Health Areas › Kidney Diseases

Kidney Diseases

Area 8 in the list of seventeen published by the Saudi National Institute of Health in June 2025. Order follows SNIH's published list: that number is SNIH's own position for the area; it is not a ranking by this site and it says nothing about how much research this area should receive.

This area is matched to research by its subject headings, Kidney Diseases, at all three tree locations (C12.050.351.968.419; C12.200.777.419; C12.950.419), and to disease burden by the WHO cause-to-area table v0.4. The match is partial, so the burden shown is the burden of selected WHO proxy causes and no ratio is given.

A paper or study can count in more than one area. Areas as published by the Saudi National Institute of Health (SNIH), June 2025, applied to 2021–2025 retrospectively, for description only. A Saudi affiliation is not the same as research on the Saudi population.

Partial. Burden of selected WHO proxy causes. The two shares are shown side by side with no ratio.

Partial

Order follows SNIH's published list: area 8 of seventeen.

Coverage Of The Underlying Corpus · 2021–2025

On the same selection, before the area filter. Papers without MeSH terms stay in this coverage line; they are never in any area or in the grey row. It describes the corpus, not how completely this area’s research is captured.

Papers without MeSH terms cannot be assigned to any area, so this profile is never a complete count of the area’s research, and it does not measure how completely that research is captured. Coverage: records captured by the named sources that meet the published eligibility rules; coverage is not exhaustive.

Eligible publications with MeSH terms

60.6%

PubMed with OpenAlex · 2021–2025

Eligible publications matched to any area

41.3%

PubMed with OpenAlex · 2021–2025

The Burden This Area Carries

Burden Share & Research Share

Burden: WHO Global Health Estimates, 2023 · research: 2021–2025

Share of national disease burden: burden of selected WHO proxy causes

Source: WHO Global Health Estimates, 2023, through the WHO cause-to-area table v0.4. All-age disability-adjusted life years for one named year.

1.2%

WHO · 2023

Research share among MeSH-indexed eligible publications

Eligible publications in this area, 2021–2025, divided by all eligible publications with MeSH terms in the same selection, before the area filter. Shares across the seventeen areas do not sum to 100%.

2.1%

of the eligible publications with MeSH terms · 2021–2025

Research-share-to-burden-share ratio

Shown because this area is a close match. A ratio of 1 means equal shares under these definitions; it does not establish adequate research effort or funding, and it carries no judgement about what the right figure would be.

Not shown. Not yet computed, below the threshold for a reliable figure, or the only source is too old to print. The reason is always given.

—

Not shown the ratio is given only for a close match.

Recorded Research

Three Counts, Never One Total

Papers and registrations are counted separately, never added together.

A paper, a clinical trial and an observational registration are different kinds of record, so this area carries three separate counts. They are never added together.

Papers and registrations are different kinds of record. They are counted separately and never added together, anywhere on this site. Counts describe recorded activity; they do not assess quality, benefit or performance.

Registrations are ClinicalTrials.gov records; a listed site doesn't prove recruitment in Saudi Arabia.

Journals that follow ICMJE policy require clinical trials to be registered before enrolment begins, in ClinicalTrials.gov or another accepted registry; observational studies have no such requirement, so registered observational studies are a small, selective part of observational research. These figures count studies recorded in ClinicalTrials.gov; they do not measure total research volume, study completion or financial investment.

Trials and observational studies are those listing a Saudi site. A listed site does not prove that participants were recruited in Saudi Arabia. Withdrawn studies and expanded-access records are not counted.

Publications

PubMed and OpenAlex · research-related papers with a Saudi affiliation carrying Kidney Diseases, at all three tree locations (C12.050.351.968.419; C12.200.777.419; C12.950.419) · 2021–2025

PubMed with OpenAlex · 2021–2025 provisional

Clinical trials

ClinicalTrials.gov · interventional, listing a Saudi site · 2021–2025

ClinicalTrials.gov · 2021–2025 provisional

Observational studies

ClinicalTrials.gov · observational registrations listing a Saudi site · 2021–2025

ClinicalTrials.gov · 2021–2025 provisional

Publications By Year

Research-related papers in this area, by year of earliest publication. The axis starts at zero and ends at 250.

2021
2022
2023
2024
2025 provisional
Publications By Study Group

Research-related papers in this area, 2021–2025, in the five study groups. The axis starts at zero and ends at 500.

Interventional
Observational
Evidence synthesis
Laboratory and animal
Other designs
Clinical Trials By Phase

Trials in this area, 2021–2025. A trial registered across two phases counts in both. The axis starts at zero and ends at 10.

Early phase 1 0
Phase 1 0
Phase 2
Phase 3
Phase 4 0
Not applicable
Clinical Trials By Recruitment Status

Trials in this area, 2021–2025, by status as the registry records it on the day ClinicalTrials.gov processed the data. The axis starts at zero and ends at 5. Statuses open largest first.

Active, not recruiting
Completed
Recruiting
Terminated
Enrolling by invitation 0
Not yet recruiting 0
Suspended 0
Unknown 0
Observational Studies By Recruitment Status

Observational studies in this area, 2021–2025, by status as the registry records it. The axis starts at zero and ends at 2. Statuses open largest first.

Completed
Active, not recruiting
Enrolling by invitation 0
Not yet recruiting 0
Recruiting 0
Suspended 0
Terminated 0
Unknown 0

Industry

Industry In This Area

The area's three counts narrowed to industry: research papers coded industry-involved, industry-led clinical trials and industry-led observational studies, each with its share of the area's own count. They are three kinds of record and are never added together.

Industry in papers comes from each paper's own industry code; industry in registrations comes from the lead sponsor. They are different measures of different records and are never combined.

Industry in registrations means a lead sponsor that is a company making or selling health products (drugs, vaccines, biotechnology, devices, diagnostics, health software or medical nutrition), as the industry guide defines it in its section two, or a contract research organisation with such a company listed as collaborator. Hospital groups and other providers that ClinicalTrials.gov labels “industry” are not counted. Withdrawn studies are not counted.

Journals that follow ICMJE policy require clinical trials to be registered before enrolment begins, in ClinicalTrials.gov or another accepted registry; observational studies have no such requirement, so registered observational studies are a small, selective part of observational research. These figures count studies recorded in ClinicalTrials.gov; they do not measure total research volume, study completion or financial investment.

Counts describe recorded activity; they do not measure investment, quality or performance.

Industry involvement in papers is a lower bound.

Industry involvement is identified from the paper's own record and registration; it does not establish financial investment and is a lower bound.

Industry-involved publications

2% of the 844 research papers in the area

PubMed with OpenAlex · 2021–2025 provisional

Industry-led clinical trials

64% of the 14 clinical trials in the area

ClinicalTrials.gov · 2021–2025 provisional

Industry-led observational studies

33% of the 3 observational studies in the area

ClinicalTrials.gov · 2021–2025 provisional

Companies

Companies Leading Studies In This Area

Every company credited with at least one industry-led clinical trial or observational study in this area, 2021–2025, with both counts: two counts, never one total. Each study is credited to one company, exactly as the industry-led counts decide it: its lead sponsor or, for a contract research organisation's study, its company collaborator listed in the registration. So the companies' studies add up to the area's industry-led counts. A study in several areas counts in each. Names are shown as registered, with no grouping into parent companies.

There is no rank column. The list opens with the most clinical trials, ties A–Z. Every count above zero opens its records.

Only studies listing a Saudi site are counted. Industry in registrations means a lead sponsor that is a company making or selling health products (drugs, vaccines, biotechnology, devices, diagnostics, health software or medical nutrition), as the industry guide defines it in its section two, or a contract research organisation with such a company listed as collaborator. Hospital groups and other providers that ClinicalTrials.gov labels “industry” are not counted. Withdrawn studies are not counted.

Journals that follow ICMJE policy require clinical trials to be registered before enrolment begins, in ClinicalTrials.gov or another accepted registry; observational studies have no such requirement, so registered observational studies are a small, selective part of observational research. These figures count studies recorded in ClinicalTrials.gov; they do not measure total research volume, study completion or financial investment.

The counts describe registered activity; they do not measure investment, quality or performance.

Showing 2021–2025 provisional

Registrations are ClinicalTrials.gov records; a listed site doesn't prove recruitment in Saudi Arabia.

A listed site does not prove that participants were recruited in Saudi Arabia. Withdrawn studies and expanded-access records are not counted.

Companies Credited With Industry-Led Studies In Kidney Diseases, 2021–2025.
CompanyClinical trialsObservational studies
Novartis Pharmaceuticals 0
AstraZeneca 0
Inozyme Pharma 0
Alexion Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 0
Alpine Immune Sciences Inc, A Subsidiary of Vertex 0
Bayer 0

Institutions

Institutions In This Area

Every institution on the approved list with at least one research-related publication, clinical trial or observational study in this area, 2021–2025. Three counts, never one total: a paper, a clinical trial and an observational registration are different kinds of record.

They are counted exactly as on Institutions & Clusters: publications in full; a parent institution's row also counts its units' papers and studies, so rows overlap and are never added together; clinical trials and observational studies count registrations listing the institution as a site, and a listed site does not prove that participants were recruited there. Institutions are named as OpenAlex records them.

There is no rank column. The list opens with the most publications, ties A–Z; the switch orders it by clinical trials, observational studies or A–Z. Every count above zero opens its records. No citation measure is given here.

34 of the area's 844 research papers have no Saudi institution identified and count in no institution · PubMed with OpenAlex · 2021–2025 provisional

Institutions With Research In Kidney Diseases, 2021–2025.
InstitutionPublicationsClinical trialsObservational studies
King Saud University 0 0
King Abdulaziz University 0 0
King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences 0 0
King Abdullah International Medical Research Center 0 0
King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre 0
National Guard Health Affairs 0 0
Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University 0 0
Umm al-Qura University 0 0
Taif University 0 0
Qassim University 0 0
King Abdulaziz Medical City 0
King Khalid University 0 0
Taibah University 0 0
Alfaisal University 0 0
King Faisal University 0 0
Jouf University 0 0
King Saud Medical City 0 0
King Fahad Specialist Hospital (location not recorded) 0 0
King Fahd Medical City 0 0
Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University 0 0
University of Jeddah 0 0
Jazan University 0 0
University of Tabuk 0 0
Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University 0 0
University of Ha'il 0
King Abdul Aziz University Hospital 0 0
Ministry of Health 0 0
Shaqra University 0 0
King Fahad Hospital Jeddah 0 0
Almaarefa University 0 0
Al Baha University 0 0
Jeddah First Health Cluster 0 0
Batterjee Medical College 0 0
King Abdulaziz Hospital (Jeddah First Health Cluster) 0 0
Riyadh Armed Forces Hospital 0 0
Imam Mohammad ibn Saud Islamic University 0 0
Najran University 0 0
University of Bisha 0 0
University of Hafr Al-Batin 0 0
King Abdullah University of Science and Technology 0 0
King Fahd Hospital of the University 0 0
Northern Border University 0 0
Soliman Fakeeh Hospital 0
Fakeeh College for Medical Sciences 0 0
King Fahd Armed Forces Hospital 0 0
King Khalid University Hospital 0 0
Prince Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Hospital 0 0
Armed Forces Hospital (location not recorded) 0 0
Majmaah University 0 0
Saudi Aramco (Saudi Arabia) 0 0
Saudi Aramco Medical Services Organization 0 0
Armed Forces Hospital Southern Region 0 0
Asir Central Hospital 0 0
King Abdullah Medical City 0 0
Maternity and Children's Hospital (location not recorded) 0 0
Dar Al Uloom University 0 0
Ibn Sina National College for Medical Studies 0 0
Security Forces Hospital 0 0
Fahd bin Sultan University 0 0
International Medical Center in Jeddah 0 0
King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology 0 0
King Fahad Central Hospital (location not recorded) 0 0
King Fahad Hospital Hufūf 0 0
Saudi Electronic University 0 0
Al-Ghad International Health Sciences Colleges 0 0
Bugshan Hospital 0 0
Buraydah Colleges 0 0
Dammam Central Hospital 0 0
Dar Al-Hekma University 0 0
Dr. Samir Abbas Hospital 0 0
East Jeddah Hospital 0 0
Effat University 0 0
Islamic University of Madinah 0 0
King Fahd Military Medical Complex 0 0
King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals 0 0
King Khaled Eye Specialist Hospital 0 0
King Khaled Hospital (location not recorded) 0 0
King Salman Center for Disability Research 0 0
Ministry of Defense 0 0
Mohammed Almana College for Medical Sciences 0 0
Northern Area Armed Forces Hospital 0 0
Prince Mohammad Bin Salman College of Business and Entrepreneurship 0 0
Qatif Central Hospital 0 0
Riyadh Elm University 0 0
Saud Al-babtain Cardiac Centre 0 0
Saudi Center for Organ Transplantation 0 0
Saudi Food and Drug Authority 0 0
Sulaiman Al Rajhi Colleges 0 0

Clinical Trials

Clinical Trials By Intervention Type

The area's clinical trials, 2021–2025, by ClinicalTrials.gov's intervention type, with the industry-led part. A trial with several intervention types counts in each, so the bars are never added together and can sum to more than the area's 14 trials. “Other” is the registry's own type; it comes last, as “Not recorded” would. The list opens largest first, ties A–Z. Each count above zero opens its records. Observational studies are not shown by type.

The axis starts at zero and ends at 10.

All trials Industry-led trials

Drug ·
Behavioural · 0
Biological ·
Device · 0
Other · 0

ClinicalTrials.gov · 2021–2025 provisional

National Health Facts · Saudi Arabia

Kidney Diseases: National Health Facts

National health facts checked against their sources: 4 November 2026 to 5 November 2026.

Each card names its source in short; its ⓘ gives the full source. The full view below holds every fact with its full source.

Estimate. Estimated or modelled by its source, not counted directly.

National figures for all residents unless stated.

At A Glance

About 1,800

kidney disease deaths in 2023

Estimate WHO · 2023

Estimate WHO Global Health Estimates, 2023 · 2023

56%

of the burden of kidney disease, and 73% of its deaths, are caused by diabetes (kidney disease due to diabetes is also counted in Endocrine and Metabolic Disorders)

Estimate WHO · 2023

Estimate WHO Global Health Estimates, 2023 · 2023 · also counted in Endocrine and Metabolic Disorders

Show Health Facts & SourcesHide Health Facts & Sources

Burden

Lost healthy life by condition within this area, 2023 (WHO estimates, WHO causes matched to the area by the project's cause table v0.4). The area's share of national burden appears in the profile's burden comparison lower down. DALYs are the years of healthy life lost to illness, disability or early death.

Kidney disease due to diabetes 51%
Other kidney diseases 39%
Kidney cancer 9%

Source: WHO Global Health Estimates, 2023

Key Indicators

  • 1,284 kidney transplants from living donors, 2024Saudi Center for Organ Transplantation, Annual Report 2024, pp. 16–17 · 2024
  • 203 kidney transplants from deceased donors, 2024Saudi Center for Organ Transplantation, Annual Report 2024, pp. 16–17 · 2024

Sources Of These Facts

About These Figures

How This Area Is Matched

A paper belongs to this area when any of its subject headings is one of the area's headings or sits beneath it. Registered studies use the same headings, applied to the conditions the registry records. Only records carrying subject headings can be assigned at all, and coverage is reported for every selection.

What This Page Does Not Say

Nothing here assesses quality, benefit or performance, and no figure on it should be read as a target. The research-share-to-burden-share ratio compares two shares; it does not establish that research in this area is too much, too little or correctly aimed. Counts describe what is recorded, which is not the same as what was done.

Where The Figures Come From

Publications from PubMed matched with OpenAlex; trials and observational studies from ClinicalTrials.gov. Area assignment follows the SNIH 17-area research dictionary v1.2; burden follows the WHO cause-to-area table v0.4. Both are published in full on the methods page.

* Not final: counts for these years usually rise at later updates, as many studies are registered after they start and recent papers are still being added. On this page: trials and publications 2025; observational studies 2024–2025.