The Philippines is facing a growing health crisis as chronic kidney disease (CKD) continues to affect an increasing number of Filipinos, with cases now alarmingly affecting younger people and even children.

A 2025 study published in the Journal of Medical Economics paints a worrying picture: approximately 12.94 million Filipinos are living with various stages of CKD, with one Filipino developing chronic renal failure every hour. To put this in perspective, the prevalence of CKD in the Philippines is 35.94%, more than three times higher than the global average.

Recent data from the National Kidney and Transplant Institute shows just how fast the problem is growing. The number of Filipinos undergoing dialysis jumped to 64,845 in 2024, a 22% increase in just one year. Kidney disease now ranks among the top ten causes of death in the country.

What's causing this? Health experts point to two major culprits: high blood pressure and diabetes. According to the Philippine Renal Disease Registry, these two conditions account for the majority of kidney disease cases in the country. 

But lifestyle factors also play a huge role. Recent cases have shown teenagers and children as young as nine years old diagnosed with advanced CKD. Many of them grew up eating mostly junk food and soft drinks while rarely drinking water.

The financial toll on Filipino families is crushing. A recent cost study found that managing CKD can cost over PHP 100,000 per year per patient, and that's not even including complications. For those who need dialysis, which most patients do, the sessions last four hours and must be done several times a week. Many families struggle to keep up with these expenses, and kidney transplants remain out of reach for most due to cost and the lack of available donors.

The tricky part about kidney disease is that in its early stages, you might not feel anything wrong at all. By the time symptoms appear like constant tiredness, swollen feet and ankles, changes in urination, or persistent nausea, the disease may have already progressed significantly.

The good news? CKD is largely preventable. Simple lifestyle changes can make a big difference: eat more fruits and vegetables, cut back on processed and salty foods, drink plenty of water instead of soft drinks, exercise regularly, and get regular checkups to monitor your blood pressure and blood sugar. 

For those with diabetes or hypertension, keeping these conditions under control is crucial to protecting your kidneys.

With cases rising so rapidly, especially among the young, health experts are urging Filipinos to take kidney health seriously before it's too late.