The cardiovascular disease burden attributable to kidney dysfunction from 1990 to 2021: an age–period–cohort analysis of the Global Burden of Disease study

Kidney dysfunction (KD) poses a severe threat to human health. The aim of this study is to gain a comprehensive understanding of the trends in cardiovascular disease (CVD) burden attributable to KD, thereby providing a theoretical basis for relevant public health policies.

This study analysed trends in the burden of CVD attributable to KD using the 2021 Global Burden of Disease data. It also examined the differences in mortality rates across various age groups, genders, and subtypes of CVD. Additionally, the age–period–cohort model combined with joinpoint regression analysis was employed to gain further insights into the changing trends and inflection points of CVD-related mortality. In 2021, the global number of deaths from CVD attributable to KD significantly increased compared to 1990. However, the global age-standardized mortality rate (ASMR) decreased in 2021. The burden of CVD due to KD was particularly heavy among the elderly. Analysis using the age–period–cohort model revealed a decline in CVD-related mortality rates, with similar trends observed for both men and women.

This study reveals that although the ASMR for CVD due to KD is on a declining trend globally, the absolute number of deaths has significantly increased. This trend is especially pronounced among individuals aged 80 and older, males, and regions with a middle socio-demographic index. In the context of global aging, the burden of CVD related to KD is becoming increasingly substantial.