Kidney disease is on the rise at an alarming rate, with many people suffering from it without knowing the cause. Understanding the correct causes and taking preventive measures early is essential.
Notably, research recently presented at the American Heart Association's EPI|Lifestyle 2026 scientific conference has identified a dangerous culprit that can triple the risk of kidney failure. Importantly, this cause is preventable from an early age, according to the science news website Sciencealert.
Researchers at Yonsei University School of Medicine in Seoul, South Korea, reviewed large-scale medical records from the Korean National Health Insurance Agency, including 291,887 individuals aged around 30 years old who had no history of heart or kidney disease before age 40.
Prompt monitoring and treatment as soon as blood pressure begins to rise is essential for protecting the heart and kidneys in the future. Photo: AI
Subjects had their blood pressure monitored regularly from age 30 to 40 and continued to be monitored for approximately 10 years after age 40 to identify the development of the condition.
The results revealed:
Individuals whose systolic blood pressure is about 10 mm Hg higher than their peers over 10 years have a 27% higher risk of heart disease and a 22% higher risk of kidney disease.
People with diastolic blood pressure that is about 5 mm Hg higher have a 20% higher risk of heart disease and a 16% higher risk of kidney disease.
Notably, the group with the highest cumulative blood pressure levels had a 3.5 times higher risk of heart disease and a 3 times higher risk of kidney disease compared to the group with the lowest levels, according to Sciencealert.
The study's author, Dr. Hokyou Lee, associate professor of preventive medicine at Yonsei University, explains that while young people generally have a low risk of heart disease in the next 10 years, persistently high blood pressure from an early age accumulates damage over time. This silently destroys the vascular system, leading to serious events by middle age.
The authors conclude that maintaining optimal blood pressure is a concern for all ages. Prompt diagnosis, monitoring, and treatment as soon as blood pressure begins to rise are essential for protecting the heart and kidneys in the future. This underscores the importance of immediate blood pressure management to minimize harm.