Chronic kidney disease now affects 15% of Spain’s adult population, according to recent health data released in April 2026.
The condition, which progressively impairs the kidneys’ ability to filter blood and remove toxins, has become a major public health concern in the country. If left undiagnosed and untreated, chronic kidney disease can advance to end-stage renal failure, requiring life-sustaining treatments such as dialysis or kidney transplantation.
Currently, more than 68,000 people in Spain require renal replacement therapy, a number that continues to rise annually. Of those patients, 43% are undergoing dialysis treatment, although the remaining 57% have received a kidney transplant.
Health officials report that every 75 minutes, someone in Spain either begins dialysis or receives a kidney transplant, highlighting the ongoing burden of the disease on individuals and the healthcare system.
Daniel Gallego, president of the National Federation of Associations for the Fight Against Kidney Diseases (ALCER), emphasized the wide-reaching impact of advanced kidney disease.
From the point of view of personal, family, operate and social life, especially in advanced stages, the need for a kidney transplant or dialysis implies depending on a machine to live, multiple appointments with the healthcare system and drastic changes in routine. There are physical limitations, uncertainty and an important emotional burden. Kidney disease demands constant adaptation and continued effort both from the patient and their surroundings.
The asymptomatic nature of early-stage chronic kidney disease contributes to delayed diagnosis, increasing the risk of progression to severe complications. Experts stress that early detection and management of risk factors such as diabetes and hypertension are essential to slowing the disease’s advancement and improving long-term outcomes.
