Kidney Disease Affects 1 in 10 Women

Chronic kidney disease affects about one woman in every ten worldwide, and diagnosis is often delayed because kidney function can decline without noticeable symptoms. A scientific statement from the American Heart Association examines why women’s kidney health may be assessed differently from men’s, including the effects of muscle mass, pregnancy, and menopause.

Kidney function is often estimated from creatinine, a muscle-produced waste product, alongside age and sex. Since women generally have less muscle mass, they may produce less creatinine, which can make estimates less precise and contribute to kidney disease being missed or identified later. Women are also underrepresented in clinical trials, despite possible differences in hormones, body composition, and medication processing.

Reproductive history can add important context. Pregnancy increases the kidneys’ filtering workload, while preeclampsia is linked with later kidney disease, heart disease, and stroke risk. PMOS, menopause before 45, ovary removal before 50, and lupus are also associated with kidney health. Diabetes is the leading worldwide cause of chronic kidney disease, and high blood pressure is another major risk factor. Blood tests can estimate filtration, while urine testing can detect albumin, a protein that may appear when kidney filtering is damaged.