Chronic kidney disease  

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Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a condition that occurs when someone goes through a slow and usually permanent deterioration in their kidney function over several months or years. As the kidneys become less efficient, harmful substances like waste and toxins start to accumulate in the body instead of being properly removed. This accumulation can cause a range of problems, such as anaemia, high blood pressure, nerve damage and bone disease. People with existing cardiovascular conditions, like diabetes and high blood pressure, are at an increased risk of CKD, and ensuring that these conditions are prevented, or detected early and correctly managed, can help prevent CKD. Older adults, people with a family history of CKD and people from some ethnic groups are also at increased risk of CKD. 

In 2021 to 2022, the prevalence of CKD amongst patients aged 18 and over registered with a Waltham Forest GP was 4.0% (10,094 in total). This was similar to the national prevalence (4.0%). Between 2018 to 2019 and 2019 to 2020 there was a sharp rise in the recording of CKD diagnosis in Waltham Forest, rising from 2.3% to 4.0%; and the prevalence is now highest among all London boroughs. However, the prevalence is in line with the national average although higher than in London as a whole.

Source:OHID Public health profiles. Data from Quality and Outcomes (NHS Digital). Date accessed: 27 March 2023. 

Note: Recorded disease prevalence on GP patient registers is influenced both by the underlying prevalence of the condition in the wider population and the extent to which these cases have been diagnosed and recorded on primary care systems.