagnosis and care, and progressively scale up equitable access to all forms of kidney care. Kidney disease risk is strongly linked with social and structural determinants of health. A holistic approach to supporting child wellbeing—outlined by the Sustainable Development Goals and a One Health Approach—will positively impact child kidney health and promote equity among all children. Graphical abstract