Which disease combination accounts for more than half of all cases of renal failure?

The combination of diabetes and hypertension is indeed responsible for more than half of all cases of renal failure. Diabetes mellitus leads to diabetic nephropathy, a common cause of chronic kidney disease where elevated blood sugar levels damage the kidneys over time. Concurrently, hypertension accelerates kidney damage by increasing pressure on blood vessels, leading to further impairment of kidney function. The interplay between these two conditions creates a significant burden on the kidneys, often culminating in end-stage renal disease requiring dialysis or transplantation.

In contrast, although obesity can contribute to kidney disease, it is often related to the development of diabetes and hypertension, rather than being a direct cause on its own. Similarly, while glomerulonephritis can cause renal failure, it does not account for as large a portion of cases as the combination of diabetes and hypertension. Lastly, cancer may affect kidney function depending on the type and treatment, but it does not have the same prevalence in causing renal failure as the well-documented effects of diabetes and hypertension. Thus, the noted combination captures the predominant risk factors leading to kidney failure in the population.