A University of the West Indies researcher is among an international group of experts behind a landmark global study on chronic kidney disease (CKD), shining a spotlight on the Caribbean's growing burden from the condition. According to Antigua News Room, Dr Lori-Ann Fisher — a Consultant Nephrologist, Intensivist, and Lecturer at the Epidemiology Research Unit of the Caribbean Institute for Health Research (CAIHR) at The UWI — is one of the featured contributors to a landmark series of papers published in The Lancet.
The series, led by Dr Jennifer Lees of the University of Glasgow, identifies CKD as a rapidly escalating global health crisis and calls for urgent improvements in early diagnosis, prevention, and treatment. "Chronic kidney disease remains one of the most concerning conditions currently impacting global health," Dr Lees stated. "The overriding message from our series of research papers is that there remains a pressing need for attention and resources to be focused on this condition."
Chronic kidney disease is currently the ninth leading cause of death globally and affects an estimated 844 million people worldwide. Projections suggest it could climb to become the fifth leading cause of death by 2040. Despite its enormous scale, CKD remains significantly underdiagnosed, particularly across the Caribbean, where awareness and routine screening remain limited.
The regional picture is especially troubling. Data from the Jamaica Health and Lifestyle Survey indicate that approximately 15% of Jamaicans are living with CKD, with many already at advanced or high-risk stages of the disease.
Dr Fisher stressed the critical importance of early detection in the Caribbean context. "We now have accessible medications that treat kidney disease and reduce progression to kidney failure," she said. "In the Caribbean, where access to transplant and dialysis is limited, detecting kidney disease early is crucial to improve outcomes. Investment in strengthening healthcare systems to detect and treat kidney disease is paramount for the health of our nations."
One of the disease's most dangerous characteristics is its silent progression. In its early and moderate stages, individuals rarely experience symptoms, leading to widespread underdiagnosis and delayed intervention. Symptoms typically emerge only at the most severe stages, often when dialysis or kidney transplantation has already become necessary.
The research highlights that early diagnosis — achievable through simple, affordable urine and blood tests — is key to improving patient outcomes. Despite this, such testing is not consistently implemented across healthcare systems worldwide.
Dr Fisher brings considerable expertise to the study. Her research focuses on CKD epidemiology, sickle cell nephropathy, and lupus nephritis in the Caribbean, and she has contributed substantially to understanding CKD prevalence and associated risk factors in Jamaica and the wider region. She currently serves as Chair of the International Society of Nephrology (ISN) North America and Caribbean Regional Board, strengthening the Caribbean's voice in global kidney health discussions.
The UWI, which has contributed to Caribbean development for over 75 years, was established in 1948 as a university college of London in Jamaica with just 33 medical students. It has since grown into an internationally recognised institution with nearly 50,000 students across five campuses — Mona in Jamaica, St. Augustine in Trinidad and Tobago, Cave Hill in Barbados, Five Islands in Antigua and Barbuda, and its Global Campus — alongside international centres spanning North America, Latin America, Asia, Africa, and Europe.
The university has been included in the Times Higher Education annual rankings since 2018 and is the only English-speaking institution in the Caribbean featured across four of THE's prestigious ranking lists.
