This category includes different types of renal (kidney) failure as well as diseases of the ureter, which connects the kidneys to the bladder.

See also Map 83 Bladder cancer, Map 85 Diabetes mellitus and Map 103 Other genitourinary disorders.

The high mortality rate across the majority of Scotland for this cause of death is the most striking feature of the distribution of these diseases in Britain. This is made all the more stark by average or low rates across almost all of Edinburgh, and very low rates in former industrial cities such as Sheffield and Bristol. Although mortality rates from these causes are generally lower in more affluent places, there are stronger geographical factors that influence mortality and susceptibility to these various diseases than any simple relation to wealth and poverty.

There are various causes of chronic renal failure, including diabetes, high blood pressure, infection, blockage (such as that caused by kidney stones) and polycystic kidney disease. Depending on the cause, it can be treated by medication and lifestyle changes, by dialysis, or kidney transplant.

Kidney disease is more common in people of South Asian, African and Afro-Caribbean origin.

The actress Sarah Bernhardt and the Soviet leader Yuri Andropov died of kidney disease.