Chronic kidney disease in Asia.

摘要

Asia, with 3-6 billion people, now accounts for 60% of the world's population.1 In Japan, China, South Korea, and Taiwan, birth rates have been decreasing for the past 30 years.1 Life expectancy in Asia has been increasing, especially in east Asian countries.2 Thus societies are ageing.2This rapidly ageing population and a change in lifestyle to one similar to that in western Europe and the USA has changed disease epidemiology. Chronic diseases, such as diabetes, hypertension, and metabolic syndrome, have become common and, as a result, chronic kidney disease has become a prevalent comorbidity in the past 10 years.