In Asia, the incidence of kidney disease of all types is growing more rapidly than developed western countries in part due to increasing rates of diabetes and hypertension. Across the continent, the population of end-stage renal disease patients requiring dialysis is growing at an annual rate of more than 12%. This rapid growth is proving costly.

Most kidney diseases are untreated or undetected in its earliest stages and is expensive to manage as it progresses to end stage renal failure. There are a host of technological advances and discovery of novel serum biomarkers in renal disease treatment and management but what many clinicians and health governments hope for now is early detection. Recognition of a kidney dysfunction in the earliest stages will have the largest impact to reducing social and economic burdens.