End-Stage Kidney Disease (ESKD)

Dear Colleagues,

Kidney disease represents a growing global health burden, currently affecting an estimated 850 million individuals worldwide. Mortality from kidney-related disorders is projected to range between 5 million and 11 million deaths annually, positioning kidney dysfunction as the seventh leading cause of death. In 2010, approximately 2.6 million individuals underwent kidney replacement therapy, and this number is expected to more than double to 5.4 million by 2030. End-stage renal disease (ESRD) is associated with significant morbidity, premature mortality, and substantial healthcare costs while also profoundly impacting patients' quality of life.

Patients with ESRD frequently experience a wide spectrum of debilitating symptoms, including fatigue, reduced mobility, musculoskeletal pain, sleep disturbances, anxiety, sexual dysfunction, gastrointestinal distress, dyspnea, and pruritus. Beyond these physical manifestations, chronic kidney disease (CKD) imposes significant psychosocial challenges, leading to a diminished quality of life and restricted social participation.

The increasing prevalence of CKD is primarily driven by an aging population and the rising incidence of diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and hypertension—key risk factors for CKD onset and progression. Additional contributing factors include demographic shifts, the obesity epidemic, and the long-term health consequences of climate change. CKD is strongly linked to an elevated risk of cardiovascular disease, infections, mineral and bone disorders, anemia, malnutrition, cancer, and neurocognitive decline.

The management of ESRD necessitates complex treatment decisions, including dialysis (hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis), kidney transplantation, or conservative care for patients with advanced age or severe comorbidities. While both hemodialysis (HD) and peritoneal dialysis (PD) improve survival, dialysis-related complications remain a significant concern. Studies indicate that 13.2% of patients receiving maintenance dialysis die per year, with a particularly poor prognosis in individuals over 70 years old, whose five-year survival rate remains below 40%. Kidney transplantation remains the optimal treatment for long-term survival; however, organ shortages pose a major challenge.

This Special Issue aims to highlight innovative research and advancements in the prevention and management of ESRD, dialysis and kidney transplantation, and strategies for improving both the quality of care and overall wellbeing of patients with ESRD. Authors are welcome to submit original articles, reports on novel treatment strategies and advances in decision making, clinical outcome studies, comparative studies, scoping reviews, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses.

We look forward to receiving your contributions to this Special Issue on end-stage renal disease.

Dr. Ruta Vaiciuniene
Prof. Dr. Inga Arune Bumblyte
Guest Editors

Dr. Asta Stankuviene
Guest Editor Assistant

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• kidney transplantation
• hemodialysis
• peritoneal dialysis
• survival
• management
• quality of life