Assessing the impact of genetic variation on chronic kidney disease in Africa

CKDs are the most common form of kidney diseases, with an estimated prevalence around the world of about 10.4%. Between 5.3 and 10.5 million people require dialysis or transplantation, though there are many who die because they do not receive these treatments due to lack of resources. In Africa alone, more than 50 million people have CKD, making Africa the continent with the highest burden of CKD in the world. With rapidly increasing urbanisation, trends towards unhealthy diets and obesity, the projected increase in the prevalence of CKD may be even greater in Africa. CKD is costly for African populations and poses a threat to economic development due to the high medical care costs associated with it. The proposed study seeks to identify and understand the genetic variations that contribute to CKD. We anticipate that our findings will yield insights that will guide the prevention and treatment of CKD.